Startup Scene ME

Homegrown Ventures, a UAE-based venture capital firm, has closed its debut Fund I at $22.8 million, surpassing its initial $20 million target. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Ho…

Falak Holding, a Saudi-based venture-building and investment platform, has acquired a majority stake in Kernel for AI, an artificial intelligence solutions company operating in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Sa…

Dubai-based FAST Ventures has launched MATTE, an AI-powered marketing technology platform designed to automate operational tasks for small and mid-sized agencies and in-house teams across the MENA region. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Saudi Arabia has ranked first globally in artificial intelligence fields related to security, privacy and cryptography, according to the 2026 AI Index published by Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

A new artificial intelligence initiative, the Nexus AI Factory, has been introduced in Morocco on the sidelines of GITEX Africa 2026, with the aim of positioning the country as a strategic hub connecting African, European and global markets. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

RedCloud Holdings plc, a Nasdaq-listed firm specialising in trade infrastructure for the fast-moving consumer goods sector, has signed a five-year licensing agreement worth up to $30 million to deploy its AI platform in Saudi Arabia. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Emirates Development Bank, the UAE’s state development bank focused on economic diversification, said it is deploying an average of Dhs20 million in financing each day to support businesses facing supply chain disruptions and market volatility. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Em…

Raedbots, an Egypt-based industrial robotics company founded in 2026 by Mohamed Ibrahim and Hamza El-Sahiti, has launched as a local manufacturer, positioning itself as the first of its kind in the country. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Jordanian Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Innovation Association, in partnership with the Jordanian Agricultural Engineers Syndicate, has launched “AgriTech Jordan”, a national incubator aimed at supporting startups in the agricultural sector. thestartupscene.me/OPPORTUNITIES/…

International Holding Company, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is acquiring a majority stake in British entrepreneur Richard Caring’s hospitality group in a deal valued at over $1.3 billion. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/In…

Tamwilcom, Morocco’s state-backed financial institution focused on supporting businesses and improving access to finance, has launched a new “Startup Venture Building” programme aimed at supporting 800 early-stage startups over the next three years. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Ta…

Jozo's seed round is led by real estate giant, Sheikh Hamad Bin Saedan, who joins as a strategic partner, as the proptech builds on an early tokenised deed under Saudi Arabia’s existing framework. thestartupscene.me/INVESTMENTS/Pr…

Money Fellows has partnered with Wafacash to bring its regulated digital savings model to Morocco. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Founded in 2025, ThrowMeNot redistributes near-expiry groceries through a marketplace where suppliers recover value from excess stock and consumers access food at reduced prices. thestartupscene.me/NextgenStartup…

A Cairo startup is turning overlooked date palm trees into a new income stream for farmers through carbon credits. thestartupscene.me/In-Depth/Cairo…

Global venture capital firm Propeller VC has welcomed the first cohort of its Kernel Camp programme to Silicon Valley, hosting five startups from Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and Egypt for an eight-week deep-tech residency. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Almosafer launched on ChatGPT, becoming the first Saudi application to offer consumer services through ChatGPT. From Riyadh on April 8th, 2026, the company said users can search over 1.5 million hotels and build itineraries in Arabic and English. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

Egypt’s investment ministry formed an executive committee to accelerate digital transformation, integrate services, and cut service times for investors, alongside a database audit and remote work measures to boost operational efficiency. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…

From freelancer marketplaces to AI payroll and remote hiring, these MENA startups are building the tools, systems and talent pipelines that make distributed work practical across the region right now. thestartupscene.me/PowerLists/5-S…

Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris will be conferred the title of Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy in Cairo on April 9th, 2026. thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems…