#14 This Week In MENA🚀
Dive into the latest Startup News, Trends & Opportunities shaping the MENA region
Welcome back to your premier source for all things startup in the MENA region! his week, we dive into the latest happenings shaping the future of our vibrant startup landscape
Here’s What’s Sparking Interest This Week:
Weekly Funding Roundup
In The News
Ecosystem Updates
Upcoming Programs
Cool Events
Interesting Stuff
Techy Bytes
Yalla, let’s dive in!
Weekly Funding Roundup
SecureMyScholarship (UAE) raises $550k
Lune Technologies (UAE) secures $1.5M seed
Phoenix Group (UAE) acquires 12.5% of Rekt Studios (UAE)
AngelSpark (UAE) invests in Plain Tiger
Hevolution (KSA) invests $20M in Aeovian
Aramco Ventures (KSA) invests in Dendra Systems
Oman Investment Authority invests in Hysata
212Founders (Morocco) invests in VelyVelo
In The News
UAE to invest $1B in Korea ventures
Investcorp (Bahrain) partners with China's CIC for a $1B fund
UAE Central Bank issues Open Finance Regulation
Klumi Ventures (UAE) has become Abu Dhabi's first regulated Web3 VC
Riyadh's Arabic AI Center launched
PTS Holdings and BTU launched the Kemtech Valley-BTU studio
Banque Misr partners and invests in el-mazzad.com
Saudi-Egyptian Investment Co. targets a majority of Cira Education
Ecosystem Updates
INJAZ Bahrain concludes its 15th Young Entrepreneurs Competition
Expo Live Dubai selects 16 global entrepreneurs
Finamaze opened a tech hub in DIFC, which became a $3.3B global fintech hub.
Saudi VCPEA & BIM Ventures sign a strategic deal
10 women-led startups joined Google's MENA AI accelerator
Upcoming Programs & Opportunities
CreaTech and All Things Media 2.0 Programs by The Collective Hub
AI and Anytech Acceleration Programs by Kickstart Bahrain
Misk Launchpad 6.0 and SPARK incubation programs by Misk
Selfmade Founders program for female entrepreneurs
Startup10 Program by CIHEAM Bari
AI Assistive Tools Hackathon by Vodafone
The Tank Innovation Challenge by Umniah
For more programs & opportunities —> here
Cool Events
Seamless Middle East - 14/15 May, Dubai
World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum - 14 May, Manama
GITEX Africa - 15 May, Marrakesh
RiseUp Summit - 16 May, Cairo
Techstars Startup Weekend - 16 May, Manama
Orange Corners Palestine Demo Day - 22 May, Zoom
Kickstart Bahrain EdTech Demo Day - 30 May, Zoom
For more events —> here
Interesting Stuff
Fnjan Episode Becomes Most Watched Podcast Episode on YouTube Globally
Dubai launches a long-term visa for gamers
UAE ranks third globally for crypto holders
MBZUAI explores AI solutions for extreme weather after Gulf floods
Europe to launch chamber of commerce in Riyadh
Top 7 Most Active Gulf Investors in Europe
Explore the Investment Landscape in Iraq
Techy Bytes
Beltone Holding (Egypt) launches a $100 million platform for export companies
Codebase Technologies (UAE) launches a financing solution to address a $5.2 trillion gap
Abu Dhabi pilots first passenger-carrying drone flights
PayBy (UAE) announces palm-of-hand electronic payment service launch
Key (KSA) car rental introduces innovative monthly subscriptions
Lezzoo (Iraq) announces the launch of a cross-border e-commerce service
Wayve Secures $1.05B for AI self-driving tech in Europe
That's a wrap!
Thank you for catching up with us. Stay tuned for next week’s roundup of new opportunities, trends, and insights from the MENA startup ecosystem.
Until next time,