RIYADH: Funding exercise throughout the Center East and North Africa startup ecosystem strengthened at first of the yr, with 42 MENA-based startups elevating a mixed $563 million in January.
That determine marked a 228 p.c month-on-month improve, though it was an annual drop of 35 p.c.
Debt financing was restricted, representing 9 p.c of complete capital raised through the month.
Funding was closely concentrated by geography. The UAE led MENA in January, attracting $426.3 million throughout 12 offers, pushed largely by two giant transactions: Mal’s $230 million settlement and Property Finder’s $170 million spherical.
Saudi Arabia ranked second, with 18 startups elevating $56 million in complete, whereas Egypt positioned third as 4 startups secured a mixed $22.1 million.
By sector, fintech drew the most important share of funding in January, with seven startups elevating $319.7 million. Property tech adopted, with three startups elevating $189 million. Software program-as-a-service ranked third, as seven startups raised a mixed $17 million.
Deal exercise continued to tilt towards early-stage corporations, with 31 startups on this class elevating $66 million through the month. Solely two later-stage offers had been recorded, totaling $11 million, whereas the remaining capital went to startups that didn’t disclose their funding stage.
Client-focused startups captured nearly all of capital deployed.
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Enterprise-to-consumer corporations raised $470.8 million throughout 17 offers, whereas business-to-business startups accomplished 19 transactions value $43 million,
Hybrid B2B2C fashions raised $9 million throughout six offers.
Funding distribution by founder gender remained uneven. Male-founded startups accounted for 36 offers and raised $560 million. Startups based solely by ladies raised $300,000 throughout three offers, whereas mixed-gender founding groups secured $2.2 million throughout three transactions.
Hydrovest raises $275k
Doha-based agriculture tech firm Hydrovest Know-how Buying and selling and Contracting W.L.L has closed an funding spherical value $275,000 from unnamed traders.
Based in 2020 by Jeacim Francis Adaya, the corporate develops climate-smart agricultural options, crops, and value-added merchandise.
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The funding shall be used to maneuver Hydrovest into commercial-scale manufacturing, develop analysis and improvement collaborations, and put together for market entry into the UAE within the fourth quarter of 2026.
Based by Abdulwahid Al-Humaid and Anas Al-Humaid, Mersal focuses on buying and scaling digital media belongings. (Provided)
Shorooq launches $200m late-stage progress fund
UAE-based funding agency Shorooq has launched a $200 million late-stage progress fund beneath its Qatalyst Sequence, backed by Qatar Funding Authority and different sovereign and institutional traders. The announcement was made throughout Net Summit Qatar.
Based in 2017, Shorooq is a multi-strategy funding agency spanning enterprise capital, credit score, personal fairness, and actual belongings.
The brand new fund will goal late-stage and pre-IPO corporations with confirmed scale, sturdy fundamentals, and clear exit pathways, aiming to deal with a spot in constant institutional late-stage funding within the area.
HAQQ Authorized AI raises $3m
Lebanon-based regulatory tech HAQQ Authorized AI has raised $3 million so far to speed up the event and international rollout of its authorized AI and apply administration platform.
The spherical was led by Sowlutions Ventures, with participation from strategic and monetary traders.
Based in 2020 by Antoine Kanaan and Maitre Abbas Kabalan, the corporate is constructing a vertically built-in authorized AI working system.
The capital shall be used to deepen its AI and agent structure and develop enterprise and institutional deployments throughout MENA, together with Egypt and Jordan.
Kitopi secures $50m progress spherical
UAE-headquartered cloud kitchens platform Kitopi has raised $50 million in a progress capital spherical led by EvolutionX, a personal credit score supplier backed by Temasek and DBS Financial institution.
Based in 2018, Kitopi operates greater than 200 shops throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
The funding will help the scaling of its homegrown manufacturers and speed up regional and worldwide franchising. In 2022, the corporate raised a further $300 million in its sequence C spherical, extending that spherical to $715 million.
Viero raises $1.2m seed spherical to unify logistics operations
Saudi-based fleet and logistics platform Viero has raised $1.2 million in seed funding led by Watheeq Capital and Share Funding Co., with participation from angel networks and particular person traders.
Based in 2024, Viero is constructing a unified working layer for logistics corporations going through fragmented methods for deliveries, collections, and value administration.
The funding will help product improvement and regional growth throughout the MENA area.
Based in 2024, Viero is constructing a unified working layer for logistics corporations. (Provided)
Qureos closes $5m seed spherical
UAE-based human assets tech firm Qureos has raised $5 million in a seed spherical led by Prosus Ventures and Salica Oryx Fund, with participation from regional and worldwide traders.
Based in 2020, Qureos supplies an AI-driven hiring platform designed to assist enterprises scale recruitment extra effectively.
The funding shall be used to additional develop its AI capabilities, develop go-to-market groups, and speed up geographic growth.
Shorooq indicators MoU with PayLater
Shorooq has signed a memorandum of understanding with PayLater throughout Net Summit Qatar to discover the structuring of a scalable, institutional-grade credit score facility.
PayLater is Qatar’s first Qatar Central Financial institution-licensed, Shariah-compliant purchase now, pay later supplier.
The potential transaction would help PayLater’s subsequent part of progress by way of non-dilutive credit score capital, whereas reinforcing Shorooq’s place in structured credit score options for regulated fintech corporations.
SkipCash raises $4m in sequence A spherical
Qatar-based fintech platform SkipCash has raised $4 million in a sequence A spherical with participation from Qatar Growth Financial institution and different institutional and angel traders.
Based in 2019, SkipCash supplies digital and mobile-first cost options throughout in-store and on-line commerce. The funding shall be used to reinforce its expertise stack, develop its Faucet-to-Telephone point-of-sale resolution, and enter new GCC markets.
Mersal Media Capital raises $1.3m in first funding spherical
Saudi-based media funding platform Mersal Media Capital has raised $1.3 million in its first funding spherical, led by an unnamed personal funding fund.
Based by Abdulwahid Al-Humaid and Anas Al-Humaid, the corporate focuses on buying and scaling digital media belongings.
The funding will help progress initiatives, operational readiness, and strategic partnerships.
MUHIDE closes sequence A with Asyad Group
Saudi-based fintech MUHIDE has closed a sequence A funding spherical with Asyad Group for an undisclosed quantity.
Based in 2023, MUHIDE focuses on authenticating and governing B2B commerce transactions and is working towards constructing Saudi Arabia’s first unified commerce ecosystem.
Daleel raises $3m pre-seed
Daleel has raised $3 million in a pre-seed spherical from an unnamed angel investor.
Based in 2025, the corporate is growing an AI-native intelligence layer for GCC actual property, combining verified authorities transaction knowledge with stay property listings.
The funding shall be used for product improvement, cell app launches, UAE growth, and preparation for entry into Saudi Arabia.
Alefredo acquires Tutor Home
Jordanian schooling tech firm Alefredo has acquired UK-based tutoring platform Tutor Home in a transaction valued at $600,000.
The deal is primarily structured as fairness in Alefredo Holding Co., with extra strategic and performance-based elements.
Based in 2020, Alefredo supplies digital studying instruments and assessments for worldwide curricula, and the acquisition completes its AI-driven studying stack by integrating tutoring, analytics, and adaptive studying paths.
