Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region (Mena) raised $3.94 billion in 2022 across 795 deals, a rise of 24 per cent in investment value when compared to 2021 and a 22 per cent increase in the number of deals.

In 2018, Lebanese entrepreneur Ali Halabi founded Volt Lines, a Turkey-based mobility startup targeting the corporate segment, enabling smoother intercity movement of employees across the country.

UAE-based fintech Wafeq, has raised $3 million in a Seed round led by Raed Ventures with participation from Wamda Capital. Founded in 2019 by Nadim Alameddine, Wafeq is an accounting platform targeting SMEs in the Middle East, enabling them to conduct their e-invoicing, taxation and employee payroll online.

UAE-based fintech Wafeq, has raised $3 million in a Seed round led by Raed Ventures with participation from Wamda Capital. Founded in 2019 by Nadim Alameddine, Wafeq is an accounting platform targeting SMEs in the Middle East, enabling them to conduct their e-invoicing, taxation and employee payroll online.

Wa’ed Ventures, the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre (Wa'ed), has invested in a $108 million Series B for French quantum computing startup PASQAL.

Wa’ed Ventures, the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre (Wa'ed), has invested in a $108 million Series B for French quantum computing startup PASQAL.

Wa’ed Ventures, the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre (Wa'ed), has invested in a $108 million Series B for French quantum computing startup PASQAL.

Hotdesk, a UAE-based workspace booking app, has acquired Spanish counterpart YADO for an unknown sum. Founded in 2019 by Mohamed Khaled, ex-finance director at SWVL, Ali Shweki and Mohamed Elsarrag, Hotdesk allows businesses to get on-demand access to workspaces in their vicinity.

Hotdesk, a UAE-based workspace booking app, has acquired Spanish counterpart YADO for an unknown sum. Founded in 2019 by Mohamed Khaled, ex-finance director at SWVL, Ali Shweki and Mohamed Elsarrag, Hotdesk allows businesses to get on-demand access to workspaces in their vicinity.

Hotdesk, a UAE-based workspace booking app, has acquired Spanish counterpart YADO for an unknown sum. Founded in 2019 by Mohamed Khaled, ex-finance director at SWVL, Ali Shweki and Mohamed Elsarrag, Hotdesk allows businesses to get on-demand access to workspaces in their vicinity.

UAE-based NB Ventures has invested in India-based career-tech Suraasa's $1.2 million Seed round, led by Inflection Point Ventures. Other investors participating in this round include SuperMorpheus, Vinners, SucSEED Innovation, along with angel investors.

UAE-based NB Ventures has invested in India-based career-tech Suraasa's $1.2 million Seed round, led by Inflection Point Ventures. Other investors participating in this round include SuperMorpheus, Vinners, SucSEED Innovation, along with angel investors.

UAE-based NB Ventures has invested in India-based career-tech Suraasa's $1.2 million Seed round, led by Inflection Point Ventures. Other investors participating in this round include SuperMorpheus, Vinners, SucSEED Innovation, along with angel investors.

Saudi Arabia-based foodtech startup Matbakhi, has raised a $2.3 million pre-Seed round led by Bugshan Investment Company along with an undisclosed group of angel investors.

Saudi Arabia-based foodtech startup Matbakhi, has raised a $2.3 million pre-Seed round led by Bugshan Investment Company along with an undisclosed group of angel investors.

Saudi Arabia-based foodtech startup Matbakhi, has raised a $2.3 million pre-Seed round led by Bugshan Investment Company along with an undisclosed group of angel investors.

Baha Hamadi,is a board member of the Public Relations & Communications Association  You may have noticed a new breed of entrepreneurs on the rise—the influencer entrepreneur, or influpreneur.

Baha Hamadi,is a board member of the Public Relations & Communications Association  You may have noticed a new breed of entrepreneurs on the rise—the influencer entrepreneur, or influpreneur.

Baha Hamadi,is a board member of the Public Relations & Communications Association  You may have noticed a new breed of entrepreneurs on the rise—the influencer entrepreneur, or influpreneur.

Baha Hamadi,is a board member of the Public Relations & Communications Association  You may have noticed a new breed of entrepreneurs on the rise—the influencer entrepreneur, or influpreneur.

Saudi Arabia-based Sandsoft Games, a mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor, has invested $3.25 million in The Tiny Digital Factory (TDF), an independent developer of mobile racing and motorsport games.

Saudi Arabia-based Sandsoft Games, a mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor, has invested $3.25 million in The Tiny Digital Factory (TDF), an independent developer of mobile racing and motorsport games.

Saudi Arabia-based Sandsoft Games, a mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor, has invested $3.25 million in The Tiny Digital Factory (TDF), an independent developer of mobile racing and motorsport games.

Saudi Arabia-based Sandsoft Games, a mobile-first game developer, publisher and investor, has invested $3.25 million in The Tiny Digital Factory (TDF), an independent developer of mobile racing and motorsport games.

Iraq-based Alsaree3 Group, closed a seven-figure bridge round in December 2022, raising its total funding to over $6.5 million.  Founded in 2018 by Bassam Al-Ateia, Alsaree3 helps restaurants handle their own operations using their point of sale (POS) and hardware technologies, while its sister company Al Zajel offers on-demand parcel delivery services.

Iraq-based Alsaree3 Group, closed a seven-figure bridge round in December 2022, raising its total funding to over $6.5 million.  Founded in 2018 by Bassam Al-Ateia, Alsaree3 helps restaurants handle their own operations using their point of sale (POS) and hardware technologies, while its sister company Al Zajel offers on-demand parcel delivery services.

Iraq-based Alsaree3 Group, closed a seven-figure bridge round in December 2022, raising its total funding to over $6.5 million.  Founded in 2018 by Bassam Al-Ateia, Alsaree3 helps restaurants handle their own operations using their point of sale (POS) and hardware technologies, while its sister company Al Zajel offers on-demand parcel delivery services.

Iraq-based Alsaree3 Group, closed a seven-figure bridge round in December 2022, raising its total funding to over $6.5 million.  Founded in 2018 by Bassam Al-Ateia, Alsaree3 helps restaurants handle their own operations using their point of sale (POS) and hardware technologies, while its sister company Al Zajel offers on-demand parcel delivery services.

Morocco-based logistics startup Cathedis, has raised MDH 7.5 million ($735,500), of which MDH 5 million came from Afrimobility and a bridge round of MDH 2.

Morocco-based logistics startup Cathedis, has raised MDH 7.5 million ($735,500), of which MDH 5 million came from Afrimobility and a bridge round of MDH 2.