The Mal Show

The SME Paradox No One Is Fixing! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Dr. Vishnu Katara

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Dr. Vishnu Katara — GM of SMEs at MAL, investor, operator, and former finance leader at companies like Flipkart, Noon, and Ola — to explore how AI, ethical finance, and SME banking could completely reshape the future of business. We discuss why traditional banks continue to fail SMEs, why 90% of the economy is powered by small businesses while only a tiny percentage gets funded, and how AI-native banking could change underwriting, collections, payroll, and business operations forever. Dr. Vishnu also explains how companies like Flipkart, Noon, and Ola competed against Western giants like Amazon and Uber — and won through local understanding, speed, and entrepreneurial culture. The conversation also dives into: The transformation of the UAE into a global business hub Ethical and Sharia-compliant finance AI agents replacing entire business functions What founders actually need to raise capital Angel investing and startup evaluation Why learning and curiosity matter more than ever in the AI era The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur This is a deep conversation about the future of finance, startups, technology, and building meaningful businesses in the Middle East and beyond. Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on business, finance, technology, and culture. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:56 From Heavy Industry to Startups 5:05 Being Entrepreneurial Inside a Corporate 6:19 The Non-Unicorn to Unicorn Secret 8:06 Competing With Western Giants 11:22 Why the Middle East? 13:26 UAE as a Global Business Hub 15:38 From CFO to Running a Business Segment 17:23 The SME Funding Gap 18:26 Why Banks Fail SMEs 20:08 MAL's AI-Native Banking Vision 26:17 AI Agents Working for Your Business 29:44 Competing With Traditional Banks 36:48 Sharia Compliance & Ethical Finance 44:23 MAL's Hiring & AI-Driven Recruitment 49:51 The Obsession With Learning 53:49 Angel Investing: How to Start 1:06:36 Finance Career Advice: From CFO to CEO 1:17:42 Advice for Founders Raising Capital 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 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883 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 Dr. Vishnu Katara https://ae.linkedin.com/in/vishnukatara #TheMALShow #AI #SMEs #Startup #Fintech #IslamicFinance #UAE #Entrepreneurship #Business #ArtificialIntelligence #MiddleEast #MAL

Private Credit Want Small Businesses to Win! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Omar Al Yawer

In this episode of The MAL Show, we explore the world of private credit, SME financing, and alternative investments in the Middle East. Why are startups and SMEs still massively underserved by traditional banks in MENA? Why does the region allocate only around 2% of financing to SMEs compared to nearly 28% globally? And why are private credit and alternative financing becoming one of the biggest emerging opportunities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia? Our guest is Omar Alyawer, Partner and Chief Capital Formation Officer at Ruya Partners,  with more than 25 years of experience across global firms including J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Franklin Templeton, and Man Group. We discuss: • The SME funding gap in the Gulf • Why banks avoid startups and SMEs • Private credit vs venture capital vs growth debt • How returns of 15–18% are generated • Direct lending vs sponsor-led deals • The impact of mega projects on capital demand • Sovereign wealth funds and institutional capital • Why private credit is booming globally • The future of alternative finance in MENA This is a conversation about where money is really moving — and how the financial system is changing in the Gulf. Subscribe to The MAL Show for more conversations on money, business, technology, and the human side of finance. 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 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883 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 Omar Al Yawer https://www.linkedin.com/in/omaralyawer13/ #themalshow #islamicfinance #ai #podcast #fintech #shariafinance

People Are Tired of Unethical Banking | The Mal Show (Podcast) With Dr. Angel Wesley

In this episode of The MAL Show, we go beyond finance… and into the deeper forces shaping how we make decisions about money. How much do your beliefs influence your financial choices? Can a modern financial system truly align with faith and values? And what happens when AI enters the equation? We explore the intersection of faith, law, and innovation—and unpack what it really takes to build a financial system that is not only advanced… but principled. Our guest is Dr. Angel Wesley—Chief Legal Officer at MAL, with over 20 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, and a graduate of Harvard Law School. We discuss: The real meaning of Sharia-compliant finance in today’s world The legal and ethical challenges of building an AI-native bank How culture shapes our relationship with money Whether innovation can coexist with deeply held values And what MAL is trying to build at a much bigger level This is not just a conversation about finance. It’s a conversation about belief, systems, and the future of money. Powered by MAL An AI-native financial platform rethinking money through the lens of ethics, values, and intelligent systems. Please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:45 Dr. Angel's Introduction to Islam 05:35 Does the West understand Islam? 14:04 The UAE culture 32:40 Joining Mal 35:29 How is Mal changing Islamic Finance? 39:09 Commercial Transactions in Islam 45:01 What does Ai Native mean? 53:07 The underserved demographic Mal is solving for 1:02:55 Ethical Banking? 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 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883 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 Dr. Angel Weslely https://ae.linkedin.com/in/angel-wesley-abudhabi #themalshow #islamicfinance #ai #podcast #fintech #shariafinance

Why Civilizations Fall? | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Dr. Roy Casagranza

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:  podcast@mal.ai Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/ https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883 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 Dr. Roy Casagranda https://www.instagram.com/roycasagranda/ https://www.youtube.com/@UCUGwVgtUewevtLvu7NaxVrw  #themalshow #history #economy #war #podcast

The Hidden Rules of VC | The Mal Show (podcast) with Dalia El mohamady CFO at Sawari Ventures

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 Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/ https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883 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 Dalia El Mohamady  https://eg.linkedin.com/in/dalia-elmohamady-76270370 #themalshow #vc #entrepreneur #fundraising #podcast