From First VC to a Foremost VC - MEVP | Sandpit Startups | Ep24 | Walid Mansour

In this podcast episode with Walid Mansour, Co-founder of Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), we explore the journey of the first and now one of the largest Venture Capital firms in MENA. Since its inception in 2008, MEVP has built an impressive portfolio, including stellar names like Anghami, Invygo, Fresha, and MamoPay. Join us as we delve into how venture capital is akin to a startup constantly raising funds, the essential checklist for startups applying to VC firms, and how VCs identify promising opportunities. We also discuss why the UAE and GCC are hotspots for startups. This enlightening conversation offers a deep dive into the VC world with Walid.

0:00 - Intro
2:22 - MEVP First VC in Entire Middle East
9:30 - VCs are like Entrepreneurs
11:45 - Building VC culture in MENA
14:35 - Early Days of MEVP
17:10 - VC Corporate Structure
19:12 - VC Checklist for Startups
28:45 - Smart Capital is Right Capital
35:00 - Identifying Opportunities
38:00 - MENA the Startup Hotspot
44:00 - Outro