BRKZ raises $30 million venture debt from Stride Ventures

Saudi construction-tech startup BRKZ secures $30 million in venture debt from Stride Ventures to expand its procurement and embedded-finance platform, as venture debt gains momentum across the Kingdom’s startup ecosystem.

Saudi Arabia’s construction-tech startup BRKZ has raised up to $30 million in venture debt from Stride Ventures, one of the largest non-equity financings for a Saudi startup this year. The deal gives BRKZ additional capacity to expand its embedded-finance and procurement platform as the Kingdom’s building surge accelerates under Vision 2030.

Founded in 2023 by Ibrahim Manna, BRKZ operates a digital marketplace linking contractors and suppliers across the construction value chain. The platform currently connects over 1,300 suppliers and lists more than 7,500 SKUs, helping firms source materials, compare prices, and manage logistics. Through embedded-finance products, BRKZ provides flexible payment solutions to address cash-flow gaps — a persistent issue in the construction procurement process as the Kingdom accelerates mega-projects such as NEOM, Diriyah Gate, and The Red Sea Project.

India-based Stride Ventures, one of Asia’s leading venture-debt players, described BRKZ as a “strategic anchor” in its GCC portfolio. The firm plans to deploy $500 million across the Middle East by 2026, focusing on capital-efficient startups with scalable technology.

The latest facility follows BRKZ’s $17 million Series A extension in February 2025, bringing total equity raised to approximately $22.5 million. Over the past year, the platform processed SAR 3.14 billion ($837 million) in requests for quotations and onboarded over 850 construction firms and factories across Saudi Arabia.

The new debt financing will fund BRKZ’s expansion into AI-driven procurement tools, strengthen its embedded-finance offerings, and support international sourcing from Asia and India. The company aims to enhance cost visibility and liquidity management for contractors amid rising infrastructure demand.

Venture debt remains a nascent funding instrument in the Gulf’s startup ecosystem but is rapidly gaining traction. In the past year, companies such as Tamara and Foodics have also secured structured debt and credit facilities, reflecting a growing appetite for non-dilutive capital among scale-stage startups. According to industry data, venture-debt funding in the MENA region has grown by more than 40% year-on-year, driven by founders seeking alternatives to equity-heavy growth models.

The BRKZ–Stride deal signals a structural shift: Saudi startups are increasingly opting for hybrid financing, balancing venture equity with flexible credit to sustain momentum. As the construction sector expands and cash cycles remain tight, venture debt could emerge as a key funding avenue in the Kingdom’s next growth chapter.