Can venture capital fuel impact beyond profit?In this episode of Impact Talk, Nadine Zidani sits down with Nader AlBastaki — Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) — to explore how a government-backed VC is reshaping the region’s innovation ecosystem.From startup founder to corporate banker to public sector strategist, Nader’s journey is anything but linear. Today, he leads DFDF, a unique evergreen fund that blends public and private capital to power high-growth ventures aligned with Dubai’s long-term economic, technological, and social agenda.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What makes DFDF different from traditional VC funds
• How DFDF bridges the gap between government policy and venture innovation
• The role of patient capital and blended financing in impact innovation
• How success is measured beyond unicorn status
• Nader’s advice for impact-driven entrepreneurs

About Our Guest:

Nader AlBastaki is the Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund. With a career spanning entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and government strategy, he brings a rare blend of experience to the venture capital world. At DFDF, Nader champions an ecosystem approach to investing — where economic returns, social outcomes, and policy alignment go hand-in-hand to build a resilient and thriving innovation landscape in the UAE and beyond.

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