The architect of regenerative economies
Katerina Hayes is building regenerative economies.
Engineer turned General Partner. She serviced the oil rigs of Maersk, Taqa Energy and Shell — now her fund backs deeptech & applied AI, co-building energy and industry in MENA, and her platforms connect capital, companies and markets from the Gulf to Davos.
General Partner, Scaler Capital·Host, The Diary of a VC·Founder, Future Innovation Investment Forum (UAE · Davos)·Forbes Riyadh · Big 5 · Blockchain Summit Dubai keynote
The Diary of a VC Podcast
The 20% that succeed know something the 80% don't. This is where they say it.
Conversations with VCs and exited founders on what actually separates the funds and companies that win from the ones that don't. If you invest, listen. If you've built and exited, come on and reach 3,000+ investors.
Listen & apply to be a guest →The Navigate Gulf series · New
The playbook for building between the Gulf and the world.
A book series on cultural intelligence, capital and market entry — how relationships actually work from Riyadh to Davos, written by someone who built a 13,500-strong network in person.
Most companies entering a new market don't fail on product. They fail on infrastructure.
Wrong go-to-market. No route to the decision-makers who run pilots and grants. No reputation in the region they're trying to enter. Time and money are then spent solving the wrong problem.
I write, speak and build around that operating layer. Across a founder community, a deeptech venture, a consultancy and a media platform, I connect companies to markets and to the people who actually sign. Nothing on this site is a financial promotion, offer or investment advice.
The signature thesis
“Good companies deserve the operating infrastructure to survive contact with a new market.”
Tell me who you are
I'll point you to the right door.
For professional investors & family offices
Market intelligence and introductions across the Gulf and globally.
A working relationship built on written market context and warm introductions across an operator and investor network in the UK, US, the Gulf and Central Asia. Information only — not a financial promotion or an offer.
Explore for investors →
For founders & scale-ups
Reach the Gulf, or take the Gulf to the world.
Community, capital and go-to-market through MyFounders.Club and the deeptech network at DeepTechX.ventures — with direct lines to free zones, government programmes and grants.
Explore for founders →
For corporates & governments
Enter a new market with the decision-makers already mapped.
360° market-entry, corporate services and reputation management through KH Group 7 and Scaler Capital Middle East — Gulf-to-global and global-to-Gulf.
Explore for partners →
The mission · SettleX
The work that pays the bills exists to fund the work that matters.
In 2022, after more than sixteen years in the UK, displacement reached my own family and we relocated to Scotland. I learned first-hand what it costs — and that most people forced to move are scientists, doctors, teachers and professionals blocked from their craft by barriers that have nothing to do with their ability. SettleX exists to remove those barriers through entrepreneurship. Everything else I build helps fund and power that mission.
Meet SettleX →Five ventures, one operating thesis: build the infrastructure companies need to survive.
- 01Scaler.CapitalThe fund. Deeptech for energy and industry in MENA. See its site for mandate and terms.→
- 02MyFounders.ClubThe founder community. 6,700+ members, Gulf-native, industry-agnostic.→
- 03DeepTechX.venturesDeeptech venture and community, with an academia layer.→
- 04Scaler Capital Middle EastMedia platform, marketing and reputation management.→
- 05KH Group 7Management consultancy, market entry and corporate services.→
- 06SettleXSocial enterprise (UK). Rebuilding displaced lives through entrepreneurship.→
I built the network the way I ask founders to build companies — in person, one relationship at a time.
My community isn't a follower count. Around 70% are people I've met in person and engaged with at least twice. It began in the energy sector, running a subcontracting business on multi-billion-dollar projects across Kazakhstan, Italy and Norway, and grew through deeptech, food manufacturing, angel investing and venture capital. Quality over quantity, every time.
- 3,000+
- investors reachable through The Diary of a VC Podcast
- 6,700+
- founders in the MyFounders.Club community
- 16+
- years building ventures and networks across the UK, Europe and the Gulf
Let's find the way we work together.
Whether you're deploying capital, entering a market, or building a reputation in one — tell me the challenge. I'll point you to the right track, or tell you honestly if I'm not the right fit.