Minting Unicorns – Blockchain, AI and Dubai, with Sonia Gokhale, VentureSouq

Today, we are kicking off a new series entitled Minting Unicorns – Blockchain, AI and Dubai, sponsored by the City of Dubai. 

Dubai is the new global center of gravity, connecting the world in a way few places can. As a hub for trade, tourism, innovation, and finance, Dubai offers the ideal environment for startups and scale-ups to thrive. Entrepreneurs find a home here, whether in health-tech, fintech, AI, or renewable energy, supported by SME-focused programs that empower high-potential companies to scale globally. From flexible regulations to tax incentives, world-class infrastructure to access to global investors managing $1 trillion, Dubai understands what businesses need to scale fast. 

In today’s episode, we are speaking with Sonia Gokhale, Co-founder at VentureSouq, to understand how venture capital is thriving within all that Dubai has to offer.

  • Questions: 
    1. Tell me and my audience a little bit about you.
    2. What is VentureSouq? What is your thesis as a venture fund?
    3. Why focus on Fintech and ClimateTech?
    4. How would you describe the tech and startup environment in Dubai?
    5. You are a MENA based venture fund, what drove you to start here? Is this where you are physically based as well?
    6. Dubai is increasingly being seen as a global fintech and ClimateTech hub. Can you explain how Dubai’s startup ecosystem supports these sectors, and what advantages this offers for US-based investors looking to expand into the MENA region?
    7. How does the DIFC, the AI Campus or the Blockchain center contributing to success of the startups you invest in? 
    8. What percentage of your portfolio is based in MENA?
    9. Can you give me an example or tell me a story of success coming out of VentureSouq? How did VentureSouq fuel that success?
    10. What advice would you give to the U.S.-based startups considering Dubai for expansion?

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