San Francisco-based AI platform Tavus has raised $40 million in Series B funding, marking a major step forward for the company’s vision of making human-AI interaction feel as natural as speaking face-to-face. The round was led by CRV, with participation from Scale Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, HubSpot Ventures, and Flex Capital. The funding comes as Tavus moves beyond its earlier work in AI-generated personalized video and into a more ambitious category it calls “human computing” — a future where AI systems can see, hear, respond, remember, and interact with people in a deeply human-like way. Founded by CEO Hassaan Raza and co-founder Quinn Favret, Tavus is building infrastructure for what it describes as AI humans: emotionally intelligent, multimodal agents that can communicate through text, voice, and face-to-face video. The company’s latest product direction centers around PALs, or Personal Affective Links, which are designed to behave less like traditional chatbots and more like human-facing digital counterparts capable of perception, context, emotion, and action. For Raza, the shift is not…

The convergence of artificial intelligence and Islamic finance is creating a new generation of financial platforms designed to move beyond traditional digital banking. While fintech has largely focused on improving access, speed, and convenience, a growing number of companies are now exploring how AI can make financial services more personalized, predictive, and ethically aligned. One of the latest companies pursuing this vision is IMAN Holdings, which has announced an ongoing $100 million capital raise to support the development of its AI-driven Islamic banking platform and accelerate international expansion. The company plans to use the new capital to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities, secure a full Islamic banking license, expand its product portfolio, and establish a stronger presence across the GCC and other international markets. Building an AI-Native Islamic Banking Platform Founded in 2020, IMAN Holdings is developing what it describes as an intelligent Islamic financial ecosystem that combines artificial intelligence, behavioral analytics, and Shariah-compliant financial services within a single digital platform. Unlike conventional banking systems that primarily evaluate historical financial…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the future of e-commerce, moving beyond chatbots and customer support to becoming an active participant in the buying journey. As consumers increasingly discover products through conversational interfaces and AI-powered assistants, merchants are looking for platforms that can help them adapt to this new era of commerce. Against this backdrop, UAE-headquartered AI commerce startup Revora has raised a $2 million seed round to accelerate its growth across the GCC, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. The funding round was co-led by i2i Ventures and Oraseya Capital, with participation from Anchorless Bangladesh, Conjunction Capital, F6 Ventures, Hi2 Global, Orbit Startups, and several strategic angel investors, including Salman Butt, co-founder of Salla. Formerly known as MyAlice, the company has rebranded as Revora to reflect its evolution from a conversational commerce platform into an AI-native operating system for e-commerce businesses. Building the AI Operating System for E-Commerce Founded in 2021 by Shuvo Rahman and Daniyal Baig, Revora is developing an AI-powered platform that enables merchants to automate sales…

As climate change, water scarcity, and rising agricultural costs continue to challenge food production across the world, technology is increasingly becoming a critical tool for farmers seeking to improve productivity while preserving natural resources. In North Africa and the Middle East, where water availability and agricultural efficiency are major concerns, startups are beginning to play a vital role in transforming how farms operate. One such company is RoboCare, a Tunisian agritech startup that has developed an artificial intelligence-powered precision agriculture platform designed to help farmers make smarter decisions. The company has now secured a six-figure investment from venture capital firm 216 Capital to support its next phase of growth and accelerate expansion into markets across Africa and the Middle East. The funding marks an important milestone for the startup as it seeks to scale its technology and strengthen its position as a regional leader in agricultural digital transformation. Using AI to Improve Farm Performance Founded in 2020 by Tunisian entrepreneur Imen Hbiri, RoboCare was created to address some of the…

Morocco’s proptech ecosystem continues to attract investor attention as startups leverage technology, data, and artificial intelligence to modernize one of the country’s largest traditional industries. The latest company to secure significant backing is Agenz, a fast-growing real estate technology platform that aims to bring greater transparency and efficiency to Morocco’s property market. Agenz has announced the successful closure of a $5 million oversubscribed seed funding round co-led by Breega, Attijariwafa Ventures, and Saviu Ventures. The new capital will support product development, team expansion, and continued investment in artificial intelligence as the company scales its platform and expands its role within the country’s real estate ecosystem. The funding marks a significant milestone for the startup, which has rapidly emerged as one of Morocco’s leading proptech companies since its launch in 2021. Transforming Real Estate Through Data and Technology Founded by brothers Malik Belkeziz and Badr Belkeziz, Agenz was created to address one of the biggest challenges facing real estate markets across emerging economies: the lack of reliable, transparent, and accessible property…

As Syria’s startup ecosystem continues to gain momentum, a new generation of entrepreneurs is building technology solutions designed to modernize critical sectors of the economy. One of the latest examples comes from the healthcare industry, where digital innovation is helping clinics and medical centers improve efficiency while making healthcare services more accessible to patients. Syrian healthtech startup Moadna has secured a $50,000 early-stage investment, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey. The investment was completed in collaboration with Ebla Ventures, Qiwam Platform, and Digital Syria, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s emerging technology ecosystem. The funding will support product development, strengthen the company’s technical infrastructure, and accelerate commercial expansion within Syria as the startup prepares for future regional growth. Bringing Digital Transformation to Healthcare Founded by Tarek Skheta, Maged Hamdeh, and a third co-founder, Moadna was created to address one of the most common operational challenges faced by healthcare providers: managing appointments, patient records, and clinic operations efficiently. The platform offers a comprehensive clinic management system that allows healthcare…

As businesses across the Gulf accelerate their digital transformation efforts, many small and medium-sized enterprises face a common challenge: accessing specialized talent without taking on the cost and commitment of full-time hires. Whether it’s designing a new brand identity, managing social media campaigns, producing video content, or creating digital marketing strategies, SMEs often need expertise on demand rather than permanent additions to their payroll. In Oman, one startup is addressing that gap by connecting businesses with the country’s growing pool of independent professionals. Zameeli, one of the Sultanate’s first homegrown freelance marketplaces, has secured Shariah-compliant financing from Sharakah, Oman’s SME development company, to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position within the country’s evolving digital economy. While the value of the financing was not disclosed, the investment marks an important milestone for the young company as it seeks to expand opportunities for both local businesses and Omani freelancers. Building an Omani Freelance Economy Founded in 2023 and led by entrepreneur Tariq Al Habsi, Zameeli was created with a simple but…

For many entrepreneurs, the inspiration for a startup comes from identifying a market gap. For Heera Rehman, Founder and CEO of WorldTone AI, the inspiration came from something far more personal: years of feeling unseen in the workplace. After spending more than a decade working in internal communications across global organizations, Rehman experienced firsthand the challenges many employees from underrepresented backgrounds face. Despite consistently delivering results, taking on global responsibilities, and operating at a senior level, she often found herself overlooked for promotions and opportunities. As a Muslim woman working in multinational environments, she became increasingly aware of how workplace cultures often failed to recognize or accommodate the diverse identities of their employees. The turning point came when she was made redundant during pregnancy. Rather than viewing the setback as the end of a chapter, Rehman saw it as an opportunity to build something she wished had existed throughout her corporate career. That decision ultimately led to the creation of WorldTone AI, a platform designed to help organizations communicate more…