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Stuart Bateman (1957 Ventures): Why Great Products Don’t Get Funded

Goodsound
June 24, 2026
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Why don't great products always get funded? Stuart Bateman, VP of Technology and Marketing at 1957 Ventures, on why traction is now the entry ticket for startup funding in Saudi Arabia, and what bank grade AI really means.

Stuart has spent his career digitalizing major organizations in Saudi Arabia and now helps a venture arm invest in fintech startups. He explains how generative AI changes the way products get built, why onboarding and customer acquisition break at scale, and the checks you need so AI doesn't quietly introduce insecure code.

In this episode

  • Why traction beats a great product when raising funding
  • Bank grade AI in fintech: speed, regulation and security
  • Shipping apps in days with generative AI
  • Google Cloud, Saudi data residency and AI governance
  • AI in recruitment and unlocking MENA talent

ستيوارت بيتمان من 1957 فنتشرز يتحدث عن تمويل الشركات الناشئة والتقنية المالية والذكاء الاصطناعي في السعودية.

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Unplugged with iSolution is the podcast for business leadership and digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the GCC and MENA. Powered by iSolution and Google Cloud.