Investment in Merit Incentives was led by Riyadh-based venture capital fund Impact 46 and attracted GCC and international VC firms
venture capital fund
AB In Focus
AB Talks: Eric Munson of ADIT Ventures on ‘the ROI of doing the right thing’
ADIT Ventures founder Eric Munson joins Arabian Business to discuss why VCs need to consider as much what a company stands for as how profitable it can be
Auto-tech startups
World’s top seed-stage VC firms invest in Odiggo’s latest $2.2m round
Investors in Dubai-based automotive tech app include Y Combinator, 500 Startups and PlugAndPlay
business deals
Middle East and Africa region sees spike in start-up funding as investments hit $2.1bn in H1
Series B fundraising by start-ups accounted for the highest share in value terms, cornering 40 percent of the total investment pie this year, while early stage ventures topped the table in terms of the number of funding deals closed so far, latest research shows
fintech start-up
Saudi Arabia ranks second in region’s venture capital market
Investment in Saudi start-ups grew by a record-setting 65 percent and fintech companies accounted for about a fourth of all funding deals in the Kingdom
acquisitions
Middle East’s start-ups to see more funding in second half of 2021, says expert
While the region’s food and beverage sector boasted the largest share of funds invested in H1 2021, fintech start-ups claimed the largest amount of deals closed
Arrow Labs
Dubai-based Arrow Labs secures $5 million in Series A funding
American investor Draper and his fund Draper Associates, alongside UAE-based Global Ventures and B&Y Ventures, have backed technology company Arrow Labs
Hambro Perks
London-headquartered VC Hambro Perks ready to tap ‘hungry’ Middle East start-ups
Launched in February 2021, the $50m Oryx fund is focused on backing early-stage start-ups across the Middle East and North Africa
Angel Investors
Tips to get your small business ready for funding
Investors are there to make money, and they need to trust that you understand the figures enough to deliver a healthy return
digital banking
Sequoia enters Mideast, teams up with firm that hired Mesut Ozil
Digital banks have taken off with the spread of finance technology in a region where millions lack access to banking services
fintech startups
Saudi Riyadh Angel Investors in talks to finalise two start-up investment deals
The new talks come on the heels of RAI closing an investment agreement with Saudi fintech start-up Wafeer
CE-Ventures
UAE-based CE-Ventures to double start-up funding to hit AED1bn by 2022
Corporate venture capital platform of Crescent Enterprises has already invested over AED500m in 32 start-ups and VC funds across the MENA region, the US, India, and Southeast Asia
Aldar Properties
Aldar partners with global venture capital firm to invest in European PropTech fund
Fifth Wall is the world’s largest venture capital firm focused on property tech
Nama Ventures
Saudi-focused VC Nama Ventures to invest in tech start-ups in kingdom, MENA region
The nearly $27 million fund will be raised from high-net-worth-individuals, family offices, and institutional investors and will support pre-seed and seed-stage start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on those in Saudi Arabia
business models
Tips from an investor and entrepreneur: How start-ups attract investment
CEO of Zbooni, Ramy Assaf reveals his top tips for entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors
Angel Investors
Dubai’s Grubtech secures new funding for cloud kitchen growth
Investors included large regional family offices, a US-based venture capital firm as well as reputable angel investors
Hambro Perks
London’s Hambro Perks says there is a wealth of talented MENA entrepreneurs
Oryx Fund to put $50m in early stage start-ups regional start-ups