What really happens when founders raise money? How do venture capitalists evaluate startups, and why do so many founders fail to secure funding?

In this episode of The MAL Show, we go deep into the world of venture capital and startup fundraising. We break down how investors think, what VCs look for in founders, and the real reasons startups get rejected during the funding process. From pitch preparation to deal-making, this conversation gives a clear, insider perspective on how venture capital actually works.

We also explore the realities of building startups in emerging markets, including currency volatility, raising capital in dollars while operating in local currencies, and how venture capital firms support founders through these challenges.

Our guest is Dalia El-Mohamady, CFO at Sawari Ventures, one of Egypt’s leading venture capital firms. She shares practical insights on fundraising, venture capital decision-making, startup investment strategies, and what founders need to understand before raising money.

If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or interested in venture capital, startup funding, and how investors make decisions — this episode breaks it down.

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:32 Ethics in Business
13:49 Between Judgement & Scrutiny
23:08 Transparency for founders
25:09 Balancing investment portfolio as VC
27:13 Due-diligence for founders
29:13 Preparing the right pitch
36:05 What do VCs want?!
43:37 Signs of troubled companies
46:10 The role of Finance
51:23 Currency's risk management
58:00 Expansion and diversification
59:08 Who is Dalia El Mohamady?
1:01:00 VCs' real clients?
1:04:49 Founders & VCs relationship
1:11:33 How VCs choose founders?
1:14:16 Final advice from Dalia

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
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To get in touch with Dalia El Mohamady
https://eg.linkedin.com/in/dalia-elmohamady-76270370

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