Investor Spotlight: Ramy Adeeb of 1984 Ventures
Hear from seasoned investor Ramy Adeeb of 1984 Ventures as he shares his investment philosophy, recent deals, and advice for startups. Don't miss his participation in our upcoming Demo Day!
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Investor Showcase: 1984 Ventures
How does your company’s approach to venture investing align with what excites you most about your role (as Managing Partner)?
What excites me most is seeing the potential in people and things: how an individual can grow and what a product can become. And our approach to venture very much parallels this: we invest based on the quality of the individuals, their market insights, and the early signs of product market fit.
What stages, industries, and regions does 1984 Ventures focus on?
We primarily focus on seed stage startups targeting the US market. We are agnostic about the industry, but care about software being an integral part of the solution. We typically invest in vertical saas, infrastructure software, proptech and fintech, and digital healthcare.
As Managing Partner at 1984 Ventures, what unique value do you and your team offer portfolio companies beyond capital?
Founder therapy — supporting the individuals behind these companies,, building up their confidence and making them aware of what they can accomplish. It's a skill I’ve learned switching back and forth between founding startups and backing others throughout my career.
We spoke with Ramy Adeeb, Managing Partner at 1984 Ventures
The Story Behind the Venture
What are you currently working on, and what motivated you to pursue this path?
I run 1984 Ventures where we focus on investing in Software/AI companies at the inception or seed stage.
I’ve had a conventional career in software startups and VC firms but with an unconventional path– flip-flopping from being an operator to VC to operator and back again to VC. This experience has motivated me to spend as much of my time with founders–helping them see around the corner and dream what things can become. Which is the reason behind 1984 Ventures.
Connecting with the MENA Startup Community
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA's global startup community?
I left my heart in Mena ♥️
Sourcing and Standout Factors
How do you typically source new deals, and what makes a potential investment stand out to you?
The best deals come from other founders. If you want to reach a VC, find a way to connect with one of their founders and use that to get an intro.
Individuals stand out because they have a spike; a unique characteristic aligned with the startup’s direction. While ideas stand out because they’re solving a hair-on-fire problem.
Key Qualities in Founding Teams
What are the key qualities or green flags you look for in founding teams before making an investment?
Drive, a unique market insight, and ability to build software at warp speed.
Unique Value Beyond Capital
What unique value do you bring to your portfolio companies beyond capital?
My specialty is in “founder therapy” — supporting the founders in our portfolio, building up their confidence and making them aware of what they can accomplish. It's a skill I’ve learned switching back and forth between founding startups and backing others throughout my career.
I also help with fundraising, the lifeline of the startup, and recruiting, because the team you build is the company you build.
Follow-on Capital
Do you provide follow-on capital to portfolio companies?
We don't. We focus on seed and help connect our companies with Series A investors at the right moment.
Investor's Advice for Founders
Most founders aren’t limited by what they can do but rather by what they think they can do. Herein lies the importance of great startup advice–not to tell you the answer but to show you what’s possible. Most founders are not limited by their abilities, but rather by their mindset and limiting beliefs. They often underestimate their own potential and capabilities. This is where great startup advice comes into play. It's not about giving founders the answers; it's about expanding their horizons and showing them what's possible.
Recent Investment Example
What is a recent deal you’ve completed? Can you briefly describe why you decided to invest?
We most recently invested in Tandem which provides a marketplace for flexible office space. Covid transformed how we work, leading to increased office vacancies and demand for flexible leases. Despite this burgeoning trend, brokers ignore this segment because its comparatively lower fees than longer-term leases. Tandem spotted the tailwind and the gap in the market, creating a marketplace for flexible office space. They leverage LLMs to automate various broker workflows and have hit $500K revenue in their first year.
We were hugely excited to back the founding team: CEO Rafi Sands is a seasoned startup operator. He teamed up with Sean Miller, who previously ran engineering at another 1984 portfolio company, and with Kristen Gallogly, a veteran of the commercial real estate industry.
Current Investment Activity
Are you still deploying capital into new deals?
Yes.
Bonus: Favorite Dish from MENA
What is your favorite dish from the MENA world?
Koshari (because there’s nothing like it anywhere else!)
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MENA Startups Pitch to Top American VCs – Featuring Investor Ramy!
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🪐 Events within the Viaka network & beyond:
Negotiating Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Effective Deal-Making - October 22nd (Virtual)
UM6P & UM6P Ventures Silicon Valley Event - October 24th (CA)
Future of No Code & Low Code with AI- October 29th- (Register to See Address)
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