PayPal pledges $100 million across the Middle East and Africa to fuel innovation, support startups, and expand digital commerce. The investment leverages PayPal Ventures, technology, and partnerships to help businesses scale and access global markets.

British Airways’ new partnership with Apple lets passengers spend Avios on Apple products. Christine Bourdon of Designit says it signals a shift—frequent flyer programmes are evolving into lifestyle ecosystems, blending travel, tech, and everyday value.

Revolut unveils its new London global HQ, pledging £3B investment and 1,000 UK jobs. Part of a £10B global growth plan, the fintech giant targets 100M customers by 2027 and expansion into 30+ new markets by 2030.

From NVIDIA’s AI revolution to Adobe’s creative reinvention and Patagonia’s purpose-driven governance, leading companies are proving that storytelling isn’t soft power—it’s strategic infrastructure for shaping markets, inspiring trust, and future-proofing organisations.

Prosper AI secures $5M seed funding to scale its healthcare-specialized voice AI agents, automating patient and payer calls, reducing costs, and improving efficiency for hospitals, billing companies, and health systems.

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Simon Hardie and Grant Niven are joined by Darko Atijas, Chief Operating Officer at Tech Universal and a senior figure in the family office and private equity space. With a career spanning two decades across Australia, the UK and now the Middle East, Darko offers a candid and insightful view into the region’s evolving investment landscape, the challenges facing SMEs, and the opportunities emerging from the intersection of technology, AI and finance.

Bybit partners with QNB and DMZ Finance to introduce QCDT, the first DFSA-approved tokenised money market fund, unlocking $1B institutional borrowing capacity and bridging traditional finance with digital assets in the Middle East.

dLocal teams up with Bolt to streamline local payments across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The partnership uses dLocal’s single API to enable cost-efficient, reliable payment solutions, supporting drivers, riders, and Bolt’s expansion into emerging markets.

Oxford Quantum Circuits and Digital Realty unveil the first Quantum-AI Data Centre in NYC, integrating OQC’s GENESIS quantum computer with NVIDIA superchips to power secure, scalable breakthroughs in finance, security, and AI under the UK–US tech alliance.

A practical guide to crafting your organisation’s story through the Narrative Canvas—aligning leaders, engaging employees, and driving transformation with clarity, purpose, and collaboration. Includes real-world examples from global enterprise and financial services transformations.

AI-powered customer-experience platform Clarity, formerly Anecdote, secures $12M led by Prosus Ventures. With rapid growth and expansion to New York, London, and Riyadh, Clarity aims to modernize customer operations in regulated industries through secure, compliant, and scalable AI.

Anthemis and Cambridge AI Venture Partners unveil CommonAI, a collaborative platform providing AI start-ups with shared IP, affordable GPU resources, and strategic investment, aiming to strengthen UK and European competitiveness against Big Tech dominance.

Nothing secures $200M in Series C funding to scale its AI-native hardware and software ecosystem, moving beyond smartphones into wearables and future devices, aiming to create hyper-personalised operating systems across consumer tech.

Saudi fintech unicorn Tamara raises up to $2.4B in the region’s largest asset-backed facility, refinancing prior debt and supporting new credit and payment products, accelerating growth, and aligning with KSA’s Vision 2030 and financial sector goals.

Ant Group’s AQ app launches AI updates to improve healthcare access nationwide, while Ant Fortune opens AI tools for financial institutions, bridging urban-rural gaps and empowering doctors and investors with advanced AI capabilities.

Apave Group has opened a state-of-the-art testing lab in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its UAE presence. The facility strengthens geotechnical, civil, and materials testing capabilities, supporting safety, innovation, and the UAE’s expanding industrial and economic ambitions.

Digital transformation often fails due to cultural resistance, misaligned leadership, and talent gaps. Learn how human-centred strategies, leadership buy-in, and continuous upskilling drive successful change in organisations, illustrated by Under Armour and IKEA case studies.

Qualcomm and HARMAN are joining forces to integrate Snapdragon® Cockpit Elite platforms with HARMAN’s Ready portfolio, bringing AI-enabled, personalized in-cabin and ADAS experiences for automakers, with a focus on Europe and China’s growing demand for intelligent mobility.

Tandem, an AI-driven platform transforming screen time into personalised storybooks and activities for children, has won the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge 2025. Already in 1,500+ homes, it supports early development, emotional wellbeing, and family connection.

Safwan Sobhan warns of a looming $15 trillion infrastructure gap, stressing the need for modern energy, transport, and resilient cities. Without investment, nations risk falling behind in talent, capital, and technology-driven growth.

Botim and CBE launch a landmark partnership, enabling Ethiopians in the UAE to send secure, flexible remittances to Ethiopia via direct accounts, cash pick-up, and mobile wallets, boosting financial access and supporting Ethiopia’s growing economy.

Saudi eLeague Fighting Season 3 crowned champions in Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 at SEF Arena, Riyadh. The tournament highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing esports ecosystem, with local stars and international players delivering world-class performances.

Sharmadean Reid shares how vision, trust, small teams, and hands-on leadership keep teams motivated in fast-growth, high-stakes ventures, turning risky bets into calculated opportunities for extraordinary success.

GCC-based VC firm VentureSouq closes its second FinTech Fund, targeting early-stage startups across MENA in payments, digital banking, InsurTech, and AI-driven solutions, backed by top regional and global institutional investors.

A Ponemon Institute study sponsored by OPSWAT reveals 61% of organizations faced insider-driven file breaches, costing $2.7M each. With adversaries exploiting AI, enterprises are shifting to unified, multi-layered platforms for resilience in an evolving threat landscape.

Eton Solutions launches EtonAI™, the first AI platform fully integrated into wealth managers’ workflows, automating onboarding, reconciliations, tax processing, and audits. ISO 42001 certified, it ensures privacy and transparency while driving efficiency for PEs, RIAs, and family offices.

In this episode of "Born to Disrupt," hosts Grant Niven and Simon Hardy welcome Mark Dymock from Standard Chartered Ventures. The discussion centers around the theme of disruption in the banking industry, highlighting Mark's journey from traditional finance roles to his current position in venture building. The conversation explores the strategic shift of Standard Chartered Ventures to the Middle East, emphasizing the region's potential as a hub for innovation and growth. Key topics include the role of digital assets, the importance of aligning with regional visions like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and the challenges and opportunities in navigating regulatory environments. The episode concludes with insights into the evolving landscape of fintech and the ongoing journey of innovation in the financial sector.

BSI introduces a certification service to help organizations meet the UK’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF Gamma 0.4), boosting trust in digital verification services across financial, public, and private sectors following new data legislation.