Uber is facing calls for a boycott of its app in the Persian Gulf, a region that has poured billions of dollars of investment into the company’s ride-hailing business in recent years: Directly via Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and indirectly because the Saudis are major investors in Softbank’s Vision Fund vehicle, which is another big Uber […]
View More Saudi ally calls for Uber boycott over response to Khashoggi’s vanishingCategory: Middle East
Here are the companies that pitched in Startup Battlefield MENA
Today in lovely Beirut, Lebanon TechCrunch held its first Startup Battlefield in the country. Over 700 people watched the show on site, which featured speakers from throughout the Middle East and 15 startups competing in Startup Battlefield. A winner will be chosen at the end of the day and they will walk away with a […]
View More Here are the companies that pitched in Startup Battlefield MENAWe’re kicking off Startup Battlefield MENA, here are the startups and agenda
We’re kicking off Startup Battlefield MENA here in Beirut, where 15 startups will be taking the stage, along with speakers from Facebook (our partner on the event through its FB Start program), Instabug, Eventus, Wuzzuf, Careem and Myki. For those of you who can’t be here in person, check back on TechCrunch later today, where […]
View More We’re kicking off Startup Battlefield MENA, here are the startups and agendaVezeeta, the leading MENA healthcare startup, secures $12M Series C led by STV
One of the major structural issues in the Middle East is the lack of consistent healthcare across the region. So this market was clearly waiting to be disrupted by technology. In 2011 Vezeeta came along to change that. Launched initially in Cairo as a sort of “Uber for Ambulances”, it has since expanded to cover […]
View More Vezeeta, the leading MENA healthcare startup, secures $12M Series C led by STVAline Sara, founder of Natakallam, to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt in Berlin
TechCrunch is coming back to Berlin to talk with the best and brightest people in tech from Europe and the rest of the world. In addition to fireside chats and panels, new startups will participate in the Startup Battlefield Europe to win the coveted cup. Grab your ticket to Disrupt Berlin before August 1st as […]
View More Aline Sara, founder of Natakallam, to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt in Berlin“Everyone is talking to everyone” — rideshare investor bypasses Uber-Careem rumor
Ride-hailing giant Uber is in talks over a possible merger with Middle East rival Careem, according to Bloomberg — citing three people familiar with the matter. The report suggests various deal structures have been discussed, although it also says that no deal has been reached — nor may ever be reached, as discussions are ongoing and may […]
View More “Everyone is talking to everyone” — rideshare investor bypasses Uber-Careem rumorTechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is coming soon to Beirut, São Paolo and Lagos
Everyone knows there are thriving startup communities outside of obvious hubs, like San Francisco, Berlin, Bangalore and Beijing, but they don’t always get the support they deserve. Last year, TechCrunch took a major page from its playbook, the Startup Battlefield competition, and staged the event in Nairobi, Kenya to find the best early stage startup […]
View More TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is coming soon to Beirut, São Paolo and LagosUber’s European rival Taxify raises $175M led by Daimler at a $1B valuation
There’s a new unicorn in the global ride-hailing space after Taxify, a startup born in Estonia that does battle with Uber across Europe and Africa, closed $175 million in new funding that takes it valuation to the $1 billion mark. Daimler, the German automotive giant which owns Mercedes-Benz among other things, led the round. The investment […]
View More Uber’s European rival Taxify raises $175M led by Daimler at a $1B valuationAircraft startup Wright Electric wants to use electric planes for flights in the Middle East
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Electric aircraft startup Wright Electric aims to carry passengers on battery-powered flights within the next 20 years. Now, business travelers in the Middle East may soon be able to partake in the company’s aggressive flight plans.
Flight support company Jetex recently announced a new partnership with Los Angeles-based Wright Electric. The companies have committed to flying electric private planes on short 300-mile or shorter trips from cities like Dubai, Muscat, Malaga, and Casablanca — all on a single charge.
The only catch: The first such flight may be as far as 10 years away.
More about Air Travel, Middle East, Mena, Wright Electric, and Electric Plane
View More Aircraft startup Wright Electric wants to use electric planes for flights in the Middle EastRussia starts blocking Telegram for failing to turn over encryption keys
The Russian state telecommunication regulator has began blocking Telegram as expected. This comes after the messaging company refused to give Russian security services encryption keys. The service is expected to be blocked within the coming hours. According to several reports Telegram is still operational in the country though several service providers have started blocking the […]
View More Russia starts blocking Telegram for failing to turn over encryption keysChemi Peres of Pitango VC joins us at TechCrunch Tel Aviv, June 7
TechCrunch is returning to Tel Aviv on 7 June 2018 for a day-long conference, where we will be digging into one of Israel’s biggest tech strengths: mobility and everything that implies, from computer vision to autonomous driving. Israeli tech is at the forefront of this new industry and we plan to bring industry leaders together […]
View More Chemi Peres of Pitango VC joins us at TechCrunch Tel Aviv, June 7Microsoft announces its first cloud regions in the Middle East
Microsoft today announced its plans for a major expansion of the Microsoft Cloud with the launch of its first cloud regions in the Middle East. These new regions, which are scheduled to go online in 2019, will be located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and will host the company’s usual Azure, Office 365 and Dynamics 365 […]