Author: Editorial Board

French AI startup Mistral is doubling down on enterprise artificial intelligence with the launch of Mistral Forge, a new platform designed to help companies build fully customized AI models using their own data. The announcement was made at Nvidia’s GTC conference, one of the most influential global events in AI and computing, where enterprise AI and agentic systems took center stage this year. From Generic AI to Company-Specific Intelligence Forge is positioned as a solution to one of the biggest limitations in today’s AI landscape: lack of contextual understanding within organizations. Rather than relying on general-purpose models trained on public…

Healthcare AI startup Forithmus has secured $4 million in pre-seed funding to develop a new generation of artificial intelligence systems designed to transform how medical imaging is interpreted globally. The round was co-led by Point Nine and E2VC, with participation from Tibas Ventures, Reece Chowdhry, and several angel investors. Founder Edge: Where Medicine Meets Engineering At the pre-seed stage, team quality is often the defining factor—and Forithmus stands out with a rare combination of expertise. The company was founded by Ibrahim Ethem Hamamci and Sezgin Er, who bring hybrid backgrounds in medicine and computer science/engineering. Both founders combine medical training…

The modern job search has become a frustrating experience for millions of candidates. Qualified professionals send dozens — sometimes hundreds — of applications without ever hearing back. According to Jobable founder George Mumladze, the problem is not necessarily the candidates themselves — it’s the systems evaluating them. Jobable, an AI-powered platform designed to help job seekers navigate automated hiring systems, is tackling one of the most overlooked issues in recruitment: ATS readability. When Software Decides Who Gets Seen Today’s hiring landscape is largely controlled by software. Nearly 97.8% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to process job…

AI-powered software development platform Replit has raised $400 million in a Series D funding round, pushing the company’s valuation to $9 billion and highlighting growing global investor interest in the emerging “vibe coding” movement. The round was led by Georgian, with participation from major global investors including Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), along with several existing backers. The investment marks another strategic technology bet by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund as it expands its global AI portfolio. Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Steps Into the AI Developer Economy The participation of Qatar Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, signals…

UAE-based blockchain infrastructure startup Utexo has secured $7.5 million in Seed funding to accelerate the development of stablecoin payment infrastructure built on the Bitcoin network. The round was led by Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, and included participation from global investors such as Big Brain Holdings, Portal Ventures, Franklin Templeton, Maven11 Capital, and Fulgur Ventures. Bridging USDT Payments with Bitcoin Infrastructure Utexo is building infrastructure that enables digital wallets, cryptocurrency exchanges, and payment providers to process USDT transactions directly on the Bitcoin network. Through its API-driven software platform, financial institutions can integrate stablecoin payments into their systems without…

Algeria-based super app Yassir has acquired the Uno hypermarket chain from Cevital Group, marking the company’s first major move into physical retail and signalling a broader push toward a hybrid online-offline commerce model across North Africa. Following the acquisition, the hypermarkets will be rebranded as “Yassir Market.” The first flagship store is scheduled to open at the Bab Ezzouar shopping centre in Algiers during Ramadan 2026, introducing a new retail concept that blends digital services with traditional in-store shopping. The move comes as the region’s grocery and hypermarket segment adjusts to gaps left by Jumia’s withdrawal from physical retail operations…

Wa’ed Ventures, the $500 million venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, has announced a strategic investment in Resemble AI, a California-based company specializing in AI voice generation and real-time multimodal deepfake detection. The investment follows Resemble AI’s $13 million strategic funding round completed in December, which attracted backing from major global investors including Google’s AI Future Fund, Sony Innovation Fund, Javelin Venture Partners, and Ubiquity Ventures. Addressing the Rising Threat of AI-Generated Fraud The move comes at a time when AI-generated fraud and deepfake attacks are rising sharply worldwide. Industry estimates suggest that deepfake-related scams caused more than $25 billion…

Kudwa, an AI-powered financial intelligence platform designed for modern finance teams, has closed a $1.1 million funding round with participation from 1818 Venture Capital, F6 Ventures, Sparked VC, IM Fndg, and IVP. The round was completed ahead of schedule in late 2025, providing Kudwa with capital to accelerate product development, expand integrations with enterprise systems, and scale its go-to-market strategy across multiple regions. Kudwa positions itself as the “financial brain” for businesses, offering an AI-driven platform that connects with ERP, accounting, and operational systems to deliver real-time financial planning and analysis (FP&A). The system combines automated data pipelines, forecasting models,…

Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem continued its rapid expansion in 2025, with venture investment and international engagement reaching new highs. According to ecosystem rankings by StartupBlink, the country entered the Top 100 of the Global Startup Ecosystem Index for the first time, recording ecosystem growth of more than 132%. Market estimates suggest venture investment in Uzbekistan surged from $69.5 million in 2024 to more than $329 million in 2025, reflecting growing global interest in the country’s emerging technology sector. A key driver behind this momentum is IT Park Ventures, the venture fund launched in December 2024 under a presidential decree of the…

AI-driven advertising technology company Converted has acquired Mitcha, one of Egypt’s leading e-commerce platforms focused on supporting local fashion designers. The deal represents a strategic move to expand Converted’s data-driven digital commerce ecosystem across the region. By integrating Mitcha’s network of designers, brands, and customers, Converted aims to enhance its ability to build advertising products that convert marketing spend directly into verified sales. The acquisition aligns with the company’s broader vision of creating a commerce infrastructure where advertising performance is measured by real transactions rather than clicks or impressions. As part of the transaction, Hilda Louca, founder of Mitcha and…