In an era dominated by data, true innovation stems from human stories. Margaret Heffernan reveals how narrative, not metrics, drives creativity, resilience, and long-term success in uncertain times.

Philippines-based fintech Salmon secures $88M in equity and bonds to expand AI-driven credit solutions, marking a milestone Nordic bond issuance in Southeast Asia.

EMSTEEL earns a provisional “AA” ESG rating from MSCI, highlighting its global leadership in sustainable steel production and commitment to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals.

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, innovation strategist Sagar Shah joins hosts Grant Niven and Simon Hardie to unpack the concept of building and scaling innovation ecosystems. Drawing on his diverse experience across corporate finance, economic policy, and fintech ecosystem development, Sagar offers a detailed and pragmatic look at how innovation ecosystems can be strategically designed to unlock economic value and societal impact—particularly in emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia.

In an age ruled by data, resilience comes from human connection, creativity, and storytelling — not just metrics. Margaret Heffernan reminds us that thriving in uncertainty demands more than analysis; it requires the human qualities that can't be quantified.

NayaOne partners with Google Cloud to simplify enterprise AI adoption, combining cutting-edge tech with a secure, scalable platform to fast-track innovation and growth.

As UAE summer travel surges, Priority Pass offers travellers access to 1,700+ global lounges, new AI booking tools, and wellness services—meeting rising demand for comfort, speed and premium experiences at every stage of the journey.

Tandem’s 2024 ESG Report reveals major progress in green lending, CO₂ reduction, and sustainable finance initiatives across the UK.

Binance opens access to its crypto services in Syria, offering financial inclusion, remittance tools, and education as U.S. sanctions ease.

Startup Genome’s 2025 report reveals a 31% global ecosystem value drop, while Asia and Africa show strong growth. The rise of AI-native ecosystems is reshaping global innovation.

The UK has launched the Smart Data Group to drive innovation and growth through secure data-sharing, starting with the energy sector.

With £3B+ in investments, major AI initiatives, and global leaders in attendance, London Tech Week 2025 reinforced the UK’s vision to lead in tech, drive decentralised innovation, and secure its position as Europe’s AI powerhouse.

Khazna Data Centers partners with NVIDIA to develop AI factories across MEA, supporting the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and advancing the UAE’s position as a global AI infrastructure hub.

Singapore’s VFlowTech enters the Middle East with $20.5M in funding to deploy vanadium battery storage solutions, supporting regional net-zero targets.

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Mark Walker and Simon Hardie are joined by Hanouf Abdulelah Bin Saeed, General Manager at Stake, a digital real estate investment platform that is revolutionising access to property ownership in the Middle East. Drawing on over 17 years of experience in banking, regulation, and investment, Hanouf offers a deep and practical perspective on how technology and finance are converging to make real estate more inclusive and transparent—particularly in Saudi Arabia.

OpenTrade secures $7M in strategic funding to scale its RWA-backed stablecoin yield platform, targeting global retail access to dollar- and euro-denominated yields.

Stripe, Shopify, and Square prove that compelling storytelling isn’t just for B2C. Discover how these fintech giants use brand, mission, and community-driven narratives to win trust, grow users, and drive innovation in the connected ecosystem economy.

Bank al Etihad teams up with Visa and ecolytiq to launch a carbon tracking tool in its app, helping customers monitor their environmental impact and make greener choices.

Tesla’s stock tumbles amid political risks, while global markets face trade uncertainty. UAE markets outperform with strong earnings and foreign investment, and gold remains a vital long-term hedge in volatile times.

Brink’s partners with Meedaf to launch a transformative joint venture, enhancing cash management, ATM services, and digital retail solutions across the UAE and GCC through cutting-edge technology and operational expertise.

The UAE Space Agency remains the only space agency globally to earn the CIPS Ethics Kitemark, reinforcing its commitment to ethical procurement, transparency, and global best practices.

Emirates becomes Official Partner of Al Ain FC, supporting the club’s FIFA Club World Cup™ journey and the 25/26 season, reinforcing the UAE's growing role in global football.

AI-native ERP platform Rillet secures $25M Series A led by Sequoia to modernize accounting workflows with real-time automation, helping finance teams close books faster and make smarter decisions.

Greenlite AI secures $15M Series A to expand its AI agents for KYC, AML, and compliance. Trusted by major financial institutions, its platform is reshaping how firms handle regulatory operations.

In episode 10 of Born to Disrupt, hosts Grant Niven and Mark Walker are joined by Ahmed Amer, CEO of EMURGO Labs, to discuss how Web3, stablecoins, and tokenisation are shaping the future of digital economies, particularly across Africa and the Middle East. With a background in investment banking, venture capital, and e-commerce, Ahmed offers both strategic and practical insights into how blockchain technologies are being applied in real-world contexts—beyond the hype and towards measurable impact.

Airwallex raises $300M at a $6.2B valuation to expand into Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, strengthening its global fintech infrastructure and enabling borderless banking for 150,000+ businesses.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office unveils new talent programmes to equip Emiratis with AI and Industry 4.0 skills, supporting industrial growth and leadership in Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector.

Fintech Fringe introduces Marketplace, a new platform feature offering UK fintechs direct access to expert support across compliance, talent, and fundraising—accelerating growth with AI-powered insights and trusted connections.

Neo Space Group secures top honors at BroadcastPro Awards for its cutting-edge In-Flight Connectivity solution, redefining passenger experiences with global, high-speed satellite internet.

eToro teams up with Generali to offer digital life insurance and retirement savings products in France, marking a key expansion through its local subsidiary, eToro Patrimoine.