Author: Editorial Board

Saudi-based proptech startup Jozo Real Estate Tokenization has announced the successful close of its SAR 8.3 million ($2.21 million) seed round, signalling rising interest in real estate tokenization opportunities across the Kingdom. Jozo develops technology that enables the tokenization of real estate assets, allowing property ownership to be structured in digital form under Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulatory environment. The company had previously issued a tokenized real estate deed in Saudi Arabia through the private sector, operating within an existing legal framework. A notable part of the round is the participation of Hamad Mohammed Bin Saedan as a strategic partner. His…

AI-focused venture firm Propeller has unveiled the first cohort of Kernel Camp, its Silicon Valley-based deep-tech residency, bringing five startups from Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt into the heart of the global AI ecosystem. The eight-week programme is designed to bridge a long-standing gap: while MENA continues to produce strong technical talent, founders have historically lacked direct access to Silicon Valley’s networks of capital, operators, and engineering communities. Kernel Camp aims to change that—not just by relocating founders, but by embedding them into the ecosystem through curated exposure to the people, ideas, and conversations shaping the future of AI. The…

Saudi-based sports gaming startup ElGoat has secured $266,000 in seed funding via Trigon, reaching a valuation of $2.66 million, as it looks to redefine how football fans engage with the game. Founded in March 2026 by Mohammed Almunajem, ElGoat is building a knowledge-based football prediction platform that shifts fan interaction from passive viewing to competitive participation. Unlike traditional betting platforms, ElGoat operates on a free-to-play model, allowing users to predict match outcomes, exact scores, and goal scorers. Players earn points based on accuracy and compete across global leaderboards or private leagues, creating a more skill-driven and socially engaging experience. The…

Egypt-based fintech platform Lucky has raised $23 million in a Series B round, combining equity and debt, as it doubles down on its ambition to become a leading neo-banking player across North Africa. The round saw participation from both existing and new investors, including Disruptech Ventures and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, alongside strategic backing from Suez Canal Bank and OneStop, chaired by tech investor Mohamed Farouk, who now joins Lucky as Chairman of the Board. The funding follows a breakout year for Lucky, which reported 3x annual growth in 2025 and reached profitability by year-end, reinforcing its…

Saudi-based flash-sale platform Maison Safqa has secured $620,000 in pre-seed funding, backed by 500 Global through the Sanabil MENA 500 Accelerator Fund, alongside a group of regional and international angel investors. The round also drew strategic participation from retail and tech operators, including the founder of Ventes Exclusives, one of Europe’s largest flash-sale platforms, now part of Veepee. Founded in 2024 by Lea Mehaweg, Estelle Nasr, and Georgia Mehaweg, Maison Safqa is building a tech-enabled marketplace designed to help premium and luxury brands efficiently monetise excess inventory — without compromising pricing power or brand equity. The platform connects curated, high-intent…

UAE-based premium protein brand CarniStore has secured a AED 45 million ($12.2 million) strategic minority investment from Emirates Growth Fund (EGF), marking the fund’s first food-sector investment. Founded in 2018, CarniStore has built its position in the UAE’s premium protein market by combining heritage butchery know-how with proprietary production and a digital-first retail model. The company says the new capital will support industrial scaling, expansion into new product categories, and broader regional growth. For EGF, the deal reflects its strategy of backing high-potential UAE businesses in the so-called “missing middle” and helping them evolve into long-term national champions. Beyond capital,…

UAE-based hospitality platform Mezza has officially launched, introducing a model designed to help restaurants access upfront, debt-free capital while also driving customer footfall and repeat visits. Built for independent restaurants and hospitality groups, Mezza aims to solve two persistent challenges in the sector: securing growth capital without dilution, and attracting diners consistently in a competitive market. The platform provides restaurants with upfront funding in exchange for future food and beverage credit. Instead of taking on loans, paying interest, or giving up equity, partner venues receive immediate cash flow while Mezza distributes the credit gradually to its app members over time.…

Turkey-based eSIM startup Pocket eSIM has secured $1.5 million in seed funding as it accelerates its global growth ambitions. The round saw participation from Ziraat Portföy, Bacacı Yatırım Holding, Milenium VC, and Negmar Venture. Existing backers including Fonangels, UP Venture Capital, and Iz Yatırım Holding also took part, with Ziraat Portföy doubling down after joining the company’s pre-seed round. Founded in Bilişim Vadisi by Eymen Özkan and Akif Enes Kütük, Pocket eSIM develops eSIM-based mobile connectivity solutions that allow users to access affordable mobile data in more than 200 countries—without the need for physical SIM cards. The platform is particularly…

Saudi-based edtech startup GAGA has secured $2.5 million in a pre-Series A round led by Phoenix Venture Partners, with backing from family offices and individual investors. Founded by Abdullah Alkharsani and Eyad Alshabaan, GAGA offers live interactive online education for students aged 4 to 18, positioning itself as a more engaging alternative to both traditional tutoring and passive recorded-content platforms. The company says its platform now features more than 1,000 live programmes across 200 subjects, covering both academic and skill-based learning. Its model focuses on real-time teacher-student interaction, combined with gamified learning experiences designed to improve engagement and learning outcomes.…

AI startup zypl.ai has secured $5.5 million in a bridge round at an $80 million valuation, as the company accelerates its global expansion in financial services. The round was led by Carbide Ventures, with participation from prominent business leaders including Shukhrat Ibragimov. The funding marks a key milestone for the company as it scales its synthetic data-driven AI platform across international markets. zypl.ai is focused on helping financial institutions improve decision-making through advanced AI models trained on synthetic datasets. At the core of its technology is zGAN, a proprietary generative AI model designed to simulate outlier scenarios and enhance predictive…