Rami Al Karmi

Bitcoin will prove to be a better benchmark than the S&P the coming decade I really enjoyed the chaos DeepSeek has introduced to the world. As an entrepreneur, it was a stark reminder that you can compete with anyone, and that David can beat Goliath! This is even crazier when you rewatch Sam Altman’s arrogant response saying "It's totally hopeless to compete with us”. I'll add the link to the first comment. From an investor/capital allocator perspective, it has clarified why tech stocks are considered risk-on assets. This isn't just a minor blip; it's a wake-up call that exposes the risk profile of tech stocks. Nvidia experiencing the largest single-day capital evaporation in the history of Wall Street is very telling, 589 Billion USD to be exact. If we look broadly at the S&P 500, the risk is even more concentrated. Currently, the S&P is hovering at around 230% of GDP, surpassing even the heights of the 2000 tech bubble and the 1929 crash. And if that's not enough, the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla, now make up 33% of the S&P 500 as of January 2025. These tech giants aren't just leading the pack; they're practically the whole show. They've contributed to over half of the S&P's returns since late 2022. That level of concentration risk is staggering. Bitcoin's correlation with high-growth, risk-on assets is a symptom of information asymmetry. For example, understanding Nvidia requires expertise in multiple advanced fields like computer science (GPU architecture, parallel computing, AI algorithms) and material science (semiconductor design, fabrication processes). Mastering these areas could take 5-10 years. In contrast, Bitcoin’s fundamentals, proof of work, decentralization, and monetary theory, are far simpler. Reading Dr. Saifedean Ammous The Bitcoin Standard can give you a solid grasp of its core ideas in weeks. Nvidia’s risk profile is tied to its technical complexity and competitive landscape, while Bitcoin’s value is rooted in its simplicity and scarcity. Investors and capital allocators need to re-examine how they invest in tech. Passive flows into index and growth stocks are riskier than many realize. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is simpler to grasp; its value comes from adoption and scarcity, not complex engineering, and it is much less likely to be disrupted. Here’s why: you cannot create another Bitcoin. Many have tried, as evidenced by the tens of thousands of altcoins, but Bitcoin remains unique. It is a system of rules without rulers, there’s no CEO or company controlling it. The code is fixed and immutable, and anyone who wants Bitcoin must contribute time and energy to secure the network. This immaculate conception and ground-up distribution make Bitcoin the world’s first truly digital commodity, bound by the rules of math and physics. To me, it’s the least risky investment over a long time horizon, and short-term price movements should not matter as much

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𝗤𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 In a Gulf Times article on DLT innovation in Islamic finance, the Qatar Financial Centre launched a blockchain-based proof of concept demonstrating a digital receipt system on the Hedera’s HashSphere to enhance transparency and compliance in asset-backed finance. The collaboration brings together AlRayan Bank, Blade Labs, and Hashgraph. Hashgraph will be delivering and operating the DLT infrastructure built on Hedera technology, ensuring secure and scalable network performance. This represents innovation accelerating across the region. The convergence of traditional finance with distributed ledger technology opens new possibilities for Islamic finance institutions to scale efficiently while maintaining compliance. I'm very excited to see how this proof of concept will bring greater advancement to a fast progressing sector and place, where regulatory frameworks advance alongside technical innovation to create meaningful real-world applications. Read the full article: [Link in the comments section.] #Qatar #IslamicFinance #Blockchain #Innovation

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GCC countries are building insane AI ecosystems 🤯 All GCC countries have taken proactive positions in developing their AI ecosystems. These countries have prioritised three major requirements for AI technology to be advanced: 👉🏼 Access to capital 👉🏼 Favourable regulatory environments 👉🏼 Reliable and scalable energy infrastructure Here's an overview of the largest funds across the GCC countries investing directly in AI: 🇸🇦 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 💰 ~$40 billion (AI fund under development) led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 💰 ~$10-20 billion (including MGX) led by Mubadala, ADQ. 🇶🇦 Qatar 💰 ~$5-10 billion led by Qatar Investment Authority. The three main investment areas across all three of these major funds? 👉🏼 Generative AI 👉🏼 Semiconductors 👉🏼 Data centres and infrastructure Now is the time to be building AI companies in GCC countries. #founders #vc #startup #ai

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GCC Update ! MENA Funding Deals Roundup | June 16–30, 2025 The second half of June closed with $160M+ in funding and strategic activity across MENA’s innovation ecosystem, highlighting investor appetite across AI, fintech, logistics, agri-finance, and enterprise tech. 💼 Sector Highlights - AI & Infrastructure: $55M for AppliedAI and $3M for SaturnX reflect deepening bets on foundational tech - Fintech & WealthTech: OCTA ($20M credit facility), XFOLIO ($2M), and Prop-AI ($1.5M) signal momentum in contract-to-cash, real estate AI, and SME finance - Mobility & Fleet Tech: PetroApp ($50M) and Octane ($5.2M) underscore rising demand for digital-first logistics - Loyalty & Consumer Platforms: Related ($8M + acquisition) pushes the bar on engagement tech - DeepTech, AgriTech, HRTech: Seed rounds for Darwinz AI, AgriCash, Talenteo, and Aria Ventures spotlight region-wide depth across verticals 🌍 Country Snapshot 🇦🇪 UAE: Led with 6+ deals including AppliedAI, OCTA, Related, SaturnX, and Prop-AI 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Major wins for PetroApp, Morni, and strategic backers like Jadwa Investment and STV 🇪🇬 Egypt: Continued diversification with deals for Octane, Nowlun, AgriCash, Roomz. rent, and Aria Ventures 🇮🇶 Iraq: Netaj launched Nawat, Iraq’s first VC studio, fueling founder-first innovation 🇩🇿 Algeria & 🇳🇬 Nigeria: Talenteo and Winich Farms marked regional scale-up moves from North and West Africa 💰 Notable Fundraises - AppliedAI (UAE): $55M Series A led by G42, Bessemer, and e& — CEO Arya H. Bolurfrushan - PetroApp (KSA): $50M led by Jadwa to expand retail services and fleet tech OCTA (UAE): $20M credit facility to strengthen SME financial infrastructure — CEO Jon Edward Santillan - Related (UAE): $8M + acquisition of Uplines — CEO Rabih Farhat - Octane (Egypt): $5.2M to scale its AI-powered fleet expense platform — CEO Amr Gamal - SaturnX (UAE): $3M seed to power stablecoin-based global transfers — Founder: Mirnas Brescic, CFA 🧭 Strategic Moves to Watch - Stryde acquires Qora71 (Acquired by Stryde), launching Stryde71 to democratize angel co-investing - Netaj launches Nawat, a VC studio reshaping Iraq’s startup scene - Aria Ventures commits EGP 50M to back deep-tech innovation in Egypt Morni (KSA) secures funding from STV’s $100M NICE Fund to scale its mobility ecosystem 💡 From AI to agri-finance and tokenized infrastructure, MENA’s innovation economy is accelerating across verticals and geographies. 🔎 Follow StrategyConnect for biweekly updates on funding, acquisitions, and public-private momentum shaping the region’s future. #MENAFunding #MENAStartups #AI #Fintech #MobilityTech #SaaS #AgriTech #VentureCapital #MENADeals #StrategyConnect #InnovationEconomy #FounderFunding #MENA2025

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