Corporate Innovation

Why CVCs are different and how to get them to write you a check

Corporate venture capital can open doors that no financial investor can match, but only if you understand what corporate investors are actually buying. Unlike traditional VCs, firms like Aramco Ventures, STC Ventures, and e& Capital are not writing checks for returns alone — they are investing in strategic relevance, and founders who pitch without understanding that distinction rarely make it past the first meeting.

King Saud University enters the startup game with Riyadh Valley

King Saud University's investment arm has partnered with SparkLabs to establish a venture fund and four-month accelerator program launching in April. The move marks a significant shift in how major Gulf research institutions approach commercialization of academic research and represents a direct challenge to private venture firms dominating early-stage funding in Saudi Arabia.

UAE’s ZIWO secures strategic debt investment from Amplify Growth Fund

AI contact centre platform ZIWO has secured a strategic debt financing investment from Amplify Growth Fund, managed by Ajeej Capital, to support regional expansion, deepen partnerships, and scale AI driven capabilities across the GCC.

Swvl deepens Saudi presence with new $1.5M healthcare contract

Swvl has expanded its operations in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector after securing a new $1.5 million contract, strengthening its position in enterprise mobility and institutional transport services in the Kingdom.

Saudi's SAVVY eyes $6B moonton acquisition in gaming consolidation play

ByteDance is negotiating to sell Shanghai Moonton Technology to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group for between $6 billion and $7 billion

Singapore's Ascentium acquires UAE corporate services provider Clara

Singapore-based business services platform Ascentium has acquired Clara, a UAE-based regtech and corporate service provider, in a deal that expands Ascentium's presence across the Middle East's regulated financial hubs. Founded in 2018, Clara operates as the largest licensed corporate service provider in Abu Dhabi Global Market, serving startups, venture capitalists, and government entities through its proprietary compliance platform.

Germany and Qatar Launch Deep Tech Innovation Hub in Doha

ESMT Berlin partners with Qatar Investment Authority and QRDI Council to launch DEEP Qatar innovation hub supporting 150+ deep tech projects over three years.

Abu Dhabi Investment valued Trump's Crypto Venture at $1 Billion

Investment firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency company linked to the Trump family, for $500 million.

Web Summit Qatar marks Yuno’s deeper push into MENA with Tap Payments partnership

Yuno and Tap Payments partner to simplify enterprise entry into MENA, combining Yuno’s global payments orchestration with Tap’s GCC licenses and local payment methods to speed compliant expansion.

Saudi Arabia accelerates advanced manufacturing and logistics with WAM Saudi 2026

WAM Saudi 2026 brings together global innovators, investors, and policymakers as Saudi Arabia accelerates its journey to become a global manufacturing hub under Vision 2030.

Web Summit announces Qatar 2027 with 50% off tickets

Property Finder raises $170 million from UAE sovereign funds

Property Finder raises $170M led by Mubadala to build the region's leading real estate operating system, powered by AI and data innovation

NowPay Raises $20M, Launches Saudi JV to Scale Payroll Platform

NowPay secured $20 million to expand its earned wage access and payroll tools across MENA, launching NowAccess in Saudi with Tas'heel.

MIS cashes out xAI stake for $4.24M

Saudi listed MIS sells its entire stake in Elon Musk’s xAI for $4.24 million, booking a gain and strengthening liquidity, according to a Tadawul filing.

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ raises $5B in Asia led financing

Abu Dhabi based ADQ secures a $5 billion financing deal with Asian financial institutions, strengthening its funding base and deepening Asia, Middle East financial ties.

Social Development Bank’s DeveGo 2025 maps the future of modern work

Deve Go 2025 is the Social Development Bank’s flagship entrepreneurship forum showcasing innovation, investment and business opportunities.

CloudKitchens pulls back on Mideast IPO

Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens has delayed plans to list its Middle East unit despite earlier underwriting talks with major Saudi groups, sources tell TechScoop.

Mastiska Secures $10M to build UAE’s first sovereign AI Chips

UAE-based semiconductor startup Mastiska has raised USD 10 million in seed funding from GCC sovereign wealth funds to develop data centre class AI inference accelerators and launch a fabless chip venture focused on regional AI autonomy.

Global Health Exhibition 2025 wraps up in Riyadh with a $33B leap toward digital healthcare

Saudi Arabia closed the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh with $33 billion in digital health investments and major tech collaborations from stc, Mobily, and global firms like GE, Philips, Siemens, Microsoft, and AWS. The Kingdom’s healthcare transformation is connected, data-driven, and already online.