From Zero to $3.2M: The Unfiltered Fundraising Story | Vibe with OCTA | Ep #2 ft Jon, & Nupur

Scaling Startups in Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030, Market Momentum, and What Founders Must Get Right | Vibe with OCTA | Ep #3 ft. Nupur, & Areej AlShehri

In this episode of Vibe with OCTA, host Nupur Mittal [https://ae.linkedin.com/in/nupur-mittal-19690b66?], Co-Founder of OCTA, sits down with Areej AlShehri [https://sa.linkedin.com/in/areejshehri], General Manager for Saudi at OCTA [weareocta.com], for a deep and timely conversation on one of the world’s fastest transforming startup ecosystems, Saudi Arabia. From Vision 2030 to record venture funding, Saudi is no longer a future opportunity. It is a market actively being built. Areej shares an insider perspective on what is truly changing on the ground, where the strongest sector momentum exists, and why the Kingdom is moving rapidly from ambition to execution. They unpack the realities founders need to understand before entering the market, from localization and talent to regulatory clarity, institutional support, and the importance of long term commitment. As Areej puts it, Saudi is not a difficult market. It is a serious one. You will learn: * Why Saudi is shifting from experimentation to outcome driven building * The sectors seeing the strongest growth, including fintech, logistics, AI, and proptech * How government programs actively support founders across capital, talent, and infrastructure * The real operational challenges businesses face, including cash flow visibility and disconnected finance workflows * What international founders often underestimate when expanding into the Kingdom * Why “Saudi rewards seriousness” may be the most important takeaway for builders Whether you are a founder, operator, or investor exploring expansion in the Middle East, this episode offers a clear, strategic lens into how companies are being built and scaled inside Saudi today. Follow OCTA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareocta [https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareocta] Explore more resources: https://v2.weareocta.com [https://v2.weareocta.com]

From Zero to $3.2M: The Unfiltered Fundraising Story | Vibe with OCTA | Ep #2 ft Jon, & Nupur

In this episode of Vibe with OCTA, Jon Edward [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonedwardsantillan/] is joined by co-founder Nupur Mittal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nupur-mittal-19690b66/]for an unfiltered deep dive into OCTA’s [v2.weareocta.com]fundraising journey. They break down exactly how OCTA raised $3.2M [https://v2.weareocta.com/resources/press-releases] at the idea and pre-seed stage in the Middle East. From building trust through bi-weekly investor updates, to crafting a team-first pitch, to navigating rejection, hospital pitches, and the emotional grind of fundraising. This is not theory. It is the real playbook. What worked. What failed. What no one tells you about raising in the region. You will learn: * Why progress updates became OCTA’s most powerful fundraising tool * How to pitch when you have no revenue, only conviction * Why relationships matter more than decks in MENA * How to stay resilient when the answer is “no” most of the time For founders raising now or planning to, this episode is your field guide. Explore OCTA’s Investor Database for the region: https://v2.weareocta.com/sme-hub/investors [https://v2.weareocta.com/sme-hub/investors] Follow OCTA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareocta [https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareocta]

Building a Company Handbook for Scale | Vibe with OCTA | Ep #1 ft Jon, Nupur, & Labdhi

In the very first episode of Vibe with OCTA, Jon Edward [http://linkedin.com/in/jonedwardsantillan], (Co-Founder and CEO) of OCTA [weareocta.com], sits down with Nupur Mittal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nupur-mittal-19690b66/] (Co-Founder, OCTA) and Labdhi Daftari [https://www.linkedin.com/in/labdhi-daftari-423a61127/](People Operations Lead ) to open up the company’s operating system. They unpack why OCTA [v2.weareocta.com] built a public company handbook, what broke as the team scaled, and how clarity became their unfair advantage. From silent ambiguity to sustainable intensity, from DRI ownership to async-first culture, this episode reveals how OCTA is designing a startup that moves fast without burning out. It is a raw look at what it really takes to build in the GCC, the mistakes no one posts about, and the principles guiding OCTA’s next chapter across UAE and KSA. If you are building a company, joining one, or simply curious about how modern teams are designed, this episode sets the tone. Follow OCTA on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareocta] Read the full handbook [weareocta.com/handbook]