Amir Barsoum on fundraising
From An Investor's Take on AI with Amir Barsoum | Future Optimist Ep. 232 · · Ross Palmer
“We raised $70 million. In Vizita we raised $70 million over the course of five rounds. And the last one was kind of an exit to some of the shareholders and partial exit of myself and so on. So yeah, it's accurate.”
On , Amir Barsoum, CEO & Founder at Vezeeta, spoke about fundraising during An Investor's Take on AI with Amir Barsoum | Future Optimist Ep. 232 on Ross Palmer.
About Amir Barsoum
Amir Barsoum, founder and CEO of Vezeeta and managing partner of InVitro Capital, has been speaking about his approach to building AI-focused companies. He described InVitro Capital as a venture studio and fund that builds and funds companies from idea to exit, focusing on the intersection of AI and services. Barsoum stated that the firm seeks opportunities in "tech starved industries" with significant human capital requirements and scarcity. He noted that InVitro Capital builds companies with the goal of becoming cashflow positive within three to four years, describing this as "non-negotiable." Barsoum also said that the firm has grown to over 150 professionals and four portfolio companies in three years. Barsoum has expressed optimism about AI, calling it "a level of innovation that is almost as equal to electricity" that will "change every single thing around us." He acknowledged risks such as job security and the pace of change, but said he chooses to "jump onto it and ride the fascinating wave." Barsoum advised that workers do not need to "teach yourself super new science" to remain relevant, but rather need to learn how to use available AI tools. He also reflected on his experience building Vezeeta, noting that he initially held on too long to building electronic medical record software before pivoting to a consumer booking platform, which he called "the best decision in my career."