In this episode, Hall welcomes Tarek Assaad, Managing Partner of Algebra Ventures.

Algebra Ventures is Egypt’s leading technology VC firm. Based in Cairo, the company is a $50-million venture capital fund that invests in early-stage technology companies in Egypt and the MENA region. Its LPs include Cisco, the European Commission, EAEF, EBRD, IFC, and private family offices. Algebra has invested in 15 transformative technology companies in MENA, including HolidayMe, Trella, Elmenus, GoodsMart, and Halan.

Tarek started his career as an engineer at Lucent Technologies then as a software developer for SAQQARA Systems, an internet startup in Silicon Valley. He later became General Manager of CID Consulting where he led the company’s high growth, helping it to become one of the leading local consulting firms in Egypt. Apart from his role at Algebra Ventures, Tarek is Managing Partner at Ideavelopers where he has been managing $50m of VC investments since 2009, including some of Egypt’s most prominent technology startups. Tarek is a director of Smart Card Applications, Siwareand IdealRatings. In this role, he was also responsible for the investment in Fawry, the leading bill payment and presentment company in Egypt, which realized a $100m exit in 2015. Tarek holds a B.Sc. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Tarek speaks with Hall about the state of investing in Egypt and what excites him as an investor. He also talks about Algebra’s investment thesis, some of the startups they have funded, and the general challenges his startups have faced. 

You can visit Algebra Ventures at www.algebraventures.com. 

Tarek can be contacted via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/tassaad/, via Twitter at www.Twitter.com/tassaad?lang=en, and via email at tarek@algebraventures.com. 

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Disclaimer:
Hall T Martin is the director of Investor Connect, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the education of investors for early-stage funding. All opinions expressed by Hall and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Investor Connect. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for the basis of investment decisions.