Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
African startups raised $4.1 billion in 2025, driven largely by record debt financing and sector diversification beyond fintech. While funding shows structural recovery, a shrinking seed pipeline poses risks for future growth across the continent.
Oasis500 has launched Oasis Ventures III, a $20 million early-stage technology fund aimed at supporting startups in Jordan through capital investment and mentorship. The initiative builds on the accelerator’s track record of backing 193 startups and supports the country’s broader innovation and economic modernization goals.
Saudi Venture Capital has launched Aian, an AI-powered intelligence platform designed to enhance transparency, data integrity, and decision-making across Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem. By transforming institutional data into structured market insights, the platform aims to improve capital allocation efficiency and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a regional investment hub under Vision 2030.
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem has reached a $4 billion valuation, driven by growth in fintech, mobility, and enterprise technology sectors. Despite strong early-stage momentum and international investor interest, limited domestic growth capital continues to delay unicorn creation, highlighting the need for deeper funding and large-scale exits to sustain long-term expansion.
The announcements reinforce Qatar’s ambition to build a collaborative, investment-friendly environment for AI, R&D, and next-generation digital ventures.
Jatri has secured a strategic investment from Gobi Partners, marking the VC firm’s first entry into Bangladesh. The deal will fuel product innovation and MENA expansion through Saafir, as the Dhaka-based platform scales its unified model for global travel inventory, distribution, and embedded trade finance across enterprise markets.
MENA startups raised over $250 million as fintech, health tech, data, and gaming ventures secured major rounds across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. Despite a December slowdown, B2B, cybersecurity, and deeptech deals signaled strong regional momentum, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as the region’s leading startup hub.
Roamless raised $12m in a Series A led by Rasmal Ventures, with UAE investors backing its shift from travel eSIMs to a full-stack global mobile platform. By owning telecom infrastructure, the startup aims to add voice, SMS, and B2B embedded connectivity as eSIM adoption accelerates worldwide.
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.
PulseTech has raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its Medbox platform and roll out One Pharmacy, a franchise network aimed at digitizing and regulating small pharmacies across Bangladesh. The startup focuses on authentic medicine sourcing, traceability, and operational efficiency. Backed by investors from Vietnam and Singapore, PulseTech has shown rapid revenue growth and now serves over 12,000 pharmacies nationwide.