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.

Among the world’s fastest growing regions, economic growth is giving the countries of the GCC the confidence to take bold bets on the future of finance - unlocking a new capital corridor for digital assets. And creating first-mover advantages for traditional financial institutions with the foresight - and infrastructure readiness - to make the leap.

We're delighted to welcome Sagar to our Pioneers Advisory Board, with focus both on our Bridge from UK to Middle East initiatives and wider UAE, KSA & wider GCC client mandates.

In episode 16 of Born to Disrupt, hosts Grant Niven and Simon Hardie welcome Mark Dymock, Operating Partner at Standard Chartered Ventures, for a candid discussion on personal transformation, corporate venture building, and the changing innovation landscape across the Middle East and Africa.

In the latest episode of the "Born to Disrupt" podcast, hosts Mark Walker and Simon welcome Michael Lints, a partner at Golden Gate Ventures, to discuss the intricacies of venture capital in emerging markets, particularly in the MENA region. Michael, who has a background in technology and venture capital, shares his journey from working at ING Group to co-founding a tech startup in the Netherlands, and eventually joining Golden Gate Ventures in Singapore. His passion for technology and entrepreneurship led him to venture capital, where he finds fulfilment in supporting founders and being at the forefront of technological innovation.