Viaka is growing!📈
Our new associates are shining examples of the MENA region's global tech talent pool.
Our weekly newsletter shines a spotlight on members of our Viaka Network. Plus, you'll find relevant job postings, upcoming events, and reading materials. Subscribe below!
Viaka is growing! (with the help of TAP)
Today marks an important milestone in Viaka’s journey.
Throughout the year, I’ve sprinkled in metrics around our growth as a community and platform. We’re now at 650 total members (nearly 50 of them on our Premium tier), have facilitated 4 in-person gatherings this year, and hosted 2 virtual panels + 1 demo day.
Today’s milestone, however, is about the team behind the action.
Malak Abdelwahab joins us to support our Digital Media & Community efforts. Malak is a graduate of Palestine’s prestigious Birzeit University and worked previously at the Palestine Museum as content creator, curator, and coordinator. Among other things, she’ll play a huge role in improving Viaka’s digital branding, content creation, and event coordination, as well as onboarding new members and assisting on projects for Premium members.
Talent Acceleration Platform (TAP) connected us with Malak (more on them and a special offer for Viaka Network members below). The founders, Christian and Jafar, are members of the Viaka Network, and the entire team was extremely helpful in sourcing talent based in Palestine for this role.
Malak joins Layss Majed, who has supported me as a Founder Associate since January. I met Layss via his internship at plus.vc in 2022 and I’m eternally grateful to Zainab Alsharif for the introduction. In addition to plus.vc, Layss interned at BDC, Canada’s largest venture investor and currently sits Front Row Ventures QC investment team. He has already been immensely helpful in launching new initiatives like our corporate sponsorship packages, coordinating our Food & Bev Demo Day, prepping for an upcoming AI Demo Day, and making invaluable connections for our Premium members.
On top of it all, Layss and Malak both speak English, Arabic, and French - the three most common languages of Viaka’s members!
I’m honored and privileged to have them onboard and sincerely hope that Viaka can cultivate the MENA region’s immense talent - whether they be in Palestine or in North America - not only through our Network, but also through our growing team.
If you run an organization, startup, or company - I highly encourage you to do the same!
— Hani
Talent Acceleration Platform (TAP) is providing the startups in the Viaka community a 3-month trial with covered salaries for junior talent.
TAP trains top-tier talent in Palestine and Jordan for roles in software development, business development, and digital marketing.
Hire directly from their pool of diverse remote-ready talent and fill a position 50% faster than other channels.
Learn more here and schedule an intro call directly.
Below is a list of upcoming events from the Viaka Network & beyond over the next couple of weeks:
How to recruit (for non-recruiters) - April 25th (Virtual)
Broader Community:
TechWadi Ramadan San Francisco Iftar - April 2nd (In-Person, SF)
FounderSquare - NYC Network and Pitch- April 4th (In-Person, NYC)
From MENA to Wall Street: The Arab Identity and Pathways into Finance - April 4th (In-Person, NYC)
Global Venture Labs Demo Day - April 5th (In-Person, Boston)
Beyond The Algorithm, AI Strategies With Aarti Samani- April 4th (Virtual)
Al-Kindi Club x Dr. Noor Shaker - April 16th (In-Person, London)
Salmine Sassi: Testing your Value Proposition - April 24th (Virtual)
IMEU Benefit Dinner - April 25th (In-Person, NYC)
Prosperity through Entrepreneurship Conference - April 30th (In-Person, Boston)
Dubai FinTech Summit 2024 - May 6th & 7th (In-Person, Dubai)
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Network members are encouraged to submit media suggestions to our Reading List
Venture Crossroads: Pakistan's Corporate Giants at a Critical Juncture (Venture Associate at Mach49, Kaamil Hussein)
How VCs can beat currency depreciation (The Realistic Optimist)
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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