In this episode of The MAL Show, we step beyond finance and into the deeper forces that shape how we think, believe, and act.

This conversation takes us on a journey through philosophy, religion, political economy, and civilizations—exploring ancient history, Islamic history, Egyptian history, and the roots of how societies form, evolve, and understand themselves over time.

Our guest is Roy Casagranda—an academic and lecturer known for his powerful ability to connect civilizations, belief systems, and historical moments into one coherent, thought-provoking perspective. Through years of teaching political science and history, he has developed a unique lens on power, meaning, and the evolution of human societies.

Together, we explore:

The roots of civilizations and why they rise and fall
The relationship between religion, philosophy, and power
How historical narratives shape modern societies
The search for meaning—and whether it can ever be fully understood
The deeper forces—seen and unseen—that continue to shape the world today

This is not just a conversation about history…
It’s a conversation about understanding the world—and our place in it.

Powered by MAL — the first AI-native Islamic digital financial platform.
https://www.mal.ai/

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

To get in touch with us:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
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To get in touch with Dr. Roy Casagranda
https://www.instagram.com/roycasagranda/
https://www.youtube.com/@UCUGwVgtUewevtLvu7NaxVrw

#themalshow #history #economy #war #podcast

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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https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Dalia El Mohamady
https://eg.linkedin.com/in/dalia-elmohamady-76270370

#themalshow #vc #entrepreneur #fundraising #podcast

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Mohamad Kaswani — entrepreneur and fintech & proptech leader, and former Managing Director of Mortgage Finder, part of the Property Finder Group — for a deep conversation on how money, systems, and technology intersect in the real world.

We dive into the mortgage and real estate ecosystem, unpacking why the mortgage process has historically been complex, how technology and data are reshaping the experience, and what’s really driving the Dubai real estate market today.

From there, the discussion expands into the broader startup and investment landscape, exploring the relationship between companies, customers, and investors, and what it takes to build and lead ventures in a fast-moving environment like Dubai.

Along the way, we touch on the role of initiatives and organizations in enabling entrepreneurship across industries, and how ecosystems are built through collaboration between different players.

Toward the end, the conversation shifts into something more personal, reflecting on the situation in Syria and the support initiatives taking place there. Mohamad Kaswani is a venture builder who has spent years operating at the intersection of technology, real estate, and financial services, contributing to the growth of platform-driven businesses and supporting initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and innovation across different markets.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:37 Startup ecosystem & Mohamad initiatives in Syria
10:12 The advantage of adversity
12:23: Mentorship
19:43 Ethical standards
21:02 ChatGPT vs Claude
26:32 Transparency loop
27:37 Most important factor in home buying
31:15 Buying Vs Renting
40:35 How Mortgage is calculated?
46:22 Mortgage period
48:26 Balancing Business vs Ethics
54:42 Choosing the right bank
1:08:36 Rent Now, Pay Later
1:11:45 Growth Debt in Startups
1:22:21 Mohamad Kaswani at heart
1:29:41 Investors as partners
1:38:38 Final advice from Mohamad

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

Follow us on Social Media:
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To get in touch with Mohamad Kaswani
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamadkaswani/

#themalshow #proptech #mortgage #realestate #entrepreneur #podcast

Cryptocurrency is one of the most talked-about industries in the world today.

Some people see it as the future of finance. Others see it as speculation and hype. But beyond the headlines and price charts, an entire financial infrastructure is being built — exchanges, platforms, and systems that allow millions of people to buy, sell, and store digital assets.

One of the people helping build that infrastructure in our region is today’s guest.

Talal Tabbaa is the CEO of CoinMENA, a cryptocurrency exchange serving users across the Middle East and beyond, providing access to digital assets within a regulated environment.

In this episode of The MAL Show, we explore Talal’s personal journey into the crypto industry and what it takes to build a company in such a fast-moving and often controversial space.

We also break down cryptocurrency itself — why it exists, the problems this technology is trying to solve, and how the crypto market actually works. From trading and exchanges to the risks and realities of the industry, this conversation aims to help viewers better understand the world of digital assets.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

Talal Tabbaa’s journey into crypto
How cryptocurrency works and why it exists
How crypto exchanges operate
How trading works in the crypto market
The risks and opportunities in the industry
Building a regulated crypto company in the Middle East

Subscribe to the channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

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

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Talal Tabbaa
https://www.linkedin.com/in/talaltabbaa/

#themalshow #crypto #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #entrepreneur #podcast

In this episode of The MAL Show (Podcast), we sit down with Wael Nafee — former Careem executive and now Partner at Raed Ventures, one of the region’s leading venture capital firms.

Wael has seen both sides of the table:
• building companies as an operator
• and backing founders as an investor

After studying and working abroad, he made the decision to come back and build in the region.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why some founders choose to return and build in emerging markets
• The culture of money and capital in the Middle East
• What Sharia-compliant fundraising actually looks like in venture capital
• Whether ethical constraints make companies weaker — or more disciplined
• The responsibility that comes with building products used by millions

And perhaps the most important question:

When your capital shapes companies used by millions of people…
what do you owe society?

A conversation about nation building, capital with consequence, and the moral weight behind scale.

We hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of the Mal Show.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Wael's journey
10:28 Sources of Fundraising
17:51 Sharia compliance Fundraising
23:09 Careem's positioning & acquisition
27:06 Careem's culture
33:23 Joining Raed Ventures
40:15 What do Investors look for?
44:32 Self assessment, correction & reflections
52:26 Money & Culture
57:55 Women & Money
1:01:12 Final advice on money

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

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Wael Nafee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wael-nafee-2b78abb/

#themalshow #fintech #islamicfinance #entrepreneur #podcast