Venture capital is very local — and founders need to understand why.

Recorded at Istanbul Slush’D , this episode features Burcu Ağma in conversation with Walid Mansour, co-founder and managing partner of Middle East Venture Partners, one of the most active VC firms in the MENA region.

They discuss Istanbul’s evolving startup ecosystem, the founder traits that consistently lead to success, and why resilience, long-term commitment, and company culture matter more than shortcuts. Walid shares an investor’s perspective on building companies in fragmented markets, the importance of local relationships in venture capital, and why pitches are only the beginning of a much deeper process.

The conversation also explores how global technology trends are shaping MENA startups, why international investors value businesses that can aggregate multiple markets, and what founders must understand before seeking venture capital in the region.

A grounded, experience-driven episode for founders, operators, and investors building technology companies in Istanbul, MENA, and beyond.

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Timestamps

[00:00 ] – Welcome to Slush’D Istanbul & the energy of the city
[01:19 ] – Istanbul’s startup ecosystem through an investor’s eyes
[02:45 ] – How the ecosystem has evolved over 15 years
[03:10 ] – Founder pain, resilience, and long-term commitment
[04:30 ] – Why building culture is as important as building product
[05:10 ] – What strong company culture really looks like
[06:20 ] – How investors misunderstand MENA markets
[07:10 ] – Why aggregating multiple markets creates value
[08:48 ] – Global-first companies coming out of MENA
[09:55 ] – Why pitches are just the beginning
[10:40 ] – “VC is very local”: the role of relationships
[13:45 ] – Advice to founders building in the region
[15:48 ] – Final message: Go for it, keep at it

Credits

Host:⁠ ⁠Burcu Ağma⁠⁠ - Co-Founder Connectmind AI

Guest: ⁠⁠Walid Mansour -⁠ Co-founder, Co-CEO MEVP

Recorded at: ⁠ Istanbul Slush’D 2025⁠⁠ – ⁠⁠KoProduction Podcast Studio⁠⁠ 

Production: ⁠Poddict⁠⁠