#79 This week In MENA's Startup Scene!
Dive into the latest Startup News, Trends & Opportunities shaping the MENA region
Welcome back to MENA Startup Digest!
It's been another busy one across the region's startup scene. This week was packed with big funding announcements, a ton of new AI tools dropping, and fresh opportunities for founders opening up everywhere.
Let’s dive in..
Fundraising Roulette
Coraly.ai (UAE/AI) secured $2M in a pre-seed round to accelerate its expansion into the Saudi Arabian market, with a focus on team building and product localization
Professional.me (UAE/HR Tech) raised $3.1M to expand its global footprint, with plans to scale its engineering team and increase its presence in the EMEA region
Breadfast (Egypt/Q-commerce) secured $10M to expand its grocery delivery network, including its bakeries, dark stores, and logistics infrastructure across Egypt
Hypeo AI (Morocco/Adtech) secured an investment from Renew Capital to expand its AI-powered influencer marketing platform, onboard more creators, and launch a new wellness coaching product
Main Headlines
Mubadala Capital (UAE) invested in US biotech firm Tahoe Therapeutics as part of a $30M funding round to expand its therapeutic programs and build a database for training AI models in human cell behavior
Madinah launched Global Deep Tech Venture Studio with DeepMind collaboration, creating an innovation hub to develop cutting-edge AI and technology solutions for Vision 2030
Impact46 (KSA) deepened its investments in the gaming sector with multi-studio deals, backing five new companies from its $40 million gaming fund to foster regional talent and content creation
International University of Rabat and Cisco launched an incubation center to drive cybersecurity and AI innovation in Morocco
Iraq revoked the licenses of 10 banks in a major overhaul of its financial sector, aiming to strengthen compliance with international standards and create a more stable banking environment
Fasset (Bahrain) launched a digital asset platform offering tokenized US stocks, making it easier for users in the MENA region to invest in high-value American companies
Ecosystem Updates
Hub71 welcomed 13 new AI start-ups in first half of 2025, expanding Abu Dhabi's tech ecosystem with AI-driven innovation
Mazala Foundation launched SANDBOX, the first business incubator in Aden, offering specialized training programs for 50 entrepreneurs in Yemen
Zain Kuwait celebrated 10 years of Kon Social Entrepreneurship Program with LOYAC
IFZA and Mastercard launched AI-powered business registration for SMEs in UAE
Intersect Incubator graduated 12 startups from its 7th cohort in Palestine
Asir Innovates 2025 Hackathon kicked off at King Khalid University, to develop tech-based solutions for regional challenges
Startups Highlights
Fawry (Egypt) integrated Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services across its extensive POS network through a partnership with FORSA
Kilow (KSA) launched the nation's first integrated health marketplace for weight loss, offering personalized plans, expert consultations, and integrated services to promote long-term lifestyle changes
Shahbandr (KSA) integrated Tamara's BNPL services across its 18,000+ online stores
Cure Bionics (Tunisia) is revolutionizing the prosthetics industry with its AI-powered, 3D-printed bionic limbs, making them more accessible and affordable for people with disabilities
Qi Card (Iraq) partnered with Turkish Airlines and Mastercard to launch a co-branded travel debit card, allowing users to earn air miles on their daily spending and enjoy premium travel benefits
Careem (UAE) launched Box XL, a new service that uses cars to deliver larger items up to 20kg, catering to both individuals and SMEs in need of a solution for bulky goods
Open For Application
Nawah Pre-Accelerator Program | Palestine
Flat6Labs, supported by Google for Startups, has launched the Nawah Pre-Accelerator Program, a four-month program designed to equip Palestinian entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and support needed to advance their tech startups from the idea stage to MVP
Dubai AI Accelerator | UAE
Dubai Future Foundation has opened applications for the Dubai AI Accelerator, calling for innovators to redefine government services
Digital Business Awards | Qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has opened nominations for the 9th Digital Business Awards, recognizing and promoting innovation and creativity in digital projects across the country
LIFE Pitch Night | Lebanon
LIFE is hosting a Pitch Night in Beirut to showcase early-stage Lebanese startups, offering them a platform to present their ideas to investors, mentors, and diaspora leaders
Gaza Innovation Camp | Palestine
Omran Platform has opened applications for the Gaza Innovation Camp, a creative platform for innovators to develop solutions for urgent humanitarian crises in sectors like food security, healthcare, and education
Innovative Entrepreneurship Factory | Syria
The Syrian Association for Research and Startups (SySSR) has launched the second edition of its Innovative Entrepreneurship Factory program, offering aspiring founders training and mentorship to build profitable and sustainable businesses
Orange Corners Incubation Program | Jordan
Orange Corners has opened a call for local partners to run its incubation programs, seeking organizations to deliver entrepreneurship support, training, and mentorship for young entrepreneurs
Techy Bytes
Saudi AI team achieved global recognition at the International Olympiad in AI, securing four medals and highlighting the Kingdom's growing talent in the field
HUMAIN (KSA) unveiled a powerful new suite of Arabic AI models, Aljebbar and Al-Basheer, designed to address the gap in high-quality, culturally-aware AI for the MENA region
G42 (UAE) launched OpenAI models globally through its Core42 cloud platform, enabling enterprises and developers worldwide to access powerful AI tools with sovereign controls
An Egyptian developer launched Manetho, an AI-powered mobile app that offers real-time translation of hieroglyphics using a phone's camera
Udemy launched its AI-powered learning platform in Arabic, aiming to empower over 300 million Arabic-speaking professionals with personalized upskilling opportunities
Qatar Airways and Accenture launched AI Skyways, a comprehensive AI platform designed to enhance airline operations, optimize flight schedules, and personalize customer engagement
e& (UAE) launched a Monitoring-as-a-Service (MaaS) offering to provide businesses with real-time visibility into their infrastructure and enhance operational resilience
Tunisia announced plans to create Africa's first 100% digital hospital, a fully paperless, remote-first model to democratize access to specialized medical care
Alibaba launched Accio Agent, an AI tool designed to automate and significantly reduce the time merchants spend on sourcing products and supplies
Google launched Flight Deals, an AI-powered tool within Google Flights that helps travelers find cheaper airfare using natural language search
That’s a wrap for this week!
We hope this week's digest of the latest funding, insights, and ecosystem news helps you stay ahead in the fast-paced MENA region.
Stay tuned for more insights next week
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