Author: Editorial Board

Google is taking personalization in search to the next level. The company has announced that its conversational AI Mode is now being enhanced with Personal Intelligence, allowing the feature—on an opt-in basis—to draw insights from users’ Gmail and Google Photos to deliver more tailored, context-aware responses. Originally introduced last week within Google’s Gemini app, Personal Intelligence is designed to connect signals across Google’s ecosystem, including Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube history. With its expansion into AI Mode, Google aims to transform complex search queries into highly personalized starting points rather than generic results. The feature is currently rolling out in…

Game ecosystem–focused platform Game Actor has raised a total of $400,000 in funding, which the company plans to use to expand its platform integrations and accelerate its international market expansion. Of the total investment, $300,000 was led by Entertech First Venture Capital Investment Fund, established through a collaboration between Yapı Kredi Portföy and Entertech Istanbul Technopark. The remaining $100,000 was invested by PlayGate GSYF. Game Actor stated that the new funding will be allocated toward strengthening platform integrations and accelerating its entry into international markets. Founded in Istanbul in 2023 by Türkay Beyazay and Giray Kayan, Game Actor operates as…

Sharjah has approved AED 800,000 (approximately $217,800) in new funding to support early-stage entrepreneurs and accelerate SME growth, reinforcing the emirate’s push for economic diversification and sustainable development. The funding was approved by Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (RUWAD), an initiative under the Sharjah Economic Development Department. The decision was announced during RUWAD’s 40th Project Funding Committee meeting, the first to be held in 2026. The meeting was chaired by Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of SEDD, and attended by senior officials and committee members. The newly approved allocation will support two new SME projects, combining both direct…

Istanbul-based TaleMonster Games, founded by former leaders of Peak Games, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to push the boundaries of casual mobile gaming. The round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Point72 Ventures and General Catalyst. Founded by a seasoned team behind global hits such as Toon Blast and Toy Blast, TaleMonster is on a mission to bring greater depth and creativity to the casual puzzle genre—an area long dominated by familiar design patterns. The studio’s debut title, Match Valley, blends classic puzzle mechanics with elements borrowed from hero-based gameplay and…

KNOT Technologies has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding in a round led by A15, as the company looks to scale its AI-native ticketing and access control infrastructure for live events. KNOT is building a new foundation for how identity, distribution, and value move across the global live events ecosystem. The startup aims to replace decades-old ticketing systems that leave organisers with limited demand visibility, expose fans to fraud, and allow billions of dollars to leak into opaque secondary resale markets. Founded by a team with prior experience at Meta, Goldman Sachs, and Mubadala, KNOT spent months conducting structured research…

Istanbul-based Dataroid has raised $6.6 million in a pre-Series A funding round to scale its AI-powered digital analytics platform internationally. The round was led by the FinAI Venture Capital Fund of Tacirler Asset Management, with participation from the Tacirler Asset Management Future Impact Venture Capital Fund and Endeavor Catalyst. The new investment follows Dataroid’s $2 million round in December 2023, backed by Koç Group’s Private Venture Capital Investment Fund and İşbank’s 100th Year Venture Capital Fund. Founded by Fatih İşbecer, Elif Parlak, and Can Elmas, Dataroid offers an integrated digital analytics and customer engagement platform that helps organisations measure, analyse,…

Flat6Labs has marked the graduation of the sixth cohort of its Riyadh Seed Program, reinforcing its role as a key driver of early-stage innovation in Saudi Arabia. The program is funded by F6 Ventures and delivered in partnership with Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC), alongside national ecosystem partners including the Jada Fund of Funds and Riyadh Valley Company. Since its launch in 2023, the Riyadh Seed Program—supported by the National Technology Development Program (NTDP)—has backed the growth of more than 60 startups, deploying nearly $17 million in seed investments. These companies have gone on to attract approximately $38 million in…

Peachscore, the world’s largest data-driven accelerator, has opened applications for its January 2026 cohort, inviting founders from around the globe to join a structured, technology-enabled program designed to help startups validate, scale, and become investor-ready. Positioned as a more accessible alternative to traditional accelerators, Peachscore supports startups from the idea stage through growth, combining AI-powered tools with hands-on mentorship. The fully remote program is open to founders worldwide, with alumni spanning 96 countries and more than 1,400 startups supported to date. A Data-Led Approach to Scaling Startups At the core of the Peachscore Accelerator is a 12-week structured curriculum, followed…

Creators HQ, the UAE and Middle East’s first dedicated hub for content creators, has partnered with Alfan to launch a AED 5 million Social Content Fund, aimed at empowering creators producing family- and society-focused content. The initiative was unveiled during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest gathering dedicated to shaping the global creator economy. The partnership agreement was announced at the three-day summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office and hosted across Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future in Dubai under the theme “Content for Good.” This year’s edition brought…

Syrian agricultural technology startup Nutra-GreeniX has closed a $200,000 funding round, led by Ebla Ventures with participation from a group of Syrian and Saudi investors. Founded to modernize Syria’s livestock sector, Nutra-GreeniX develops sustainable and technology-driven feed solutions, leveraging clean energy and environmentally responsible production methods. The company aims to improve food security while supporting local farmers and strengthening the domestic agricultural economy. The fresh capital will be used to scale operations, increase production capacity, and accelerate the development of new technologies tailored to the needs of the growing local market. Nutra-GreeniX also plans to expand its team and deepen…