RIYADH: Startups in the Middle East and North Africa continue to attract investor interest and pursue strategic expansion, with new funding rounds, acquisitions and new market entries highlighting sustained momentum across artificial intelligence, fintech and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia-based AI startup Infobrim, aiming to scale its AI-powered business intelligence platform, has raised its first round of strategic angel funding from an anonymous investor at a valuation of $3.5 million.
Founded in 2024 by Mohamed Obied and Sherif Sayed, the company offers an AI-native BI lakehouse architecture that connects enterprise data sources and delivers real-time analytics through dashboards, predictive signals, and AI-driven insights.
The funding will support product development and expansion of its SaaS analytics solution, and positions the company to help businesses transform raw data into actionable intelligence, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation efforts under Vision 2030.
Value Makers Studio Announces Cairo Accelerator
Saudi Arabia-based venture studio Value Makers Studio has launched VMS Accelerate in Cairo, a three-month program designed to support startups entering the Saudi market.
The accelerator provides up to $28,000 per startup, as well as mentorship and access to a network of more than 150 industry experts.
VMS will invest in seven seed and seed+ stage startups in its first cohort in Cairo, with a focus on helping founders hone their growth strategies and prepare for regional expansion and future funding rounds.
Kudwa raises $1.1 million to scale AI finance platform
UAE and US-based financial Software-as-a-Service startup Kudwa has raised $1.1 million in a funding round backed by 1818 Venture Capital, F6 Ventures, Sparked VC, IM Fndg, and IVP.
Founded in 2023 by Karl Nasr and Sam Arif, Kudwa develops an AI financial manager that automates financial reporting, analysis, forecasting, and insights for businesses.
The company will use the funding to accelerate product development, expand integration and expand its go-to-market strategy as it expands its AI-powered financial planning and analytics platform across multiple markets.
Utexo raises $7.5 million in seed round
UAE-based blockchain infrastructure startup Utexo has raised $7.5 million in a Tether-led seed funding round with Big Brain Holdings, Portal Ventures, Franklin Templeton, and participation from Maven11 Capital and Fulgur Ventures.
Founded in 2025 by Chris Hutchinson and Viktor Ihnatiuk, the company builds enterprise-grade infrastructure that enables financial institutions and digital platforms to process USDT stablecoin payments directly on the Bitcoin network.
The funding will support the expansion of Utexo’s technology to enable faster, private and lower-cost stablecoin transactions for global payment providers using Layer 2 protocols such as Lightning and RGB.
Wa’ed Ventures backs Resemble AI as it expands in the Middle East
Wa’ed Ventures, Saudi Aramco’s $500 million venture capital arm, has made a strategic investment in Resemble AI, a US-based company focused on AI voice generation and real-time deepfake detection.
Resemble AI previously raised $13 million in a strategic round backed by investors including Google’s AI Future Fund, Sony Innovation Fund, Javelin, and Ubiquity.
This investment will support the company’s expansion into Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, enabling organizations to deploy AI verification and deepfake detection technology that aligns with regional data sovereignty and security requirements.
Qualifi acquires Career Club to expand AI career services
Egypt-based recruitment platform Qualiphi announced that it has acquired Career Club, the virtual career platform formerly owned by iCareer, in a six-figure deal that will close in the second half of 2025.
Founded in 2025 by Nevien Magdy, Qualiphi provides an AI-powered career services management platform that connects universities, employers, and students through an integrated digital ecosystem.
The company already supports more than 500,000 students and partners with universities and government agencies, and this acquisition will support product development and regional expansion as it scales across Egypt and the GCC.
Yassir acquires Kawarizmi to build ad tech ecosystem
Algeria-based super app Yassir has acquired Paris-based adtech company Kawarizmi as part of its strategy to develop an integrated retail media and advertising ecosystem.
Founded in 2017 by Noureddine Tayebi and El Mahdi Yettou, Yassir operates in more than 60 cities across six countries, serving more than 8 million users through mobility, delivery and fintech services.
The acquisition strengthens Yassir’s programmatic advertising capabilities, allowing it to monetize first-party data, expand brand partnerships across Europe, MENA and Africa, and build a regional adtech infrastructure with global ambitions.
Mifta raises pre-seed funding ahead of launch in Syria
Syria-based real estate tech startup Miftah aims to digitize real estate transactions in Syria and has raised an undisclosed pre-seed funding round ahead of its market launch.
Founded in 2026, the company focuses on increasing transparency and verification in the real estate market through identity verification and biometrics.
Miftah offers a dual platform with listings, CRM tools and market analytics for consumers and agents, and the funding is set to support product rollout and platform development as it positions itself as a central hub for real estate transactions.
Starlink launches satellite internet service in UAE
Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has launched in the UAE, offering residential plans starting from 230 Emirati dirhams and business plans starting from 248 Emirati dirhams per month, along with an upfront cost for the hardware.
The service relies on low-orbit satellites rather than fiber infrastructure, enabling connectivity in remote and underserved areas.
Although Starlink is not positioned as a replacement for fiber in city centres, it provides a complementary solution for backup connectivity and mobile use cases, contributing to the expansion of the UAE’s digital infrastructure.
Bertone secures approval to launch Egypt’s first silver fund
Egypt-based Beltone Asset Management has received initial approval from financial regulators to launch Fadda, the country’s first silver investment fund offering daily cumulative returns.
This fund introduces a new alternative asset class for both retail and institutional investors.
The offering is expected to begin after Eid al-Fitr through Beltone Securities Brokers, and the fund aims to support portfolio diversification and provide a hedge against market fluctuations over the medium to long term.
