11
Feb
Panel: Venture capital – the next wave of investments
The Middle Eastern VC landscape is dynamic and rapidly evolving due to the region’s strong economic fundamentals, a young, tech-savvy population and government support for innovation which is driving continued growth and maturation of the ecosystem. Sophisticated investment strategies, further funding rounds and potentially more significant exits are set to further establish the Middle East as a notable player in the global VC landscape.
- What has the impact of initiatives such as Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy been on entrepreneurship and innovation in the region?
- What are the key markets in terms of VC activity? Where are the hotspots of activity?
- Which sectors are particularly active? What are the opportunities in Fintech, E-commerce, Edtech, Healthtech and Proptech?
- What will AI’s impact on investment theses be in the VC landscape?
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SpeakersDr Oksana Malysheva Managing Partner and CEO SPUTNIK ATX VC
Mohammed Almeshekah Founder & General Partner OUTLIERS
Varun Agarwal Director STRIDE VENTURES
John Bringardner Executive Editor DEBTWIRE
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Dr. Oksana Malysheva is an investor, entrepreneur, and business executive based in Austin, TX. She is the Managing Partner and CEO of Sputnik ATX VC, a VC firm that is addicted to identifying overlooked talent, funding them, training them and connecting them with opportunity.
As the CEO of Sputnik ATX VC, she is on a mission to uncover and shape our world, living "ten years in the future" while also navigating the opportunities for positive change today.
Oksana has built a reputation as a savvy investor and entrepreneurial leader, evidenced by the firm's impressive portfolio and unbiased investment process that seeks out nerds with bold ideas and a drive to build something great. The majority of Sputnik’s portfolio companies are women- or minority-led.
Her passion for entrepreneurship and innovation stems from her time at McKinsey advising Fortune 50 firms and being on the marketing team that brought Motorola to its peak with the RAZR cell phone.
With a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Malysheva brings a unique perspective to the world of venture capital; her training in physics and mathematics cultivated her values of originality, non-conformity, and intellectual curiosity.
Mohammed Almeshekah is the Founder and General Partner of Outliers Venture Capital, an operator-led firm partnering with founders to build transformative, category-defining companies.
Prior to founding Outliers, Mohammed held key leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, where he was instrumental in driving multi-billion-dollar national initiatives. He served as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, where he led the development of Saudi Arabia’s Digital Strategy, laying the foundation for the nation’s technological advancement. At the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed spearheaded the transformation of government services in judicial and notary functions, significantly enhancing accessibility and efficiency. A founding member of Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank (SAMA) FinTech Steering Committee, he has contributed to advancing the financial technology landscape in the region.
As an operator and technologist, Mohammed developed his expertise at global technology leaders like Google and Mozilla, working on cutting-edge security innovations. He later founded and built a company that served prominent clients, including Saudi Arabia’s central bank and other leading institutions, delivering impactful cybersecurity solutions. Mohammed is an active board member and advisor to multiple public and private sector organizations, including the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA), the Ministry of Housing and Municipality, and AlHokama, Saudi Arabia’s oldest ophthalmology chain and practice. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University, where he focused on the intersection of Cybersecurity and Cognitive Psychology.
Varun brings over 16 years of experience across Investment Banking and Asset Management working with Goldman Sachs. He has strong expertise in debt and equity investing through a quality research framework and deal execution capabilities in emerging markets (India/Southeast Asia/LatAm). Varun has successfully led teams in the banking and asset management functions while overseeing hiring, training, and mentoring of new hires. Varun is also an active angel investor in the Indian start-up ecosystem. At Stride Ventures, Varun is focussed on GCC region to deploy Venture Debt and Private credit for Start ups.