Couchonomics with Arjun
Decoding the New World Order of Finance - Unfiltered, global, weekly
As tectonic shifts reshape the financial world, Couchonomics continues to explore the trends transforming commerce, capital, and culture. This season, we expand our lens - building on our deep focus in the MENA region while bringing in voices, stories, and innovations from around the globe.
Why? Because the future of finance is no longer regional - it’s interconnected.
Whether it’s AI in Asia, tokenization in Europe, or fintech policy experiments in Africa, today’s financial shifts cross borders, industries, and disciplines.
Whether you’re in the industry or just fintech-curious, tune in weekly as we decode the big moves, bold ideas, and brilliant minds shaping tomorrow’s economy.
Episodes drop weekly. Arabic subtitles available on YouTube: youtube.com/@couchonomicswitharjunsingh438
Learn more: www.couchonomics.com
Season 4 supported by:
Adyen | Mastercard | SC Ventures | Thunes | Hala | e& | Digit 9
About the host:
Arjun's expertise covers a broad range of areas including Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, Embedded Finance, Application of Emerging Technologies, and the Emergence of New Business Models within the Financial Services Sector in the MEA region and globally.
Arjun is deeply engaged in the Tech Start-Up ecosystem. He serves as a passive investor, advisory board member, and a notable commentator on the rapidly evolving scene.
In recognition of his impactful contributions, Arjun was honored as a Top Voice of the region by LinkedIn in 2020.
Learn more at www.couchonomics.com.
Couchonomics with Arjun
Why Ecosystem Design Matters More Than Funding in Startup Growth
Innovation ecosystems in the GCC are often judged by funding numbers and startup announcements.
But the real work happens in how institutions, capital, and regulation move together.
In this special Qatar Development Bank series of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun sits down in Doha with Mohammed Al-Emadi, Executive Director of Incubation and VC Investment at QDB, to unpack how Qatar is intentionally building its startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Rather than operating as a single funding body, QDB plays a lifecycle role across incubation, acceleration, venture capital, regulation readiness, and market access. Mohammed explains how founders are supported from idea stage through to regional and global expansion, with each layer designed to reduce friction rather than add complexity.
The conversation explores how Qatar’s ecosystem players collaborate closely, why talent and pilot access matter more than market size, and how capital, regulation, and infrastructure are aligned to support long-term innovation.
🎙️ In this episode:
• How QDB supports startups from idea to international markets
• Why ecosystem coordination matters more than isolated programs
• The role of incubation, acceleration, and venture capital working together
• Preparing startups for regulation before entering licensing
• Venture studios and fund-of-funds as ecosystem building blocks
• Talent attraction, education, and retention as infrastructure
• Market pilots and testing as a growth advantage
• Fintech beyond payments, including insurance and Islamic finance
• The role of exits in validating the ecosystem
• Positioning Qatar as a regional launchpad, not just a local market
👉 Watch the full conversation to understand how Qatar is building its startup and venture ecosystem quietly, deliberately, and with long-term intent.
SOCIAL LINKS
Arjun’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
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Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
CHAPTERS
00:00 Qatar Development Bank series and context
02:00 QDB’s role in the startup ecosystem
05:00 Supporting founders from idea to scale
08:30 Ecosystem coordination and institutional alignment
12:30 Talent, education, and capability building
16:30 Regulation readiness and sandbox pathways
20:30 Venture capital, fund-of-funds, and studios
24:30 Market pilots and testing environments
28:30 Fintech focus areas beyond payments
32:30 Exits, maturity, and long-term ecosystem goals
Our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3jk7UH0
Find us on our social media platforms:
- Arjun's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunvirsingh/
- CCN LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/couchonomics-with-arjun-singh/
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/couchonomics/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/Arjun_Vir_Singh?s=20
- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@couchonomics
Subscribe to Arjun's LinkedIn newsletter, Couchonomics Crunch: https://bit.ly/3WI4A6E
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