Author: Editorial Board

Saudi-based cybersecurity startup Solidrange has secured $2.4 million in Seed funding to accelerate its mission of modernising Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) through AI-driven automation. The round was led by Sharaka Capital, with participation from Sadu Capital, SEEDRA Ventures, and Tali Ventures, the investment arm of stc. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Riyadh, Solidrange is led by Jamal M. Labani and has quickly emerged as one of the Kingdom’s rising cybersecurity players. The company already serves more than 50 enterprise clients, including government entities, publicly listed firms, and major organisations across both public and private sectors. Scaling AI-Driven Cyber…

Dubai-based digital real estate investment platform Stake has closed an oversubscribed $31 million Series B round, led by Emirates NBD. The round also saw participation from a strong syndicate of regional and international investors, including the MENA Venture Capital Fund at Mubadala Investment Company, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), Property Finder, STV NICE, Wa’ed Ventures, GFH Partners, and Ellington Properties. With this raise, Stake’s total funding now reaches $58 million, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s fastest-growing fintech platforms modernising real estate ownership. Building the infrastructure for borderless real estate investing The Series B marks a strategic inflection…

On 19 February, the Road to INMerge officially launches its 2026 journey in Istanbul. Following a strong 2025 roadshow across Georgia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, INMerge returns with a renewed regional ambition — connecting startups, institutional capital, and ecosystem leaders across Türkiye, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and MENA. The first stop takes place at Dotshub Istanbul in Beşiktaş, positioning Istanbul once again as a strategic bridge between innovation markets. Opening Remarks The event opens with welcoming remarks from: Their opening session will frame the strategic importance of cross-border innovation collaboration and set the tone for a high-level day of dialogue…

The founders of Getir have filed a lawsuit against Mubadala Investment Company, seeking at least $700 million in damages over an alleged breach of a 2024 restructuring agreement. According to a report by the Financial Times, Getir co-founders Nazım Salur and Serkan Borançılı filed a claim at London’s High Court, arguing that Mubadala failed to transfer key assets as previously agreed. The Core of the Dispute The legal action centers on a June 2024 restructuring deal in which Mubadala injected $250 million into Getir and assumed majority control of its Turkish grocery operations. Under the agreement: However, the founders claim…

Saudi fintech startup Madfu has closed its Pre-A funding round, raising over SAR 95 million ($25.5 Million) with participation from Afaq Capital and a group of angel investors. The new capital marks a significant milestone in Madfu’s growth journey and directly supports the company’s 2025 strategic roadmap. What’s Next for Madfu? With this investment, Madfu plans to: Positioned within the Kingdom’s fast-growing digital payments landscape, Madfu continues to focus on transparent and flexible Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions tailored to local market needs. As Saudi Arabia accelerates financial innovation under Vision 2030, fintech players like Madfu are shaping the…

Adeo Ressi, CEO of Decile Group, Chairman of Founder Institute, and the inventor of the SAFE Note, has unveiled an ambitious plan to help establish at least 100 new venture capital firms across the Middle East by 2028. Ressi aims to inject Silicon Valley’s operational expertise and venture infrastructure into the region, supporting the rise of globally competitive startups and the next wave of unicorns. “We’re seeing exceptional entrepreneurs and investors emerging across the Middle East — classic indicators of a market entering takeoff mode,” Ressi said. “Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are positioned to lead, each with distinct…

Caucasus Ventures has backed three new startups, increasing its total portfolio to 32 companies and further strengthening its footprint across education, design, and deep tech. Lilitopia is building an edutainment world for kids. The platform operates as a digital learning ecosystem that develops safe, educational, and fun programs for preschoolers in their native language. By combining games, cartoons, songs, books, and interactive activities, Lilitopia transforms everyday learning into an engaging experience, helping children develop creativity, critical thinking, and future-ready skills from an early age. FROMFOLIO is a transportation design platform that brings together the global design community. Fromfolio.com connects seasoned…

Dubai-based iBLOXX Studios has secured more than $5 million in fresh funding to finalize development and prepare for the global launch of its upcoming third-person shooter, StrayShot. Operating from the DMCC Free Zone, the studio is part of the DMCC Gaming Centre and actively participates in the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33) — a strategic initiative aimed at positioning Dubai among the world’s top gaming hubs by 2033. A Mobile-First Shooter with Global Ambition StrayShot is designed as a mobile-first, high-performance shooter, optimized to deliver console-quality gameplay while remaining accessible on lower-end devices — a strategic move to capture…

Singapore-headquartered Ascentium has acquired Clara, the largest licensed Corporate Service Provider (CSP) in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), marking a significant step in its Middle East expansion strategy. The deal strengthens Ascentium’s regional footprint through Clara’s established presence across both ADGM and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) — two of the UAE’s most prominent common law financial hubs. Clara has positioned itself as a key infrastructure partner for companies entering or operating within the UAE’s regulated financial centres. Its client base spans startups, SMEs, venture capital firms, law practices, accelerators, investors, and government-related entities. The firm is known…

The region’s largest e-commerce gathering, WORLDEF DUBAI 2026, officially opened its doors on February 12 and continues through February 14, transforming Dubai into a global hub for digital trade. Hosted at Dubai CommerCity, the event brings together more than 16,000 participants from over 80 countries, reinforcing its position as MENA’s leading platform for cross-border commerce, AI-driven retail innovation, and global e-commerce collaboration. “Trade Is Now Digital” Speaking at the opening ceremony on the main stage titled Future Commerce, WORLDEF CEO Omar Nart described the event as more than just a conference: “WORLDEF DUBAI is not only an event; it is…