Viaka Newsletter: Network Member Building a VC fund focused on Immigrant Founders!
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Hi everyone! This week, we’re highlighting Network member Ramzi Rafih. Ramzi has amazing experiences and is currently running No Label Ventures, a VC fund he started that focuses on immigrant founders.
What do you currently do?
Ramzi Rafih is the founder of No Label Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on backing and helping immigrant founders in Europe. Before NLV, Ramzi worked as an investor at KKR, a leading private equity firm.
What prompted you to go down this career path and how did you get into this field?
Ramzi's vision for NLV is to make capitalism more inclusive by freeing entrepreneurs, including those under-represented, from unnecessary and unfair obstacles. He hopes that NLV's mission will help build a more just and equitable world. Ramzi thinks NLV can become the go-to fund for any outstanding immigrant founder looking for a pre-Seed and Seed in Europe and that NLV will become the leading diversity focused fund in Europe.
What originally got you interested in connecting with the MENA startup ecosystem and other like-minded folks here in North America/Europe?
Ramzi's passion for the MENA startup ecosystem was sparked by his own experience as an immigrant in the UK. He sought to connect with like-minded individuals who are interested in the MENA startup ecosystem, and he found this in the Viaka Network.
What types of connections are you looking to make through Viaka? This can be from the MENA side, as well as with other MENA-connected folks in the Viaka Network
Through this network he is looking to make connections with entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders in the MENA region, and also with other MENA-connected individuals in the Viaka Network.
Bonus: favorite dish from the MENA world?
Ramzi is passionate about the food of the MENA world, and his favorite dish is Kibbeh. Kibbeh is a popular Lebanese dish made of meat and bulgur.
Promising Opportunities from Our Partners
New opportunities added in February 2023:
No Label Ventures backs immigrant founders in Europe at the earliest stages of startup creation. Have an amazing idea and looking for your first institutional funding? This is the fund for you.
YallaPlay is looking for expert advice on setting up a scalable employee incentive program and exploring the possibility of a rebrand to better address global markets.
NOMU Group is closing a pre-Series A round, to build out their products and grow market share and support their vision for a sustainable, equitable, and personalized food system for families and business in MENA and beyond.
Designer-24 is looking for expert advice to help them build a strategy and template to effectively franchise their model in smaller MENA markets.
Click on the button below to see all current opportunities & get involved:
Exciting Announcements From Our Network
Below is a list of updates, wins, and asks emanating from members of the Viaka Network in the “West.”
The next Demo Day is scheduled! Five early-stage Web3 founders in the Viaka Network will present their startups, and receive actionable feedback (and potentially raise funds) from investors, advisors, and serial entrepreneurs in their field. Sign up here! This event is open to the public.
Lunch and learn with NOMU group! Viaka has invited NOMU's leadership team to share more about MENA's food supply chain & logistics industry and how they’re revolutionizing it. This is a great opportunity to learn more about one of MENA's most promising startups! Sign up here!
Startup Boston is hosting an in-person event for startups and investors! Their latest Dealflow Mixer will take place on March 14th in Downtown Boston. Check out more info here!
More Viaka events are already planned for 2023! Join the Network to get involved with our monthly coffee chats, demo days, and upcoming in-person meetups.
If you’re a member of our Network and would like to share your own update next week, email info.viaka@gmail.com or submit an update via this form.
Read of the Week
Viaka has launched a Network Reading List, where Network members are encouraged to submit media suggestions of their own.
Our suggested read this week is this piece from Fast Company Middle East about the most desirable skills in the MENA region!
Weekly Digest
Check out our weekly digest — we provide news from all across the MENA startup ecosystem, every single Friday. Be sure to follow our LinkedIn and Twitter for more.
That’s it for this week. Thank you!
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