Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Zain Great Idea brought 11 startups from six markets to Silicon Valley for an intensive global acceleration journey. Founders engaged with leading tech giants, refined business fundamentals, strengthened investment readiness, and pitched to global investors, reinforcing Zain’s role as a regional ecosystem builder for innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 has sold out its startup programme with 1,600 startups confirmed and the exhibition floor at capacity. The event will bring 30,000+ attendees to Doha, spotlighting AI, quantum computing, fintech, and digital transformation while reinforcing Qatar’s position as a global technology hub.
Morocco has launched a national venture-building program under Digital Morocco 2030, committing MAD 700 million to support over 800 startups. With staged grants, interest-free loans, global mentorship, and founder living allowances, the initiative offers end-to-end support from idea to scale, positioning innovation as a core national priority.
Volz has raised nearly US$5 million in Algeria’s largest dinar-based startup funding round to date. Backed by Tell Group and GIBA, the traveltech platform plans to expand across North and West Africa, validating the scalability of locally adapted payment-first travel models.
African startups raised $3.2 billion in 2025, rebounding strongly after two years of decline. Energy and fintech led funding growth as investors backed larger, later-stage companies with proven models, signalling renewed confidence in Africa’s maturing tech ecosystem.
A three-year partnership between ITIDA and 500 Global has helped Egyptian startups scale through accelerator training, funding access, and ecosystem development, supporting nearly 200 startups, creating over 1,300 jobs, and enabling regional and global expansion across AI, fintech, and digital services.
The African Startup Conference in Algiers will focus on innovation financing, regulatory reform, and digital infrastructure challenges facing startups across the continent. Organisers see it as a platform to promote harmonised policies, new funding models, and stronger cross-border cooperation to support Africa’s growing startup ecosystem.
Nawah Scientific has raised $23 million in Series A funding to expand its digital scientific testing platform. The round will support a new R&D centre in Rwanda, increased lab capacity in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and regional expansion into North Africa and Europe, strengthening its research and technology capabilities.
Bawabat Accelerator has launched through a partnership between ITHCA Group and Saudi Vision Venture Capital to help Omani tech startups scale into Saudi Arabia. The initiative connects founders with Saudi investment networks, regional expertise, and early-stage capital, strengthening cross-border collaboration between Oman and Saudi venture ecosystems.
Morocco has launched the Startup Venture Building program, backed by over MAD 700 million, to support more than 800 startups in three years. Aligned with Digital Morocco 2030, the initiative combines funding, living allowances, and venture acceleration to scale digital innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide.