Participated · Series A · Sep 2024

Podeo is a UAE-based podcast distribution and creator platform offering end-to-end production tools (editing, sound design, branding, mixing), hosting, and programmatic ad insertion. The app enables creators to mark notes and receive a polished, ready-for-distribution episode within 24 hours. Podeo does not charge listeners a subscription fee and plans to eliminate creator subscription packages, instead relying on advertising and exploring memberships, tipping, and tokenization as monetization paths. The company has onboarded more than 100,000 creators in under two years and reached a subscriber base of 50 million. Podeo has formed partnerships with radio stations, the Jawaker game app, and in-flight entertainment provider Anuvu to distribute content across decentralized channels. The company came to life in 2020, relocated to Dubai, and plans to expand into Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. Podeo is a Lebanon-based mobile app that offers the largest podcast catalogue in the Arab world, localizing the audio experience with popular shows in Arabic and English. Founded in 2019, the company operates recording studios and offices in Beirut. It experienced a 48% drop in downloads and streams in 2020 but rebounded, reporting 700% growth in listens in Q2 of last year. Podeo raised an undisclosed Seed round led by Razor Capital with co-investment from Globivest VC and other investors; the funding will be used to widen accessibility to Arabic listeners. Management says the funds will strengthen Podeo's leading position in the Arab podcast industry and double down on growth. After the August Beirut explosion damaged its studios and offices, Podeo enabled listeners and creators to publish audio snippets that were heard by more than seven million people across 157 countries.

Participated · Series A · Jun 2021

BASMA.com is a digital healthcare platform focused on orthodontics across the MENA region, headquartered in London. The company manufactures ISO- and CE-certified invisible teeth aligners that are 3D-printed in-house and supplied through a network of partner dental clinics. Its treatments target mild to moderate teeth crowding and spacing, with an average treatment duration of six months. BASMA.com was founded by Dr. Cherif Massoud and Hrag Hayrabedian. The company plans to use new funding to hire talent, expand geographically across the Middle East, and grow its partner clinic network across KSA, UAE and the broader GCC to reach more cities and countries. It recently completed a Series A round to support these expansion and operational objectives. Basma is a direct-to-consumer healthcare brand that enables customers to obtain a 3D scan at a Basma Booth or order an at-home impression kit. Customers who take impressions receive a prescribed series of clear aligners shipped to their homes, each aligner moving teeth a predetermined step toward the target position. The service is intended to reduce the need for monthly in-person orthodontist adjustments. Led by Founder and CEO Dr. Cherif Massoud, the company focuses on remote orthodontic treatment delivery using scans and impression kits. Basma intends to use the newly raised capital to accelerate expansion across the MENA region. The company announced a seed financing of US $1.2M.