📬 Viaka 2024 Recap: A Year of Growth, Connection & Momentum
Join us for our final wrap-up of the year: Reflecting on 2024 — Events, Milestones, Partnerships & What’s Next for Viaka!
Dear Viaka Community,
As we close the chapter on 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an extraordinary year—one marked by meaningful milestones, wonderful partnerships, and countless moments of connection. Whether in bustling cities or on virtual platforms, every conversation, event, and collaboration has reaffirmed our core mission: to connect, empower, and amplify opportunities for our global network of founders, investors, and experts.
📈 Growth Across Platforms: A Thriving Community
Our online presence saw tremendous growth, signaling a thriving and engaged community:
LinkedIn Following: Doubled organically
Newsletter Subscribers: Grew by 300%
Profile Impressions: Surpassed 120,000+ on LinkedIn
These numbers are more than metrics—they’re a reflection of a vibrant network showing up, engaging, and believing in Viaka’s mission. Growth isn’t about numbers; it’s about the people behind them.
🌍 Global Mixer Series: Cities We Connected In
This year, Viaka’s in-person mixers became the heartbeat of our community, spreading across cities with vibrant energy and deep conversations.
We hosted impactful and well-attended gatherings in: Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Paris, Boston, New York City, Toronto, Chicago. On average, these events saw around 30 attendees.
In Paris, the energy was palpable. The September event buzzed with excitement, and conversations continued long after the official program concluded, demonstrating the strong sense of community within the Viaka network.
In Cambridge and New York, our final events of the year—supported by DLA Piper and the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT—each attracted over 70 attendees, opening new doors for infinite collaboration. While both gatherings shared an atmosphere of connection and collaboration, they each carried their own unique energy.
In New York, the room buzzed with momentum as attendees forged new partnerships and sparked exciting ideas.
In Cambridge, conversations flowed effortlessly, creating an intimate space for meaningful exchanges.
Both mixers served as powerful reminders of just how far we’ve come—and how much more lies ahead. A special thank you to our community and partners at DLA Piper and the Legatum Center at MIT.
We also connected at key industry gatherings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, and San Diego, creating touch-points for members to meetup.
These mixers were Viaka in action. Like the modern Silk Road we’re inspired by, each gathering became a vital junction where talent, ideas, and opportunities flowed freely, building bridges that spanned continents and sparked collaboration.
💻 Virtual Programming: Deeper Insights, Broader Reach
Viaka’s virtual sessions brought the global network together in thought-provoking and actionable discussions. They were a gateway to learning, collaboration, and meaningful global connections.
This year featured:
3 Virtual Demo Days: Spotlighting innovation in Food & Bev, Artificial Intelligence, and MENA Startups.
🏆 A notable success story is Aman Ibrahim of DeepTrust AI, who secured funding from TRANSFORM VC, led by Rama Chakaki, both of whom participated in our AI Virtual Demo Day. This exemplifies the power of Viaka's platform in connecting entrepreneurs with investors.
4 Webinars: Diving into Startup Law, Tech Recruiting, Product-Market Fit, and Fundraising Prep.
✅ In September, we hosted a webinar focused on preparing for a startup’s first fundraising round, featuring an exceptional lineup of experts: Hisham Kassim (Kassim Legal), Mokhtar Ibrahim (BECO Capital), Rawan Baddour, and Sara Rona (SVB). From legal structures to investor syndicate management, the session delivered invaluable insights for founders gearing up for their first fundraising journey. Supported by incredible sponsors like Kassim Legal, SVB, Supportful, Spiky.ai, and TAP, this event was a testament to the depth and quality of conversations happening in our virtual programming.
4 Ecosystem Deep-Dives: Unpacking opportunities in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Each session averaged 100+ attendees, underscoring the appetite for these knowledge-rich exchanges. These events equipped founders and operators with actionable strategies for growth and resilience.
✅ In July, we hosted an engaging webinar spotlighting Tunisia's thriving tech ecosystem 🇹🇳, bringing together industry leaders to unpack the nation's unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities. Moderated by Hossam Shafick (Silicon Badia), the panel featured insights from Manar Labidi (Cynoia), Amin Ben Abderrahman (Konnect Networks), Salma Baghdadi (Ujenzi Advisory), and Faten Aissi (Flat6Labs).
From the transformative impact of Tunisia's Startup Act to recent success stories like Instadeep and Expensya, the session delved beyond the headlines to provide an in-depth look at what makes Tunisia a standout player in the regional startup landscape.
🚀 Startup Success: Celebrating Big Wins Across the Network
Startups within the Viaka network continued to make headlines this year, achieving remarkable milestones:
YolaFresh: Raised a $7M Series A (Alum of our Climate Tech Demo Day)
Meacor: Secured a $15M Series A ((worked closely with Viaka through IM Fndng & featured in newsletter)
Brev.dev: Acquired by NVIDIA (interviewed in Viaka’s newsletter)
🏆 2024 also saw examples of new hires via Viaka introductions or securing funding through one of our demo days.
These stories highlight what’s possible when connections are intentional, and support systems are strong.
🤝 Partnerships: Strengthening the Ecosystem Together
2024 was a banner year for strategic partnerships, with alliances that elevated our programming and expanded our reach. Our partnerships were more than just collaborations; they are accelerators for meaningful change.
Our Key Partners of the Year:
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) & Managing Director Sara Rona: Long-time supporters of Viaka, they played a pivotal role this year by co-hosting an exclusive dinner during NY Tech Week, fostering high-level conversations among key industry players.
Viaka dinner in NYC sponsored & co-hosted with SVB in June during Tech Week Supportful, led by Fadi Boulus: Supportful has backed multiple events with unwavering support throughout the year. Notably, they played a key role in our insightful session on the Lebanese economy, exploring its shift towards decentralization across banking, electricity, governance, and e-commerce. This session was held in collaboration with Endeavor Lebanon, LebNet, and Razor Capital.
One of our most attended sessions sponsored by Supportful Taft Law & Abe Wehbi: They are one of our most consistent sponsors, offering invaluable legal expertise and guidance to our community while actively participating in key events and initiatives. In August, Taft hosted an exceptional mixer in Chicago, with incredible support from George Khalife of TMX Group and Ahmad Elzahdan of Audo, making it a standout moment in our year.
From the Chicago mixer in August hosted at Taft Law Spiky.AI: Proud sponsors of multiple Viaka events, their cutting-edge technology has become an integral part of our operations—and we’re avid users!
Intersect Hub & Rateb Rabi: A driving force in empowering Palestinian innovation, helping amplify voices and ideas on a global scale.
Each partnership brought unique strengths to the table, helping us deliver better programming, deeper connections, and a more resilient ecosystem.
📚 Viaka’s Resource-Rich Network: Tools for Growth
In 2024, we launched the Viaka Investor Directory—a curated guide featuring:
250+ MENA-based investors
50+ MENA Diaspora-led investors
This directory serves as a powerful resource, giving our members access to the stakeholders shaping investment across the region. Resources like these are catalysts for informed, strategic growth.
💼 Viaka Premium Membership: Unlocking Deeper Value
2024 marked the official launch of Viaka Premium Membership, offering exclusive perks like:
Personalized introductions
Curated event access
Tailored networking opportunities
Viaka’s Premium Membership is about unlocking opportunities that matter. It’s an investment in deeper, more meaningful connections.
✨ Looking Ahead to 2025: The Road Ahead
As we gear up for 2025, here’s what’s on the horizon:
Enhanced premium membership offerings
Sophisticated virtual and in-person event programming
Deeper strategic partnerships
A reimagined digital experience and website revamp
Our vision is clear: to create more opportunities, build stronger connections, and deliver real value where it matters most.
💙 A Final Thank You from Viaka
To every member who attended a mixer, asked a question during a panel, shared a resource, or introduced someone new to Viaka—thank you. This community thrives because of your energy, engagement, and belief in what we’re building together.
In a year marked by profound challenges across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, it’s easy to feel that our efforts are small in comparison. But we believe that every connection made, every opportunity shared, and every step forward contributes to a larger story—one of resilience, hope, and lasting impact.
Here’s to a brighter, bolder 2025—together. 🚀
Warm regards,
The Viaka Team