Nazmia is a young writer passionate about making complex data and research more approachable, understandable and entertaining. She’s always been an educator at heart, taking on mentorship roles teaching creative and business writing to the scientific community. She is currently pursuing her passion at the intersection of technology and healthcare through a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering. When she’s not in the lab pouring herself into the magic of tissue engineering and reconstruction, she’s writing and educating the world about all things biotech, healthtech, insurtech and edutech. If you're looking for practical insights with a touch of whimsy, Nazmia is the voice to follow with a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving digital and tech industry. 
Nazmia holds a BS in Biology and is currently pursuing her MS in Biomedical Engineering at the American University of Beirut. She specializes in cartilage tissue research, and uses her writing as a therapeutic escape to produce captivating pieces that take her readers on a journey with every word.

Nazmia Nassereddine

Dubai's Venture Capital Ecosystem

Articles

United Arab Emirates

Top Ten Funded Startups in MENA 2023

The Top 10 Most Funded Startups in MENA in 2023

Startup

Staff Writer

MENA’s New Funds: US $7.5 Billion Raised in Q1 2024

Entrepreneurship

Global

Top 5 Funded Middle Eastern Startups in March 2024

Top 5 Funded Startups in MENAPT for March 2024: Insights into VC Funding Trends

"We invest in the founders that are building radical, outlandish, out-there solutions," says Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital, Khaled Talhouni on the Perfect Pitch Podcast

"Building from zero to a million is harder than running a billion-dollar company,” says Noor Sweid, the Founding and Managing Partner of Global Ventures

"Building from zero to a million is harder than running a billion-dollar company,” says Noor Sweid at Global Ventures

For the Perfect Pitch, “Do your homework" says Dubai Future District Fund's CEO, Sharif El-Badawi

For the Perfect Pitch, “Do your homework" says DFDF CEO, Sharif El-Badawi

Erika is Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer at Lucidity Insights. Having  spent 15 years advising Fortune 500 companies  and multinational conglomerates  from around the world on how to grow businesses in emerging markets, Erika found that data and knowledge underpinned and empowered strategic decision-making. The creation of Lucidity Insights was inspired by the idea that strategic C-suite level data and insights could empower startups and Venture Capitalists in the MENAPT region, elevating the entire regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Data is not just for the Chief Executive, or the data analyst after-all. Democratizing access to quality data across the tech ecosystem will elevate every startup and every investors’ decision-making, and thus, benefit the economy, overall.

Erika has worked with data to develop comprehensive business success stories and strategies for her entire professional career. She is a thought leader in growth strategies in fast-moving emerging markets, with a focus on Middle Eastern and Asian Markets. She is an expert on the startup ecosystems in the Middle East, and a thought leader on entrepreneurship, disruptive technologies and sustainability. She has worked with both government and corporates clients, across over 30 different industry verticals and in over 40 countries. She is best described as a data-curious strategic thinker and advisor, who also happens to be an  enthusiastic storyteller and writer.

Erika graduated from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with an Executive MBA (MSx), and also holds degrees from McGill University (B.Sc Neuroscience) and the University of Cambridge (Sustainability in Business). She speaks English and Japanese, is conversational in French, and speaks survival Arabic. In her spare time, she is an avid globe trotter, having travelled to over 70 countries, and counts scuba-diving, free-diving and yoga among her favourite activities. She is a self-described wellness-junkie and adventure enthusiast. She is also a dog mum.

Co-Founder & Chief Content Officer

Erika Masako Welch

United States

Top 10 Universities Fostering Entrepreneurship Worldwide

The World’s Leading Universities for Entrepreneurs

Ashok is a storyteller who uses numbers as his medium. He loves to crunch data, analyze it, and investigate deeper questions until the stories begin to emerge on their own. Ashok comes from a finance and consulting background, having worked in the strategy consulting and private equity fields across the Middle East and Emerging Asia for over 15 years, prior to becoming a business writer. When it comes to tech stories, Ashok has a penchant for startups in the fintech, B2B SaaS, AI and ML spaces. He loves writing about Venture Capital, M&A and the general investor landscape of startup ecosystems.
Ashok holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as a diploma in Finance. He speaks English and Hindi fluently.

Researcher

Ashok Raman

Saudi Arabia

Overview of MENA Tech Venture Funding and the Evolution of Venture Funding in Dubai

Economies

Driving Startup Success: Dubai's Attraction for Scaleups Growth

Driving Scaleup Success: Dubai's Attractiveness for Startup Growth

India

Celebrating Middle Eastern Roots: 10 Influential Founders from Silicon Valley

10 Notable Middle Eastern Executive and Founders who have made their Mark in Silicon Valley

From Startups to Unicorns: Explore Dubai's Growing Venture Funding Landscape

The Evolution of Dubai Venture Funding: Dubai's Maturing Scaleups and Unicorns

See How Dubai is the Region's Top Investable Startup Ecosystems for the Past Three Years

Why Dubai is the Region's Top Investable Startup Ecosystems

MENA Region's Growth in Mega-Rounds

The Surge of Mega-Round Investments in MENA

Dominance of UAE's Tech Scaleups in the MENA Region

UAE's Tech Scaleups Prominence Among MENA

Building Resilience: Consolidation and the Future of Dubai and the MENA Startup Ecosystem

Building Resilience: Consolidation and the Future of the MENA Startup Ecosystem

Exploring the Hottest Tech Sectors Expected to Thrive in 2023

Exciting Investment Prospects: Tech Sectors Set to Shine in 2023

Navigating Path to Dubai's Digital Economy Ambition: Expected Headwinds in Dubai’s Funding Landscape

Expected Headwinds in Dubai’s Funding Landscape

Global Venture Capitalists Speak Up: The Global Reach of Dubai's Thriving Startup Ecosystem

Dubai's Global Attractiveness: Perspectives from Venture Capitalists

From Internet City to the D33 Economy Agenda: A Look into Dubai's Digital Economy Strategy

Driving Digital Economy: Dubai's Initiatives in Building a Resilient Tech Startup Landscape

MENA's startup growth continues to be led by Dubai: over $11.7 billion lifetime raised across 306 scale-ups

MENA's startup growth continues to be led by Dubai: over $11.7B lifetime raised across 306 scaleups

DCDE Publishes 2023 Venture Report; Dubai adds 64 more scale-ups in 2022

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy Publishes 2023 Venture Report; Dubai adds 64 more scale-ups in 2022

We are a team of passionate Researchers, Data Junkies, and Story-Tellers that believe there is not enough quality business insights and compelling data analysis available in the marketplace, told in the formats users want. We want to give an insider's look into the industries, businesses and economies that are changing the world today, so our users can become inspired, empowered and equipped to run their businesses as best they can.

Lucidity Insights Research Team

Infobytes

VC Funding Sources by Country (2021 - 2024)

VC Funding Sources by Country from 2021 to 2024

Top 10 Most Influential Investors in the Middle East

Top 10 Most Active Investors in MENAT

Read the MENA and Global CEO Perspectives in Anticipating GDP Changes in the Coming Year

CEO Perspectives: Anticipated GDP Changes in the Coming Year

Total New Funds per Quarter in US$ Billion from Q1 2022 to Q4 2024

Q1 2022 - Q4 2024: New Funds per Quarter in US$ Billion

MENAPT Funding Rounds Total Deal Value & Deal Count - March 2024 vs. 2023

MENAPT Funding Rounds Total Deal Value ($USm) & Deal Count - Mar 24 vs. Mar 23

VC Winter Persists: MENAPT's January 2024 Start-up Funding Plummets Over 50% Compared to Last Year, Israel and UAE Lead Funding Rounds

VC Winter Persists: MENAPT's January 2024 Start-up Funding Plummets Over 50% Compared to Last Year

2023's Venture Capital Funding Trends by Growth Stage and Country in the MENA Region

2023 MENA Region: Venture Capital Funding Trends by Growth Stage and Country

In 2023, Startup Funding Value is Split by Equity or Debt Funding

2023 Funding Value Split by Equity/Debt Funding

Top 10 Locations Ranked by Overall Score in the World

Top 10 Locations Ranked by Overall Score

Pitchbook's Top 20 VC Ecosystems in the World for 2023 will Explore the Elite Cities Dominating the Rankings

Pitchbook's Top 20 VC Ecosystems in the World 2023

Top 20 Fastest Growing VC Ecosystems Globally from Q2 2017 - Q3 2023 by Pitchbook

Top 20 Fastest Growing VC Ecosystems Globally (Q2 2017 - Q3 2023)

MENA (ex. Israel) VC Investments projected to reach 9.7 Billion by 2028 with 75% Allocated to Mature Growth-Stage Startup

MENA (ex. Israel) VC Investments projected to reach 9.7 Billion by 2028

MENA (Excluding Israel) VC Funding Still Skewed Toward Early-Stage Startups Compared to Global Averages: 59% vs 74%

MENA (ex. Israel) VC Funding still Skewed Towards Early Stage Startups vs Global Averages

Startup Ecosystems in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt Get More Invested than Germany and Brazil

UAE Startup Ecosystem Gets More Invested than Germany and Brazil

Decline Continues in Q2 2023 for Equity Funding & Deals in MENA, with Data Indicating the Weakest VC Investment Quarter in Two Years

Disclosed Equity Funding & Deals in MENA: Decline Continues in Q2 2023

After Central Banks Worldwide Aggressively Raised Interest Rates Starting in January 2022, It is Expected to Begin Tapering Off

Interest Rates Expected to Start Tapering Off

After a Bleak Q2, Global Venture Funding Shows the First Signs of Recovery in Q3 2023, with a Rebound of 11% QoQ

Global Venture Funding Shows First Signs of Recovery in Q3 2023, up 11% QoQ

Average Valuation Fluctuations for Series A & Seed Rounds in the UAE

MENA (ex. Israel) deal flow and funding slump showing first signs of bottoming out

MENA (ex. Israel) Deal Flow and Funding Slump Showing First Signs of Bottoming Out

World's Largest Technology Events 2024

The Largest Tech Conference in the World

GITEX 2024: A Look Back at the Evolution of Dubai's Premier Tech Exhibition

The Evolution of GITEX Global

If the Data Could Speak… – Average Funds Raised by Founder Based on Alma Mater ($USD Millions)

Average Funds Raised by Founder Based on Alma Mater ($USD Millions)

Top Ten Global Universities for Entrepreneurship 2023 (based on graduate founders and funds raised)

Top 10 Universities for Entrepreneurship 2023 (based on graduate founders and funds raised)

Total Capital Raised in Middle East and North Africa Region by Country: 2012-2022

MENA Total Capital Raised, by Country, 2012-2022

Funding Rounds in MENA by Country: 2012-2022

MENA Number of Funding Rounds, by Country, 2012-2022

The UAE-Based Main Active Investors

UAE Main Active Investors

Average Funding Value in Dubai by Stage in USD Millions

Average Funding Value in Dubai by Stage (In USD Millions)

Dubai's Fast-Growing Startups Are Receiving More Funding Rounds in the Past Two Years

Round of Funding Evolution in Dubai

The Funding Types of Fundraising for Dubai-Based Startups in Millions of USD

Dubai-Based Startups Fundraising by Funding Type (Millions USD)

No. of MENA Funding Rounds Based on Funding Amounts Between 2021 and 2022

Number of MENA Funding Rounds Based on Funding Bracket Between 2021 and 2022

Total Funding for the Middle East and North Africa from 2012 to 2022 in US Dollars

MENA Total Funding 2012-2022, US$ Million

MENA Scaleup Funding Rounds from 2010 Till 2022

The Size of MENA Scaleup Funding Rounds from 2010 Till 2022

Cities in Middle East and North Africa that are Home to the Most Unicorns, Based on Verifiable Public Disclosures

Cities Home to the Most Unicorns in MENA (Based on Verifiable Public Disclosures)

The Top 5 Markets in Terms of Fundraising in the Last 5 Years from 2018-2022

Top 5 Markets in Terms of Fundraising, Last 5 Years (2018-2022)

The Top 5 Markets in Terms of Deal Flow in the Last 3 Years from 2020-2022

Top 5 Markets in Terms of Deal Flow, Last 3 Years (2020-2022)

Tech Venture Funding in the Middle East and North Africa Region (2012-2022)

Tech Funding in MENA from 2012 to 2022

Ranking the UAE's Top Five Disclosed Startup Funding Rounds in 2022

UAE's Top 5 Disclosed Funding Rounds in 2022

Ranking the UAE's Top Ten Startup Fundraising Rounds to Date (as of 2022)

UAE's Top 10 Startup Fundraising Rounds to Date (2022)

Tech Scaleup MENA Matrix - Considers all funding between 2010 to 2022

Tech Scaleup MENA Matrix (2010 to 2022)

MENA in Numbers: Tech Scaleups and the Cumulative Capital Raised in the Middle East and North Africa Region (Excluding Israel)

Tech Scaleups & Cumulative Capital Raised by Scaleups in MENA

Dominant Cities in MENA Based on the Number of Scaleups in the Top 50 (As of December 2022)

Dominant MENA Cities based on Number of Tech Scaleups

Charting Dubai's Tech Success: Top 15 Industries with Scaleup Dominance

Top 15 Tech Industries in Dubai by Number of Scaleups

How Many Unicorns are there in the Middle East and North Africa?

Cities Home to the Most Unicorns in MENA

These Are the Top 15 Exits in the Middle East and North Africa Market

Top 15 Exits in MENA

Top 10 MENA Countries for Tech Scale-ups 2023

Top 10 MENA Countries for Tech Scaleups 2023

Increasing Number of Dubai-based Scale-ups: From 2021 to 2022

Increasing Number of Dubai Scaleups: 2021 to 2022

Ranking Top Investors in Dubai-based Tech Startups Between 2018 to 2022

Top Investors in Dubai-based Tech Startups (2018-2022)

Top 10 Tech Scale-up Cities in MENA (By Number of Scale-ups in 2022)

Top 10 Tech Scaleup Cities in MENA (By Number of Scaleups in 2022)

MENA Tech Scaleup Yearly Funding Activity from 2016 to 2022 (US$ Billion)

MENA Tech Scaleup Yearly Funding Activity (2016 to 2022)

This is how MENA Scaleups are getting funded

MENA Scaleups' Capital Raised Distribution (2010-2022)

Special Reports

Dubai Green Future: Powered by Renewable Energy 2024 Report

Dubai’s Green Future: Powered by Renewable Energy

Sustainability & ClimateTech

Top Blockchain Innovations in 2024 | Lucidity Insights

Special Report: Innovations in Blockchain

Crypto, Blockchain & Web3

To Your Doorstep: The Future of Food Delivery in Saudi Arabia

The Future of Food Delivery in Saudi Arabia

FoodTech

Egypt

Special Report: Investing in Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem in 2024

Investing in Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem

Special Report "The Business of Impact Investing in 2023"

The Business of Impact Investing in 2023

Special Report: "Exploring MENA Healthtech Business"

The Business of Healthtech in MENA

HealthTech

Special Report: "Sustainable International Trade for a Resilient Future"

Sustainable International Trade for a Resilient Future

Special Report: The State of the Electric Vehicle Revolution 2023

The State of the Electric Vehicle Revolution 2023

Mobility

Special Report: Foodtech in MENA, How Innovation is Transforming the Culinary Landscape

The Growing Business of Foodtech

Special Report: "Opportunities in Web3"

Opportunities in Web3

Dubai's Venture Capital Ecosystem | Special Report

The Future of Fintech in Africa

Fintech

Diriyah and Saudi's the Giga Projects | Special Report

Diriyah and the Giga Projects: Defining the New Saudi Arabia

Tourism

The Evolution of the KSA Startup Ecosystem: A Deep Dive into Growth and Innovation (2010-2022)

The Evolution of Saudi Arabia Startup Ecosystem 2010-2022

Dubai's Digital Economy and Startup Ecosystem | Special Report

Dubai’s Digital Economy and Its Expanding Startup Ecosystem

MENA's M&A Landscape 2017-2022: A Comprehensive Review

The Middle East & North Africa’s M&A Landscape 2017-2022

Sustainable Innovations and Startups in the MENA Region

Innovations In International Trade

Dubai's Venture Capital Ecosystem

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