Saudi Venture Capital Firms Driving Innovation with Major Investments
Saudi venture capital firms are revolutionizing the regional innovation landscape through significant investments and groundbreaking initiatives.
Aramco Ventures took the lead in funding New York-based industrial internet-of-things monitoring and communications startup Andium with a whopping $21.7 million in their series B funding round.
Noteworthy existing supporters such as Climate Investment, Intrepid Financial Partners, and renowned individual investors like former Citadel Chief Investment Officer Thomas Miglis also joined in on the action. This latest investment brings Andium’s total funding to over $40 million, following a successful $15 million series A round in 2021.
These freshly secured funds will empower Andium to ramp up its global expansion, scale operations in oil and gas regions across the US and the Middle East, slash technology costs, and fortify its research and development endeavors.
Wa’ed Ventures Commits $100m for Early-Stage AI Investments
Saudi Aramco’s financial capital arm, Wa’ed Ventures, has designated a massive $100 million for early-stage artificial intelligence investments. This bold move is part of a grand plan to position Saudi Arabia as a dominant force in the realm of technology, aligning perfectly with the Kingdom’s strategic development objectives.
The oversight of this fund deployment will be handled by an advisory board comprising experts from renowned global institutions such as Meta, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University, and Amazon.
According to a report by PwC, artificial intelligence could potentially inject a whopping $135 billion into Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, accounting for 12 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Beta Lab Launches with $300m to Foster Deeptech Innovation
Saudi Arabia’s latest deeptech venture studio, Beta Lab, made a grand entrance with a significant $300 million in capital at the prestigious Future Investment Initiative.
The primary objective of this venture is to bolster startups and drive cross-border innovation between the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Backed by the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and MDI Ventures by Telkom Indonesia, Beta Lab is poised to accelerate growth in the deep tech sector through substantial investments and collaborative partnerships.
Tharawat Green Exchange Secures $450k for Sustainability Initiatives
Web3 provider Tharawat Green Exchange, based in Saudi Arabia, has successfully raised $450,000 from Adaverse, a fund dedicated to Web3 and blockchain investments.
Founded in 2023 by Yakeen Al-Zaki, Hassan Al-Redha, and Yasser Al-Obaidan, Tharawat Green Exchange focuses on leveraging blockchain technology for environmental sustainability, perfectly aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
This infusion of capital will play a crucial role in supporting infrastructure and blockchain development, boosting sales and marketing efforts, and aiding in securing Vera certification for Tharawat Green Exchange’s carbon credits.
BIM Capital Established to Boost Middle East Investment
Saudi-based BIM Ventures and Japan’s SBI Holding have joined forces to launch BIM Capital, a joint venture aimed at stimulating investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East.
This new organization will concentrate on private equity, venture capital, debt funds, and real estate investments.
With a target of attracting over $200 million in foreign direct investment, BIM Capital intends to oversee assets worth more than $2 billion, leveraging the expertise of both firms to drive regional growth and innovation.