Latest news with #KBWVentures
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Is the world of sports ready for the Enhanced Games?
In modern parlance, it is what techies would call a 'disruptor,' to say the least. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport It will take a lot more, however, for sporting fans of earlier generations to get their heads around the concept of the Enhanced Games, which were officially announced on Wednesday and will take place next year in Las Vegas. Saudi Arabia's Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al-Saud, founder and CEO of KBW Ventures and chairman of the Kingdom's Sports For All Federation, is the region's first, and to date only, investor in the tournament that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subjected to testing. Prince Khaled — nicknamed the 'Tech Prince' for his investments in startups, among many other fields — is bullish about the potential of the Enhanced Games when asked if the sports world is ready for such a controversial step. 'Look, I like to think of myself as a progressive investor, venture capital typically backs very nascent ideas,' he told Arab News. 'You are always looking for the big idea, the society-changing concept. Then, you attempt to predict and really visualize how and where and when that big idea will prove relevant to the wider world. 'As someone who is pretty involved in sports on both personal and business levels, I think there is a segment of the world who would like to push the limits of human potential,' Prince Khaled said. 'How fast? How far? How long? All questions in sport that someone like me is curious about, and very eager to see. I want to see real-world application, and a competitive approach.' He accepts that this idea, with all the ethical points and counterpoints it evokes, might take a long time to be accepted in mainstream sports. 'Is the world ready? The world wasn't ready for most fresh concepts. At the most basic level people weren't even ready for ride-hailing, now it is considered a must for many all over the world, he said. 'So, whether it is transportation or AI or art or biotechnology or in this case, sport and biohacking, the world is usually not ready for things that have not been done before. That doesn't mean they should never be done. 'Elite athletes who have never been granted the opportunity to experiment with body autonomy and enhancement exploration can now sign up if they so choose,' said Prince Khaled. 'If you want to talk sports in specific, I also think the world wasn't ready for MMA, but it's now one of the biggest crowd draws out there.' The reaction from the sports community at large has, unsurprisingly, been a negative one. In February of last year, a joint statement issued by the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency condemning the games was supported by The International Fair Play Committee. 'Well, it is voluntary, and it's like for like. The Games is for those who choose to enroll and compete with enhancements. It is ethical; the ethics rests in equality, safety and transparency. 'There is a disclosure protocol, and everyone knows that everyone else is applying the same types of enhancements and experimenting with biohacking. 'I don't think I have to justify investing in what I see as a form of competitive sport,' he added. 'As long as everyone involved is aware, then it is fair and transparent.' Prince Khaled is known to be the Middle East North Africa face of venture capital, with investments across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, agricultural and food technology, as well as in the sports-adjacent sector, robotics and broadcast technologies. One of his biotechnology bets, Colossal Biosciences, recently made headlines with its reported $10.2 billion valuation. 'I met the co-founder of Enhanced Games (Aron D'Souza) at a private conclave staged by FII (Future Investment Initiative) last year in Riyadh. This was my first exposure to the idea of the Enhanced Games. 'It was a closed-door working group held to discuss democratizing access to healthy aging solutions. Some of the foremost figures were present; from stakeholders from the Saudi Health in All Policies committee, to scientists, to entrepreneurs and investors.' 'I do think the Enhanced Games can play an important role here; how better to analyze the effects of enhancement than on elite athletes? People who are in the best possible shape physically that they can be naturally, and then build on that,' he said. 'When your baseline is elite athlete level, then we can really see what biohacking and these enhancements can do. 'I do think it is ethical, because there is no subjectivity and no varying board rules, and because it is upfront and clear about the idea that everyone is competing with their own approach to enhancement.' Certainly the games seem to appeal to athletes either coming to the end of their careers or ones for whom Olympic and international success remain out of reach. Established figures, including Australian swimming coach Brett Hawke, have backed the idea. At the age of 31, four-time Olympic Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev will take part in the Enhanced Games, having received a $1 million prize for breaking the long-standing 50-meter freestyle world record with a time of 20.89 seconds. 'Being the first to break a world record at the Enhanced Games means a lot to me. I'm proud to lead the way,' said the athlete who specialized in sprint and butterfly events, and earned a silver in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championship in South Korea. However, having not consistently been at the top of the sport, he sees these Games as an opportunity to make up for missed opportunities. 'One year at the Enhanced Games could earn me more than six Olympic cycles combined,' Gkolomeev told Arab News. 'I've never had this kind of support; doctors, nutritionists, therapists, all working to make me better.' Prince Khaled accepts that participation will depend entirely on the choices of the individual athletes and their particular circumstances. 'There are athletes who are not going to want to join, and then there are those who will be the early adopters,' he said. 'At launch, there is already a record-breaker, who just won a million dollars. 'Is this going to make everyone rush to sign up? No, but this will definitely spark some honest and much-needed discussions about the irregularities between sporting rules and different governing bodies, and the allegations of unfair treatment levied against some athletes over others.' 'Democratizing access to aging solutions is what first interested me in the Games, and then I began to think of the implications on sport. 'I'm sure you know about the politics involved when deciding which athletes were accused of using enhancements, in several instances countries felt their athletes were unfairly targeted. 'At the Enhanced Games, this political maneuvering is completely removed from the equation. I bet if you ask the athletes that felt they were wrongly maligned, they would be pretty quick to agree that politics played a role.' In its statement last year, the International Fair Play Committee said the Games 'represent a potentially catastrophic healthcare risk' to the athletes. The Enhanced Games' website meanwhile promises medical vigilance and safe participation for the athletes. Critics will rightly question just where the line is drawn in terms of the use of performance-enhancing substances. 'To my knowledge, there are two cohorts, one is enhanced with their own resources and medical guidance, and one cohort that is officially under the Enhanced Games,' said Prince Khaled. 'For the second cohort, there is a full treatment protocol lined up for athletes. 'They will definitely have better medical guidance and access to the latest in monitoring methodologies and technologies with the Enhanced Games than they have ever had in their professional sporting careers.' 'Everyone knows one of the biggest barriers to elite athletics is cost,' he added. 'The Enhanced Games is bringing the best medical and scientific protocols and giving the athletes access to that. 'To bring this conversation full circle, this is something enabled by funding, and in venture capital, funding is, most of the time, allocated to groundbreaking entities and ideas.' Prince Khaled said he is a 'cautious believer in biohacking' which is, simply stated, the optimization of nutrition to enhance energy, cognitive function, and overall health and well-being. 'I think longevity medicine and healthspan and various other biotechnology sectors are burgeoning for a reason. 'KBW Ventures is invested in biotechnology, health tech, medtech, and with the Enhanced Games, I consider it kind of an ultimate biohacking opportunity for elite athletes,' he said. 'I expect that so much valuable scientific data on reversing biological age, and repair and so much more is going to come out of the Enhanced Games,' Prince Khaled added. 'On a separate note, the athletes that participate in the Games have to undergo what is termed health testing, ensuring that they are fit to compete. They also need to disclose everything that they are using to enhance their performance.' At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the world of athletics was shaken to its core when Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of the gold medal he had won with a world record time of 9.79 seconds. Author Richard Moore's 'The Dirtiest Race in History' remains a seminal read on the events of Sept. 24, 1988. Since then, many other athletes have been banned from participating, or stripped of medals, for similar offences with increasingly less fanfare and shock. But is the world ready now to consign such considerations to history? The clock is now ticking toward the first Enhanced Game. It remains a tough, if not almost impossible sell, for a sporting community brought up on the concepts of fair play and the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. Whether the world is ready for these Games, and how the future will judge these developments, remain open questions.
CairoScene
18-03-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
UAE-Based PlaysOut Raises $7M Seed Round to Expand Blockchain Gaming
The funding will be used to scale PlaysOut's operations in high-growth regions, including the United States and MENA. Mar 18, 2025 PlaysOut, a UAE-based gametech startup, has raised $7 million in a seed funding round led by KBW Ventures, with participation from OKX Ventures and Pacific Century Group. The investment values the company at $70 million and will support PlaysOut's expansion into new markets, the growth of its mini-game ecosystem, and the formation of strategic partnerships. Founded in 2024 by Jassem Osseiran and Jimmie Jeremejev, PlaysOut provides a platform that enables developers to integrate mini-games into social media and messaging apps such as Telegram, Discord and YouTube. The company offers a mini-game engine and software development kit (SDK), allowing developers to seamlessly incorporate interactive games into their platforms. PlaysOut leverages blockchain technology to enhance user engagement and provide secure digital transactions. The funding will be used to scale PlaysOut's operations in high-growth regions, including the United States, the MENA region and Asia. The company aims to strengthen its ecosystem by expanding its game library and improving developer tools. A key milestone for PlaysOut will be the launch of its embedded SDK in May, which will facilitate smoother integration of mini-games across platforms. OKX Ventures' participation in the funding round highlights the increasing interest in blockchain-powered gaming solutions. As a venture capital firm with a focus on cryptocurrency and decentralized applications, OKX Ventures sees potential in PlaysOut's approach to integrating blockchain technology into mini-games. KBW Ventures and Pacific Century Group, both known for their investments in innovative and technology-driven businesses, bring additional expertise and resources to support PlaysOut's expansion.
Wamda
17-03-2025
- Business
- Wamda
KBW Ventures leads PlaysOut's $7 million Seed round
UAE-based gametech PlaysOut has raised $7 million in a seed funding round at a $70 million valuation from investors, including OKX Ventures, KBW Ventures, and Pacific Century Group. Founded in 2024 by Jassem Osseiran and Jimmie Jeremejev, PlaysOut provides platforms with a mini-games engine, and an SDK, which helps them access a library of engaging mini-games. The funds will be used in three directions: expanding the mini-game ecosystem, establishing strategic partnerships, and exploring high-growth markets such as the US, MENA and Asia. PlaysOut, a mini-game platform, has successfully secured $7 million in seed funding. The round was led by OKX Ventures, with additional participation from kbw Ventures and pacific century Group. This funding will be instrumental in expanding PlaysOut's mini-game ecosystem, fostering strategic partnerships, and enhancing its market presence. PlaysOut is designed to assist developers in releasing mini-games on popular platforms such as Telegram, Discord, and YouTube. The platform integrates blockchain features and infrastructure, providing a seamless experience for developers and users alike. One of the key developments for PlaysOut is the upcoming launch of its embedded SDK in May, which is expected to further streamline the process of integrating mini-games with blockchain technology. The participation of OKX Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm, underscores the growing interest in the mini-game sector and the potential of blockchain technology in enhancing gaming experiences. OKX Ventures' involvement suggests a strategic alignment with PlaysOut's vision of creating a robust mini-game ecosystem that leverages blockchain for added functionality and security. KBW Ventures and Pacific Century Group, both known for their investments in innovative technologies, also bring valuable expertise and resources to the table. Their support will likely contribute to PlaysOut's ability to scale its operations and attract more developers to its platform. The funding will be used to expand the mini-game ecosystem, ensuring that PlaysOut can offer a diverse range of games and features to its users. Strategic partnerships are another area where PlaysOut aims to make significant strides. By collaborating with key players in the gaming and blockchain industries, PlaysOut can enhance its offerings and reach a broader audience. These partnerships will not only help in expanding the platform's user base but also in creating a more dynamic and engaging mini-game experience. Overall, the $7 million seed funding round is a significant milestone for PlaysOut. It positions the platform for growth and innovation in the mini-game sector, leveraging blockchain technology to create a unique and engaging experience for developers and users. With the support of OKX Ventures, KBW Ventures, and Pacific Century Group, PlaysOut is well-equipped to achieve its goals and establish itself as a leader in the mini-game industry.
Zawya
09-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
2025 Qatar Economic Forum to take place May 20-22
Doha – Entering its fifth year, the annual 'Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg' (QEF), held in collaboration with Media City Qatar, will take place from May 20-22, 2025 in Doha. This year's Forum, held under the theme ' The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy ', will once again convene Heads of State, influential government officials, international CEOs and investors in Doha, to create an international platform for meaningful deal-making conversations and connections. As 2025 marks the final stretch towards the 2030 national visions of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, QEF will focus on how strategic decisions in the Gulf are influencing global economic trends. At a time of shifting geopolitical alliances and economic uncertainty, this year's Forum will explore the next phase of regional transformation and its impact on global markets. Discussions at QEF will revolve around the following thematic areas: Geopolitics, Globalization & Trade GCC economies are rewriting the rules of global trade and investment with ambitious national visions and development strategies. Discussions will explore how the final stages of these economic transformations will progress in the face of regional security pressures and a new policy environment in the United States. Energy Supplies & Security The Forum will host high-energy conversations with the power brokers setting our global relationship with oil, gas and the long-term transition to renewables. Technology Hype & Reality Artificial intelligence has become the dominant buzzword of the era, but separating hype from reality is essential. Conversations will examine how AI applications are delivering tangible benefits today and explore where AI-native startups are set to disrupt entire industries. Business & Investment Outlook The biggest names in global business and investment will share insights on how they are achieving market-beating growth while sidestepping the major hurdles facing the global economy. Sports & Entertainment Sports investing used to be a play-thing for the super-rich. Now it's a serious asset class attracting big money from hard-nosed investors. Players, leagues, owners and investors reveal the next wave of disruption poised to hit this multi-trillion dollar industry. Confirmed speakers include HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder & CEO, KBW Ventures; Huda Al-Lawati, Founder & CEO, Aliph Capital; Henadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson, Agility; Samia Bouazza, Group CEO & Managing Director, Multiply Group; Mathieu Chabra n, Co-founder, Tikehau Capital; William E. Ford, Chairman & CEO, General Atlantic; Goodwin Gaw, Chairman, Managing Principal, Member of Investment Committee & Co-Founder, Gaw Capital; J ayne Hrdlicka, CEO, Virgin Australia; Markus Krebber, CEO, RWE AG; Ryan M. Lance, Chairman & CEO, ConocoPhillips; Tope Lawani, Managing Partner, Helios Investment Partners; Chee Koon Lee, Group CEO, CapitaLand Investment Ltd.; Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner & CEO, Monumental Sports & Entertainment; Rajeev Misra, CEO & Co-Founder, One Investment Management; David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), Partner, Chairman of the Global Institute, KKR; with more to follow. Karen Saltser, CEO of Bloomberg Media, said 'As we approach the fifth edition of QEF, we're seeing the Gulf's economic transformation reach a pivotal moment. With national visions approaching key milestones and global markets in flux, the conversations we'll have in Doha will be more important than ever. This Forum remains a key global platform for leaders to come together to discuss, debate and define what's next for business and investment worldwide.' Eng. Jassim Mohamed Al Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, said: 'Since its inception, 'the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg' has been a cornerstone for global dialogue, where pivotal decisions influence the future of the economy. With 2030 on the horizon, regional countries continue striving toward their national aspirations, while the world stands at a crossroads of shifting markets, evolving policies, and new economic realities. This Forum is where leaders can come together to navigate complexity, forge new strategies, and shape what comes next. In Qatar, we look forward to facilitating these critical discussions.' Produced by Bloomberg Live Experiences and editorially programmed by Bloomberg News, the Forum will be available on the Bloomberg Terminal, Bloomberg TV and Additional speaker and agenda details for the 'Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg' will be announced at a later date. For more information and to register interest, please visit -Ends- About Bloomberg Media Bloomberg Media is the world's leading multi-platform media company for business and finance, which draws on the editorial resources of more than 2,900 editorial professionals globally in 118 countries. Bloomberg Media is the consumer-facing media organization of Bloomberg L.P. Media Enquiries Robert Koh, rkoh22@ Mona Saleh, msaleh39@
Arab News
05-02-2025
- Health
- Arab News
All Saudis should have access to AI health-monitoring tech, says Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed
RIYADH: All Saudis should have access to artificial intelligence technology that monitors their health in real time, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed told Arab News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. 'Every Saudi citizen should have a real-time AI-driven health dashboard tracking metabolic markers, predictive disease risks, and lifestyle optimization strategies,' said the founder and CEO of KBW Ventures on the sidelines of the Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh, which has Arab News as a media partner. 'We can also incentivize longevity-focused R&D. Governments should treat health-tech startups like they treat defense contractors: Fund them, fast-track them, and make breakthroughs happen.' The prince and investor spoke about the idea of extending the healthy lifespan of the Saudi population, which is a key focus of the two-day summit. 'Aging isn't the onset of disease; it's the failure of medicine to treat the root cause. We've been conditioned to believe that heart disease, Alzheimer's, and metabolic disorders are just part of 'getting older.' That's like saying a car breaking down after 100,000 miles is inevitable. It's not; it's a mechanical failure due to wear and tear.' In addition, the financial stress on economies is not from people living longer, the CEO believes, but rather from people living sick longer. 'Healthcare systems are designed to treat disease, not prevent it. We spend trillions on end-stage care instead of investing in tech that keeps people healthy for longer. The longer people stay active, productive, and self-sufficient, the better it is for the economy,' he said. According to Prince Khaled, a healthy population is not a burden but an economic accelerator. He continued: 'What happens when we add 20 high-performance years to a person's life instead of 20 years of dependency? We flip healthcare from an expense to an investment.' The problem, he said, is governments and legacy institutions that treat healthcare as an expense instead of a growth sector. However, to change this perspective, longevity should be a national priority, as should investing in new technology to extend healthy lifespans, he added. 'The same way governments invest in infrastructure and energy security, we should be funding longevity tech, AI-driven medicine, and regenerative therapies,' Prince Khalid said. He added: 'We need to overhaul preventative healthcare. Move from a 'treat once sick' model to a 'predict and prevent' model.' Another idea the CEO raised was leveraging Saudi Arabia as a biotech corridor. Saudi Arabia could be presented to the world as a global hub for longevity research, 'offering regulatory flexibility, AI-powered clinical trials, and public-private partnerships that make biotech innovation move faster,' he said. A healthier population will drive productivity, innovation, and economic expansion like never before, he added. Furthermore, the future of health is not exclusively held by hospitals but by algorithms. With advanced technology, Prince Khaled suggested, AI will design personalized longevity plans for every individual by detecting disease before any symptoms appear. 'AI isn't replacing doctors — it's making every citizen their own health CEO. We should be running simulations of every human body and predicting health outcomes before they happen. The data exists. We just need AI to make sense of it,' he said. While the country is developing and advancing with a number of megaprojects, the CEO believes that the government could build the world's first longevity-first city as well, where AI can play a significant role in optimizing public health, fostering genetic research, and reversing the effects of aging. 'With AI-driven biotech, the Kingdom can lead in regenerative medicine, gene editing, and age-reversal therapies. A 100-year lifespan shouldn't be a burden — it should be an advantage,' he said. 'The future of Saudi health isn't about more hospitals and doctors. It's about AI-driven longevity, proactive medicine, and ensuring every Saudi lives healthier for longer.' When aging is viewed as an unsolvable problem, it becomes so, Prince Khaled said. However, if it is treated as an engineering challenge, it can be solved. In a final note, Prince Khaled said: 'The countries that prioritize longevity will dominate the global economy.'
