Ketaki Banga

Dubai Future District Fund , the region’s first evergreen venture capital fund-of-funds, launched with an initial corpus of $200 million from DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION and DIFC , will soon open doors to a new set of investors in three phases to help expand its capital base. VCCircle caught up with its CEO Sharif El-Badawi , who outlined Dubai Future District Fund 's expansion strategy roadmap to help widen investment ambit and back more 'sectors of the future'. Read on to know the segment of investors that #DFDF is aiming to get on board. Meanwhile, the government-backed fund is eyeing startups in the #generativeAI, #climatetech, and #fintech space, and aims to commit up to $50 million in 2024 across 12-15 direct investments and 4-5 limited partner deals, which could take the total fund commitment to over the $100 million mark by the year-end. Lune® Holo Global Ventures Noor Sweid Shorooq Partners Shane Shin (شين شن) 유근 Nuwa Capital Khaled Talhouni BECO Capital Dany Farha COTU Ventures #limitedpartners #fundoffunds #venturecapital #deals #dubaigovernment #Dubai #uaebusinsss #uaestartups #startups #Future #artificialintelligence #AI #fintech #healthtech #investment #retailinvestors #emirates #mena #menaregion #expansion #strategy #investors https://lnkd.in/da5vckjb

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At W Group Holding, we are not just a part of the #advertising media industry; we are leading its evolution. Our commitment to innovation, #data-driven strategies, and cutting-edge #technology sets us apart as a leader in the region, poised to unlock new levels of success for our partners and clients. In 2024, our path to achievement is clear through the Power of Four: 1. Digital Power: With a network of 5500 screens, our pioneering Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) strategies redefine brand-consumer connections with dynamic storytelling and programmatic technology. 2. Exposure Power: With one of the largest #DOOH and #Retail Media networks in the region, we engage audiences in immersive experiences across Dubai Metro, prime outdoor locations, renowned communities & destinations, malls, and hypermarkets. 3. Data Power: Trust and insights are paramount. Our data-driven approach builds confidence, enables precise comparisons, and delivers a common trading currency for optimal ROI. 4. Tech Power: Real-time analytics and AI-driven targeting transform screens into smart signages, empowering marketers to craft high-ROI campaigns. Our Smart Technology Solutions and Infrastructure Commercialization further enhance our capabilities, allowing us to deliver dynamic interactions with consumers and ensuring every message is delivered to the right audience, at the right time, for maximum impact. Hypermedia DXTA Technology

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In this episode, I engage with June Barrage, Market Leader for the US & Middle East, and Jose Ribau, Executive in Residence at Disruptive Edge, to discuss how they are propelling innovation on a global scale. I posed a thought-provoking question to June: What is the greatest innovation of all time? Her answer was clear and powerful: AI. Having just returned from an insightful conference in LA, June highlighted how AI dominated 90% of the discussions, underscoring its potential to revolutionize every aspect of our lives. Listen Here: https://lnkd.in/eUuMQT2f What do you think is the greatest innovation of all time? How has AI impacted your personal and professional life? Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬🔍 #Technology #Future #Innovation #BestAdvice #Podcast

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Another #unregulated #investment company operating in the #UAE has fleeced #investors out of their hard earned savings   The culprit this time, as reported by the #media was Blue Chip Group, they have proved to be anything but blue chip!   To quote the Khaleej Times "With a $70-million portfolio and over 700 clients as stated on their website, Blue Chip offered a tempting deal: a 3% monthly return on a minimum investment of $10,000, locked in for 18 months. But the promise turned sour as payouts suddenly stopped, leaving investors with bounced cheques and unanswered calls"   The moral of this story is, be wary of   •  Outrageous investment returns •  Unregulated firms •  Endorsements from #celebrities. Blue Chip allegedly hired a #Bollyword star to promote their #ponzi investment scheme   Only the other month I was approached by an unregulated investment company which guaranteed not 3% a month but 4%! Needless to say I have reported them to a local regulator, let’s see if any action is taken, don’t have high hopes   Link to the full article appears below   https://lnkd.in/eBY5H_E6    #Dubai #AbuDhabi #fraud #scam #investing #money #finfluencers

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Excited to share an insightful interview with our esteemed guest from the recent conference! Thank you to Ravi kataria for sharing invaluable finance insights with Jibran M. that opened our eyes to new possibilities. Your expertise is shaping the future of finance, and we're grateful to have had you with us. Let's continue learning and growing together! #FinanceInsights #TheFinance360 #Connect1.0"

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Tech remains one of the key components of the Dubai economy. Read my report on how tie-ups with tech titans are boosting the sector https://lnkd.in/dQMJZgf4

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flynas Saudi Arabia is the fourth best low-cost airline in the world and first in the Middle East 2024 The Saudi company, #Flynas, won fourth place as the best low-cost #airline in the world for the year 2024 for the second year in a row, and maintained its top spot as the best low-cost airline in the #MiddleEast for the year 2024 for the seventh time in a row, according to the international organization Skytrax, which is considered the Oscars. In the aviation industry, it is the most important global #standard for excellence among airlines. Bander Almohanna , #CEO of Flynas, received the global rankings during a ceremony held in the capital, #London, to announce the annual Skytrax Awards for the year 2024, according to the Saudi Press Agency “SPA”. On this occasion, Almohanna explained that the success of Flynas in strengthening its position among the top 4 low-cost #airlines in the world and the first in the low-cost #aviation sector in the Middle East, is a success recorded in the name of Saudi Arabia, which today is at the forefront of the world’s countries in various fields, especially in the #travel and #tourism sector. Aviation, which received a large share of the attention and goals of the Kingdom’s Saudi Vision 2030. He pointed out that obtaining this award for the seventh time in a row reflects Flynas’s continued commitment to excellence in #products and #services within its expansion and #growth plan that it launched under the slogan “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” in parallel with the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable Saudi airlines to contribute to connecting the Kingdom with... 250 international destinations, reaching 330 million passengers, attracting 100 million tourists annually by 2030, and with the goals of the Pilgrims Program to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. The winners of the #SkytraxWorldAwards are determined each year through a vote measuring the #satisfaction of millions of travelers around the world through comprehensive surveys conducted by Skytrax, making it the most distinguished award in the aviation industry worldwide. Flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations via more than 1,500 weekly flights, and has transported more than 78 million passengers since its launch in 2007, and aims to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, as part of its plan for growth and expansion, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. GACA - General Authority of Civil Aviation - Saudi Arabia Ali Rajab Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services Edward Plaisted #ksa #investment #airlines #development #media #tourism #culture #tourism #umrah #covid19

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Great to be on stage at Seamless Middle East & Saudi Arabia yesterday! Big thank you to Meenakshi Shunmugham, Dima Zalatimo, and Milda Kise for sharing their perspectives on what fintech challenger brands are doing in the MENA region that any marketer can learn from. A few of the key takeaways from me - 👉They’re excellent at building trust. Being a challenger in financial services means you need to convince people you’re trustworthy enough to handle their money. Every brand needs to build trust but fintechs need to do it more than others. 👉They focus on the customer. Being (usually) product-led, fintech marketing teams are more focused than other categories at focusing on user behavior and feedback to help drive product market fit, but also to help find insights to evolve the brand and marcomms. 👉They leverage and amplify the WOM of early adopters. Good product is great marketing in any category, but fintechs are especially good at engineering ways for early adopters to evangelize their products (eg referral codes, user testimonials, community) 👉They’re comfortable with and built for change. Fintech is changing so quickly - marketers in this category know that any hypotheses or strategy they have for their brand or GTM can and likely will change, often quickly. They’re great at expecting it and reacting to it when there’s opportunity to evolve. 👉They use partnerships as a distribution strategy. For Fintechs this is a tried and true model, for other categories not as much. But partnerships helps not only reach a new, existing audience but also helps leverage the equity and credibility of an existing brand. Check out our Bridge community over at MENA FINTECH ASSOCIATION if you’re interested in joining more conversations like this one! Cc Nadia Benaissa Nameer Khan

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Fils and Arab Financial Services (AFS) Forge Strategic Partnership to Drive Sustainable Digital Transformation in the MENA Region   Manama: Bahrain and London, UK| 13 May 2024: Fils (https://filsnow.com/), the fast growing, UAE based enterprise-grade digital infrastructure provider enabling companies to embed sustainability and climate action into their business models, today announced a major partnership with Arab Financial Services (https://www.afs.com.bh/) (AFS), the Middle East and Africa region’s leading digital payment solutions provider and fintech enabler.   The collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering sustainable practices and driving climate action across industries in the region. Leveraging Fils’s state-of-the-art fintech technology and AFS's expertise and regional leadership position in digital payments, the partnership will be key to helping integrate sustainability seamlessly into businesses' operations, customer journeys, and financial transactions.   AFS, which has offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, and the UAE, is an industry leader in digital payments solutions and fintech, serving over 60 clients across more than 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa region. Fils’ partnership with AFS enables a significant proportion of banks, financial institutions, and organisations in the MEA to track and mitigate their emissions, aiding the global transition to a low-carbon economy.   Samer Soliman, CEO of AFS commented: "We are proud to join forces with Fils in a strategic partnership to drive sustainable solutions within the digital payments landscape. This collaboration directly supports our ESG strategic goals by accelerating their implementation. As a leading digital payments provider, we embrace the responsibility to drive sustainability not only for ourselves but also empower our partners and clients to achieve their own environmental ambitions."   Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils, said: "We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with Arab Financial Services. By combining our advanced digital infrastructure with AFS's leadership in electronic payments outsourcing, we have a unique opportunity to drive positive change across industries in the MENA region. Our shared commitment to sustainability and climate action will not only transform business operations but also redefine the landscape of responsible finance in the region and beyond."   Key highlights of the partnership between Fils and AFS include: Sustainable Digital Transformation: Fils' enterprise-grade digital infrastructure will empower AFS to seamlessly integrate sustainability and climate action into its payments ecosystem. This includes developing innovative solutions that contribute to reduced carbon footprints and environmental impact. ntribute to the transition to a net-zero economy.   Visit: timesofbahrain . . . . #timesofbahrain #investigation #localnews #gulfnews #worldnews Arab Financial Services

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Empowering CEOs worldwide to navigate the complexities of leadership with confidence. 🚀 Let's unlock your brand's full potential together! #CEOInsights #PersonalBranding Heidrick & Struggles JP BrandPlus

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Reflecting on the remarkable outcome of the two-day #CapitalMarketSummit, successfully hosted by Dubai Financial Market This year's Summit surpassed expectations, convening over 60 distinguished speakers and engaging more than 1000 delegates in insightful discussions aimed at propelling the regional capital markets forward. From dissecting the latest global and regional market trends to unveiling Dubai's strategic initiatives, particularly the transformative technological advancements catalyzed by D33 and the government's ambitious privatization plan, the Summit explored the pivotal factors shaping the evolution of our capital markets. The collaborative spirit between international and regional markets was evident, highlighting the collective effort required to drive meaningful progress. Notably, the #CapitalMarketSummit fostered constructive dialogues on the convergence of virtual assets with traditional financial institutions, heralding a new era in finance. Additionally, discussions delved into the pivotal role of DFM's groundbreaking platform, ARENA, in facilitating capital raising endeavors for a diverse spectrum of enterprises, including family conglomerates, SMEs, and businesses seeking growth capital. The Summit serves as a quintessential showcase of Dubai's unique qualities. The Dubai Capital Market exemplifies the Emirate's deep-rooted commitment to innovation and pushing boundaries. Just as Dubai never settles for complacency, but rather is driven by an insatiable thirst for progress, the same holds true for its Capital Market. With a dedicated team of 20 professionals on the ground, Edelman Smithfield takes great pride in contributing to the success of the #CapitalMarketSummit, collaborating closely with the dynamic team at #DFM. Here's to a future filled with continued success and innovation in financial markets! #CapitalMarketSummit #DFM #Dubai

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I had the privilege to review this extraordinary book currently the number #1 bestseller on Amazon for Business Entrepreneurship by my good friend Tojin Thomas Eapen, PhD and Daniel J. Finkenstadt This is undoubtedly a seminal work offering an entirely new approach to problem solvin. Please do check out my review and pre order your copies now. You won’t regret it ! https://lnkd.in/egNzVRdT #Entrepreneurship #Business

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The #uae has always had vision - a legacy left by the late Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Zayed and this is another visionary move. #AI is part of any country’s strategic future and the UAE is and has already been building this with technology at the centre of the journey to 2071 and beyond. #web3 and #blockchain are key elements also. With the recent massive deal between Microsoft and G42 recently announced the country is way ahead of so many global economies. Future proofing the economic security and future of the country!

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I had the pleasure of attending the World Economic Forum in #Riyadh 🇸🇦during a pivotal moment for global economic development and geopolitics. A standout experience was the panel "Investing amid Global Fracture" featuring Larry Fink BlackRock; Lubna Olayan, William Ford, General Atlantic and the amazing moderator Saadia Zahidi. The key insights I gathered emphasize that AI and technology are poised to be major competitive advantages. However, these technologies demand significant energy resources. This is particularly challenging for the rapidly developing regions in the Global South, where energy supply issues are prevalent. Addressing this challenge is crucial not only for economic growth but also for social progress. The critical factor in overcoming these hurdles will be financing. It's essential for the global community, private sector companies, and institutions like the World Bank to innovate and collaborate on funding solutions. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can effectively meet these challenges. What are your views on balancing technological advancement with sustainable energy solutions?

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We have just released our annual #reputation research study to the media. This year, for the first time, we included a ranking of professions and occupations in the UAE with the best reputations   This is the sixth time we have conducted this study, which was conducted in partnership with our #PR client HAYAH Insurance, the UAE’s leading digital #insurance company   As highlighted in the image added to this post, #doctors #engineers and #teachers received the most votes for having the best reputations. During 2022 and 2023 #recruiters were voted as having the worst reputation however this year it is the turn for #creditcard companies, with #telesales/call centers coming second and #socialmedia #influencers third; independent #financialadvisers (IFAs) were once again ranked seventh, above #bank advisers   Congratulations to recruiters for improving their reputation, feel obliged to say this as some of my closest friends run recruitment companies!   If you work in the #media and haven’t yet received our press release, which also includes insights on the reputations of independent #financialadvisers #estateagents and many other professions, please send me a DM Some of the coverage so far appears in the links below, looking forward to appearing on Dubai Eye 103.8 Business show next Monday to discuss this study Arabian Business - https://lnkd.in/evebGRcT Investment International - https://lnkd.in/ehbaYcKi OneArabia ME - https://lnkd.in/etUJs4ds ETHRWorld - https://lnkd.in/esuQU2zA The Brew News - https://lnkd.in/eRSkfyCz mid-east.info - https://lnkd.in/eVxrzaqp Do you agree or disagree with the opinions of the +1,000 UAE residents who participated in our research?   Insight Discovery #reputationmanagement #insights #research #Dubai #AbuDhabi Mohamed Seghir David Howard Arvind Krishnan Mariam Al Maskari #headhunters #professions

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Ashraf Shakah's article beautifully captures how boycott campaigns are making a significant impact globally, especially amidst the crisis in Gaza. His insights highlight how consumer activism on social media is reshaping brand behavior, emphasizing authenticity and moral alignment. Ashraf reminds us of the power in driving genuine connections with diverse cultures, essential for brands navigating today's global landscape. Memac Ogilvy Ogilvy #BoycottCampaigns #ConsumerActivism #GlobalSolidarity #Authenticity

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I am thrilled to share my latest story featured in the June issue of Forbes Middle East magazine: "Asset Managers Betting On The Middle East." Discover insights into the top 7 asset managers who have recently established operations in the region and learn more about the factors driving this strategic shift. Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/d3at5veC

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Today, there is increased focus by the region – both governments and the private sector – to strengthen their influence in emerging urban hubs in Africa. Among G20 economies, China and India now top their go-to list.   Three factors have led to this: The first is the rise in the economic and geopolitical clout of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. After staying in the shadows of the global power corridors for long, these nations have underlined that when it comes to the Arab world, their voices really matter. These nations, with reliable allies in the East and the West, are asserting their role in advancing the transformation of the Global South societies.   The second is the boredom and fatigue induced by the Western media’s often lazy, inaccurate, and biased reporting of the region. This, in no way, undermines of the role of journalism to challenge the status quo and there is no denying that brilliant journalism about the region did exist and still does.   The third factor is that the 200 million plus digital-savvy youth in MENA, who form about 60 per cent of the population, have their own well-rounded worldview. They are informed by social connectivity, and disappointed with irresponsible political complacence and the enduring cycle of strife in many parts of the Arab world. Read the full piece on IPRA International Public Relations Association https://lnkd.in/dutyPWUz

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