SR_SA_05_1.mp4

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SR_SA_06_ v5 (1) (2).vtt

ENGLISH

{{00:00:18}}
The region, let's face it,
definitely truck record a

{{00:00:21}}
little bit everywhere, right?

{{00:00:21}}
But including like in our region
here in the Middle East, truck

{{00:00:25}}
ecology is very important.

{{00:00:26}}
So in our case, it's true that
we are a new fund as a team,

{{00:00:29}}
we're four new GPs together.

{{00:00:31}}
But two of our partners were active in
the region, they were super performing

{{00:00:36}}
in their previous funds in the GCC.

{{00:00:38}}
So that helped a little bit, right?

{{00:00:40}}
But we still, the four of us
as a team, we're a new team.

{{00:00:43}}
So I think what works what we noticed
that has very good let's say impact.

{{00:00:49}}
When LPs hear it is when we tell
them that our commitment is really

{{00:00:53}}
important from the first closing, right?

{{00:00:54}}
We're showing a lot of GP commitment
up front in the first closing.

{{00:00:58}}
So a lot of GPs were really appreciating
seeing that commitment in there.

{{00:01:02}}
I feel like that definitely made some
difference in our conversations, right?

{{00:01:06}}
And then individually, all of us
as partners, we were in the visa

{{00:01:10}}
soon in different regions, right?

{{00:01:12}}
So having that track record of, Knowing
what grows a startup, how to pick

{{00:01:17}}
investments, all those things from our
different backgrounds in the startup

{{00:01:21}}
scene also helps showing that we're
actually understanding how to, invest.

{{00:01:27}}
We know how to pick the right startups,
how to build relationships with founders,

{{00:01:32}}
how to bring them values in that sense.

{{00:01:34}}
So I think that also experience, despite
being only in BC helped showing that

{{00:01:39}}
we're hands on when it comes to to, to the
startup scene in general, now, one thing

{{00:01:45}}
as well that I would really emphasize is
to focus as a GPU to show what value you

{{00:01:52}}
want to bring to your investments, right?

{{00:01:54}}
When you're in the beginning, you
still didn't make investments.

{{00:01:56}}
So doing the first investments is
super important and doing them to

{{00:02:01}}
showcase the beginning of the portfolio.

{{00:02:03}}
That's something exceptional.

{{00:02:05}}
And great to do if you have the news
and if you can do it, we're housing

{{00:02:09}}
those deals to show a little bit
of the beginning of the portfolio,

{{00:02:11}}
but also showing a strategy that is
thought strategy on how we're going

{{00:02:17}}
to bring value to the ecosystem.

{{00:02:19}}
How are you going to be guided
to those portfolio companies?

{{00:02:21}}
Because We understand the challenges
of the region exit is one of them.

{{00:02:25}}
So what strategy do you have to,

{{00:02:29}}
fix those issues?

{{00:02:30}}
That sounds right.

{{00:02:31}}
So in our case, one of the things
that we really also saw that, LPs

{{00:02:36}}
appreciate is that we have an established
strategy and we're acting on it, how

{{00:02:40}}
we are planning to make our startups.

{{00:02:42}}
Having better chances at exit.

{{00:02:44}}
How are we going to bring value to them?

{{00:02:46}}
What things we can help
them do differently or help

{{00:02:49}}
them do more efficiently?

{{00:02:51}}
I think as a thorough strategy also
is very important when you are, in

{{00:02:55}}
general for any GPs, but especially when
you are first GP, to demonstrate that

{{00:03:00}}
you understand the market, what's the
challenges of the market, and why are you

{{00:03:05}}
the right team to bring value to that?

{{00:03:09}}
Those are the first
thoughts that come to mind.

{{00:03:21}}
Saudi Arabia was, always welcoming, right?

{{00:03:23}}
And two of our partners
were active here before.

{{00:03:27}}
And, we know the markets for a while.

{{00:03:30}}
So now we're just a new GP that is up and
running and active and everything we're

{{00:03:33}}
receiving these really positive signals.

{{00:03:36}}
Saudi Arabia is a market that
we cannot ignore when you're

{{00:03:38}}
investing in the MENA region.

{{00:03:39}}
It has so much to offer.

{{00:03:41}}
It's vibrating.

{{00:03:42}}
The vision 2030 is really
bullish and inspiring.

{{00:03:47}}
And so much tech is with it
to enable that journey, right?

{{00:03:50}}
So this is a great opportunity for
VCs to empower the right teams to help

{{00:03:54}}
lead that vision, that perspective.

{{00:03:56}}
So I would say welcoming is the
word that I would pick for that.

{{00:03:59}}
Definitely welcoming ecosystem.

{{00:04:00}}
But then at the same time, I believe
that Saudi is an important market

{{00:04:05}}
where a presence on site is very
important, and then I think when the

{{00:04:09}}
ecosystem also shares the importance
of that, it just makes sense.

{{00:04:13}}
For example, in our case, we are born
in Doha, we started in Doha, we have

{{00:04:16}}
our anchor investor, Qatar Investment
Authority, but from day one, we also

{{00:04:20}}
opened an office to be present in
Saudi, be present in the ecosystem

{{00:04:25}}
and help grow startups regionally from
that perspective, we always wear the

{{00:04:29}}
regional hat when it comes to that.

{{00:04:42}}
San Francisco, and I have ties also
to France and a little bit to North

{{00:04:45}}
Africa and everywhere I went, it's
all about relationships, right?

{{00:04:49}}
But in some places for example, in
the U. S., I used to be you go meet

{{00:04:55}}
you expect things to go in a certain
way, you expect things to be fast the,

{{00:04:58}}
relationship part may, might not be as
important as in places like here, right?

{{00:05:03}}
And I would really advise GPs or
people interested in coming to this

{{00:05:08}}
part of the world, including Saudi,
is to be patient and to care about the

{{00:05:13}}
importance of building relationships.

{{00:05:15}}
That's definitely something super
important, especially for me, I spent

{{00:05:18}}
most of my career in San Francisco.

{{00:05:19}}
So it was remarkably different for me to
see the importance of that, and I actually

{{00:05:24}}
enjoyed it because it's really you see
that when you build strong relationship

{{00:05:28}}
of trust that you feel loyalty, you feel
very important things in business that we

{{00:05:34}}
might not assume in other places, right?

{{00:05:37}}
So being patient, taking the time to
build genuine relationships walking

{{00:05:42}}
the talk with venture capital funds.

{{00:05:44}}
So the best way to sell is
to show great investments.

{{00:05:48}}
And to show how you're empowering
those great investments to scale

{{00:05:53}}
and grow and do great in that sense.

{{00:05:55}}
So I think walking the talk, sometimes
starting small, walking the talk, showing

{{00:05:59}}
what you're capable of with building the
relationships, is the great, combination

{{00:06:05}}
for such ecosystems like Saudi Arabia.

The region, let's face it,
definitely truck record a

But including like in our region
here in the Middle East, truck

So in our case, it's true that
we are a new fund as a team,

But two of our partners were active in
the region, they were super performing

But we still, the four of us
as a team, we're a new team.

So I think what works what we noticed
that has very good let's say impact.

When LPs hear it is when we tell
them that our commitment is really

We're showing a lot of GP commitment
up front in the first closing.

So a lot of GPs were really appreciating
seeing that commitment in there.

I feel like that definitely made some
difference in our conversations, right?

And then individually, all of us
as partners, we were in the visa

So having that track record of, Knowing
what grows a startup, how to pick

investments, all those things from our
different backgrounds in the startup

scene also helps showing that we're
actually understanding how to, invest.

We know how to pick the right startups,
how to build relationships with founders,

So I think that also experience, despite
being only in BC helped showing that

we're hands on when it comes to to, to the
startup scene in general, now, one thing

as well that I would really emphasize is
to focus as a GPU to show what value you

want to bring to your investments, right?

When you're in the beginning, you
still didn't make investments.

So doing the first investments is
super important and doing them to

And great to do if you have the news
and if you can do it, we're housing

those deals to show a little bit
of the beginning of the portfolio,

but also showing a strategy that is
thought strategy on how we're going

How are you going to be guided
to those portfolio companies?

Because We understand the challenges
of the region exit is one of them.

So in our case, one of the things
that we really also saw that, LPs

appreciate is that we have an established
strategy and we're acting on it, how

What things we can help
them do differently or help

I think as a thorough strategy also
is very important when you are, in

general for any GPs, but especially when
you are first GP, to demonstrate that

you understand the market, what's the
challenges of the market, and why are you

Those are the first
thoughts that come to mind.

Saudi Arabia was, always welcoming, right?

And two of our partners
were active here before.

So now we're just a new GP that is up and
running and active and everything we're

Saudi Arabia is a market that
we cannot ignore when you're

The vision 2030 is really
bullish and inspiring.

And so much tech is with it
to enable that journey, right?

So this is a great opportunity for
VCs to empower the right teams to help

So I would say welcoming is the
word that I would pick for that.

But then at the same time, I believe
that Saudi is an important market

where a presence on site is very
important, and then I think when the

ecosystem also shares the importance
of that, it just makes sense.

For example, in our case, we are born
in Doha, we started in Doha, we have

our anchor investor, Qatar Investment
Authority, but from day one, we also

opened an office to be present in
Saudi, be present in the ecosystem

and help grow startups regionally from
that perspective, we always wear the

San Francisco, and I have ties also
to France and a little bit to North

Africa and everywhere I went, it's
all about relationships, right?

But in some places for example, in
the U. S., I used to be you go meet

you expect things to go in a certain
way, you expect things to be fast the,

relationship part may, might not be as
important as in places like here, right?

And I would really advise GPs or
people interested in coming to this

part of the world, including Saudi,
is to be patient and to care about the

That's definitely something super
important, especially for me, I spent

So it was remarkably different for me to
see the importance of that, and I actually

enjoyed it because it's really you see
that when you build strong relationship

of trust that you feel loyalty, you feel
very important things in business that we

So being patient, taking the time to
build genuine relationships walking

So the best way to sell is
to show great investments.

And to show how you're empowering
those great investments to scale

So I think walking the talk, sometimes
starting small, walking the talk, showing

what you're capable of with building the
relationships, is the great, combination