Author: Mohammed Abubakr

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Saudi Arabia’s on-demand economy is expanding at an extraordinary pace. Consumers have grown accustomed to ordering meals, groceries, and products with just a few taps on their smartphones and receiving them within hours, sometimes even minutes. Behind this seamless experience, however, lies a highly fragmented ecosystem of restaurants, logistics companies, e-commerce platforms, and delivery operators that often function independently using disconnected systems. For Waleed Ghoneim, a veteran of Saudi Arabia’s delivery sector, this fragmentation represented a far bigger opportunity than launching yet another delivery application. Saudi-based Pickappo has announced the successful closing of a SAR 2 million pre-seed investment round,…

The artificial intelligence boom has moved beyond experimentation. Enterprises and governments around the world are no longer asking whether they should adopt AI. Instead, they are grappling with a more complex question: How can they deploy AI securely while maintaining complete control over their most valuable asset, their data? For Mohammad Abu Sheikh, the answer lies in sovereignty. This week, UAE-based CNTXT AI announced that it has raised $60 million in a Series A funding round co-led by AI71 and BlueFive Capital, marking one of the largest Series A rounds in the region’s rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector. The funding…