Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital, shares invaluable insights into how VCs assess founders and startups, particularly in the early stages. In part 3 of this 3-part series, Khaled reflects on lessons learned from his portfolio companies and 15+ years in VC, and explores the evolution of venture capital in MENA. He shares his vision for Nuwa Capital’s future, emphasizing the role of trust, transparency, and sourcing innovative startups to shape the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Related Episodes:
How MENA VCs Evaluate Founders – Insights from Khaled Talhouni – E6 pt. 1: https://youtu.be/_LW4aiggEuw
Part 2, How to Raise Your First Round: https://youtu.be/h8OJ69nYpLA

Key takeaways:
- Collaboration among VCs is reshaping the funding landscape, emphasizing partnerships over competition.
- Trust and transparency between founders and investors are critical for long-term success.
- The MENA region’s venture capital ecosystem is maturing, offering more opportunities for startups.
- Khaled highlights the importance of aligning investment strategies with the unique needs of each founder.
- Effective portfolio management requires balancing founder autonomy with strategic guidance from investors.

Chapters:
00:00 Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital (Part 3)
00:09 Who is your favorite founder or startup in your portfolio?
02:51 Who are your favorite VCs?
04:12 Is there a Jordanian VC mafia in MENA?
07:44 Do you have deals you regret not doing?
09:45 What are things that VCs do that aren't helpful for entrepreneurs?
11:10 Gut feeling or data?
12:45 Red flags in founders?
13:41 Good Founder/VC relationships
15:52 Nature of conflicts
17:24 How have VCs evolved over the last decade?
19:05 What are your next steps with Nuwa

Links:
What makes for a great founder? – https://www.nuwacapital.io/insights/what-makes-for-a-great-founder
Nuwa Capital Portfolio – https://www.nuwacapital.io/portfolio