Author: Mohammed Abubakr

From Solving a Personal Problem to Building a National Marketplace Some of the world’s most successful startups begin not with a grand business plan, but with a frustrating personal experience. Amazon started as an online bookstore before becoming the world’s largest marketplace. Airbnb emerged when its founders struggled to pay rent. For Kayed Qunibi, the inspiration behind Dumyah came from an experience that millions of young parents know all too well—the overwhelming journey of preparing for their first child. When Kayed and his wife were expecting their daughter, Sarah, what should have been one of the happiest moments of their…

Betting on the Future of Sovereign Artificial Intelligence As governments and enterprises increasingly view artificial intelligence as strategic national infrastructure rather than just another software tool, a new generation of AI companies is emerging to address that shift. One of the latest is 1001, a GCC- and London-based artificial intelligence startup that has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round led by Lux Capital, with participation from Sanabil Investments, Hanabi, 9Yards, General Catalyst, CIV, Chris Ré, and several regional and international angel investors. The investment represents one of the largest Series A rounds for an AI infrastructure company…

Funding to Accelerate Regional Expansion Dubai-based fintech startup AXON has secured approximately US$1 million (SAR 4 million) in funding from Maarej Real Estate, marking an important milestone in the company’s mission to modernize cross-border financial infrastructure across the GCC. The investment follows AXON’s Investor Summit held in Riyadh, where the company presented its vision to investors, financial institutions, venture capital firms, and leaders from Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing fintech ecosystem. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate AXON’s expansion into Saudi Arabia, obtain key regulatory approvals, strengthen strategic partnerships with international financial institutions, and further develop its payment infrastructure.…

Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the biggest priorities for enterprises across the world. Organizations are investing billions of dollars into generative AI, autonomous agents, and intelligent automation, hoping to transform everything from customer service to healthcare and financial decision-making. Yet despite the excitement, many AI initiatives never make it beyond the pilot stage. While headlines often celebrate breakthroughs in large language models and AI capabilities, a quieter problem continues to hold enterprises back—how do you prove that an AI system is actually ready for production? For Asad Mansoor, Co-Founder and CEO of Accelerate AI, that question has defined…

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…