I Left Everything to Be Myself (with Amir Farha and Rabea Ataya)

What separates founders who build billion-dollar companies from those who never get funded?In this episode of BaytCast, Amir Farha, Founder and Managing Partner of COTU Ventures, sits down with Rabea Ataya, CEO of Bayt.com, for a conversation that goes far beyond venture capital. He shares the lessons he's learned after backing some of the region's most promising startups, and explains why the best founders don't need constant advice, why "smart money" is often misunderstood, and why trust matters more than pitch decks.Whether you're building a startup, raising capital, leading a business, or simply trying to build a life that's true to who you are, this episode offers insights that stay with you long after it ends.🎁 Exclusive Bayt Cast offersFor new Bayt.com clients - Get 15% off Bayt.com hiring solutions:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast15For job seekers - Get 20% off your first month of Bayt.com Premium:👉 https://www.bayt.com/baytcast20🔔 Never miss an episode! We’ve got fresh, unfiltered conversations dropping every other week with innovators and career champions you won’t hear anywhere else. Subscribe to Bayt Cast and ring the bell so you’re always in the room: https://www.youtube.com/@Baytcom?sub\_confirmation=1🎧 Listen on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sTLIVz8cTQBgCqSdxrZLb?Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jJu4wmAnghami: https://open.anghami.com/x3F7yekycTb00:00 – Intro06:42 Is VC actually making money?13:41 What "smart money" really means21:46 Why Amir invested in a 19-year-old founder34:02 Gut instinct or due diligence?46:19 AI, Saudi Arabia, and the next wave of startups50:41 Making fundraising less painful for founders54:51 Leaving success to find authenticity1:00:48 Building Cotu around trust and authenticity1:01:50 Meditation, fatherhood, and leadership#BaytCast #AmirFarha #VentureCapital #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Fundraising #Investment #AI #MiddleEast #SaudiArabia #UAE #Leadership #Business #Baytcom #RabeaAtaya #COTUVentures