From MENA to the World

Sonia Weymuller (VentureSouq) - How VentureSouq came to be, why she describes herself as an accidental outlier in everything, and what her own philosophy of impact investing is

Amir Farha Season 1 Episode 5

In this episode, we're having a chat with Sonia Weymuller, Co-Founder and General Partner of VentureSouq (VSQ), a GCC-based Venture Capital firm. Launched in 2013, VSQ is active in the MENA region with a global portfolio of 200+ companies, as well as developing rich educational content around venture investing.

Sonia is the most conscious investor in the MENA region. Arriving into the world of VC from an unconventional path, I wanted to share with you her life story and adventures that brought her to Dubai and to backing entrepreneurs in the region.

We talked about:

  • Sonia's unconventional path to becoming an established VC
  • How VentureSouq started as an informal gathering of interested investors
  • Sonia's philosophy on conscious investing and what you need to know
  • The traits you need to be a founder worth investing in

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

  • 2:15 Sonia's childhood, and being an accidental outlier in everything
  • 7:57 Joining Microsoft, Viacom, and Sonia's experience with headhunters
  • 11:02 The number 1 skill Sonia learned with these companies
  • 11:44 What prompted Sonia to move to Dubai
  • 12:56 Getting confronted with mortality
  • 13:42 How VentureSouq started with a birthday party
  • 16:00 How a team of 4 different personalities made VentureSouq thrive
  • 19:24 How The Five Languages of Love helped Sonia become a better investor
  • 20:46 Conscious Collective: What it is and why it started
  • 23:34 What are some misconceptions around impact?
  • 26:05 The 1 trait that made Sonia a successful venture capitalist
  • 31:00 The attributes to a good founder that's worth investing in
  • 34:50 Sonia's relationship with imposter syndrome
  • 37:19 How Sonia thinks about fundraising: Alignment is key
  • 38:39 Sonia's general thoughts on the fundraising ecosystem
  • 41:38 What one thing would Sonia change about this region
  • 43:50 Sonia's Legacy and what she wants the next generation to strive towards
  • 46:16 The book that Sonia carries everywhere with her
  • 48:09 Stay motivated by being centered

Links:

About the Host

People on this episode