🎯 Want to raise capital like a pro and build your next big thing? Start here 👉 Capital Catalyst Waitlist
He raised $1.5 billion, without following the rules.
Oussama Ammar built a billion-euro empire, rewrote the rules of fundraising, and is now using AI to take over animation. From Y Combinator-style accelerators to storytelling your way to investment, this episode is a masterclass in how to win big in 2025, even if you feel like an underdog.
In this episode:
- How Oussama raised $1.5B without a single pitch deck.
- The brutal truth about venture capital (and why most founders get it wrong).
- Why personal brand beats business plans every time.
- How to tell a story investors can’t say no to.
- What AI means for creators, founders, and the future of IP.
If you’re building a business, stuck between startup ideas, or can’t get traction with investors, this is the mindset shift you need.
Join the Capital Catalyst Waitlist for no-BS funding guidance: https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/CapitalÂ
Timestamps:
 0:00 – Who is Oussama? The man who raised $1.5B
 2:25 – From Paris to pitch decks: His real origin story
 7:55 – How he built a billion-euro empire without following the rules
 14:52 – The ugly truth about VCs: 1,000 bets, 1 jackpot
 18:43 – Valuations are fiction: The Adam Neumann warning
 26:00 – Why personal brand beats pitch decks in 2025
 31:30 – Leaving Europe: Reinventing himself in AI & Dubai
 38:49 – Will AI steal actors’ jobs? The legal minefield ahead
 42:32 – What’s next: Oussama’s legacy, AI’s future & the meaning of it all
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â–¶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-haycox/
â–¶ Website: https://matt-haycox.com/podcasts/
I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and your go-to guy for no-bollocks advice on business and personal growth.
With over 25 years of experience building and funding businesses across industries, I’ve faced it all wins, losses, and the ultimate comeback story. Through my podcasts, No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and Stripping Off with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bullshit to bring you real, actionable strategies and raw conversations with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and industry leaders.
Whether you’re looking to scale your business, secure funding, or avoid the mistakes I’ve learned the hard way, my goal is simple: to help YOU create YOUR success story.
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