Julien Plouzeau, Senior Partner at Oraseya Capita

Could you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your professional journey leading to your role as Senior Partner at Oraseya Capital?

I began my career in investment banking at Société Générale CIB in Milan, where I spent a few years honing core financial skills—analyzing complex transactions, understanding capital markets, and developing a rigorous, data-driven approach to decision-making. This experience gave me a solid foundation in corporate finance, which I have since applied across building startups and then venture capital. My path shifted when I moved to Dubai over 12 years ago to start my first tech venture—the region’s first online platform for booking entertainers. That experience sparked a deep interest in building and automating tech-driven solutions. My second startup didn’t reach the same outcome, but it taught me valuable lessons and gave me a real appreciation for the founder journey. Six years ago, I joined Dtec Ventures as an Investment Manager, later becoming Principal, which eventually led to the creation of Oraseya Capital, where I now serve as Senior Partner. In addition to investing and managing the fund, I sit on the boards of several portfolio companies, actively advise early-stage startups, speak at industry conferences, and collaborate with universities to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs and raise awareness about venture capital.

What inspired your transition into the world of investment and venture capital, particularly in the Middle East?

For me, venture capital was the natural intersection between my finance roots and my hands-on experience as a tech founder. I’ve been in the trenches, so I know what it takes to build a company from scratch—and what keeps founders up at night. That perspective allows me to support entrepreneurs not just with capital, but with empathy, strategic input, and real alignment. Being based in Dubai also gives me a front-row seat to one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems, which makes the work even more rewarding.

How would you describe the current investment landscape in the Middle East, especially within the real estate and infrastructure sectors?

The Middle East’s investment landscape is showing strong momentum and maturity. Q1 2025 data from Magnitt points to a 58% YoY increase in venture funding—clear evidence of growing investor confidence. Real estate and infrastructure remain core sectors, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but what’s notable is how these sectors are being reshaped by technology. Proptech is streamlining everything from asset management to fractional ownership and digital transactions. Infrastructure is also going “smart,” with digital layers now embedded in masterplans, utilities, and mobility systems. You can clearly see the impact—cities are becoming more efficient, livable, and future-ready.

What sectors or verticals are currently attracting the most interest from institutional and private investors?

There’s a strong shift toward future-facing sectors that align with long-term economic transformation. At Oraseya Capital, we see particularly high investor interest in:

• Artificial Intelligence and Automation: Especially AI infrastructure, marketing tech, and enterprise productivity platforms.
• Fintech and Digital Payments: Driven by demand for financial inclusion and digital-first banking.
• Proptech: As real estate continues to digitize, solutions enabling efficiency and transparency are gaining traction.
• Supply Chain and Logistics Tech: Leveraging Dubai’s strategic role as a global trade hub.
• E-commerce Enablement: Infrastructure solutions such as last-mile logistics and cross-border commerce platforms.
• SaaS for SMEs: Tools that help small and mid-sized businesses modernize operations are in high demand.

We’re also seeing increasing use of venture debt as an alternative financing tool, and more institutional interest in mid-stage companies that are showing signs of scale and market leadership.

From your perspective at Oraseya Capital, what key factors make the UAE—and Dubai in particular—an attractive destination for global investment?

Dubai offers a unique blend of strategic geography, forward-thinking regulation, and global connectivity. Its world-class free zones—such as Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity—provide an ideal soft landing for startups and international companies, offering streamlined setup processes, sector-specific infrastructure, and business-friendly policies. The absence of capital gains tax, ease of doing business, and consistent regulatory innovation further enhance Dubai’s appeal as a launchpad to access high-growth markets across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

What truly sets Dubai apart is the full alignment among key stakeholders—government bodies, startups, investors, regulators, and ecosystem builders—all working toward a shared vision of becoming a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The city also attracts world-class founders and talent, thanks to its high quality of life, modern infrastructure, and initiatives like the Golden Visa, which offer long-term stability and access. For venture investors like us, this makes Dubai not only a dynamic domestic market but a strategic springboard for regional and international growth.

Could you share a recent success story or a standout investment that reflects your approach or the region’s potential?

Through our legacy portfolio we were one of the earliest investors in Writer.com, an enterprise-grade generative AI platform founded by May Habib and Waseem AlShikh. Writer has since emerged as a leader in this fast-growing space, powering Fortune 500 companies with end-to-end tools, LLMs and agents uniting their IT & Business lines. Writer started out in Dubai and then eventually moved to the US, UK, Singapore, and more.

 Another example, we recently led the $5.4M Series A round in Podeo, the leading podcast platform in MENA. I first met Stefano Fallaha (CEO) several years ago when it was too early for us to invest—but we stayed close, confident in his ability to build something significant. Podeo is now scaling rapidly, serving creators and listeners across the region, and exemplifying our commitment to supporting visionary founders who are deeply rooted in the local market but have a global mindset.

Both companies represent what we look for at Oraseya Capital: a bold vision, and the ability to scale beyond borders.

What are some of the common challenges investors face when entering the Middle Eastern market?

While the region offers immense potential, investors often face challenges related to market fragmentation, regulatory variations across countries, and limited late-stage or secondary liquidity. The startup ecosystem in many parts of the region is still maturing, which means benchmarking and due diligence can require deeper local understanding.

How can stakeholders—government, private sector, and investors—collaborate to overcome these hurdles?

Progress is already happening as we speak, but continued collaboration is key. Governments can help by harmonizing regulatory. Investors and corporates can play a role by fostering knowledge-sharing, enabling local exits through M&A, and nurturing talent pipelines. Platforms like SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital, our pre-Seed/Seed investment program, also help bridge these gaps by offering strategic mentorship and ecosystem connectivity.

What role do you see innovation and technology playing in shaping the future of investment in the region?

Innovation and technology are no longer peripheral—they are central to economic strategy in the Middle East. As governments drive digital transformation, we expect venture capital to increasingly complement traditional infrastructure investments, especially in sectors like AI, mobility, digital finance, real estate and supply chain technology. As investors, we play a critical role in identifying and backing founders who are building the technologies and business models that will redefine key industries in the region. In this context, Dubai has become a lighthouse for tech companies across the wider region—a safe, stable, and opportunity-rich base from which to innovate, scale, and access global markets. This makes it a great opportunity for us to build long-term returns.

Are there any emerging trends or innovations you're particularly excited about within Oraseya Capital’s portfolio or broader strategy?

We are particularly excited by the intersection of AI and vertical SaaS, and the growing sophistication of SME-focused tools that are digitizing traditional industries. We’re also seeing early signs of regional players maturing toward global competitiveness, which bodes well for future exits and IPOs. Additionally, the rise of venture debt and SME lending is giving founders access to a more diversified capital stack, allowing them to scale efficiently. Thanks to the region’s young demographic and widespread mobile and internet penetration, I expect to see a new wave of founders who are natively fluent in generative AI tools—building, iterating, and shipping products in days or weeks rather than months or years. This velocity, combined with the regional ecosystem’s growing depth, is setting the stage for a breakout generation of startups from the Middle East.

How important is ecosystem-building and cross-border collaboration in driving long-term success for investment firms?

Ecosystem-building is critical. No startup or investor can succeed in isolation—especially in emerging markets. Cross-border collaboration enables knowledge sharing, market access, and capital efficiency. We’re seeing more regional investors co-investing with international funds, building stronger, more resilient support systems for startups.

At Oraseya Capital, ecosystem-building is in our DNA. As the VC arm of DIEZ, we actively leverage the combined network of our key economic zones—Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Airport Freezone, and Dubai CommerCity which is a plus for our portfolio companies. We also work hand in hand with other government entities such as Dubai Chambers, Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), the Dubai Financial Market and many others to further develop our ecosystem. We also collaborate closely with our fellow investors across the region, notably MEVCA members (Middle East Venture Capital Association), sharing co-investment opportunities.

What are your thoughts on initiatives like RISE 2026 and its impact on the global investment community?

RISE 2026 is a timely platform that brings real estate and investment decision-makers together in one place. It reflects Dubai’s ability to convene global capital, showcase large-scale development opportunities, and demonstrate how innovation and regulation can align in a high-growth market. I look forward to attending

In your opinion, how can RISE serve as a platform to drive meaningful investment into Dubai, the Middle East, and beyond?

RISE can drive real investment by doing three things well:

• Showcasing the latest innovations—from proptech and smart cities to sustainable infrastructure—through live demos, startup zones, and case studies that show real-world application.
• Bringing the right people together—developers, tech founders, institutional investors, and government leaders—for candid, forward-looking conversations that go beyond panel discussions.
• Creating direct investor-startup connections—through curated meetings, pitch forums, and deal facilitation formats that move conversations toward action.

To learn more about Oraseya Capital, visit https://oraseyacapital.com/