Hello there,
Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Asia, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌏️
If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.
📰 Important News
- Saudi barq has become the fastest-growing digital wallet in the region, reaching over 10 million users in just 17 months.
- Ziina launched Ziina Violet, a new lifestyle membership offering curated benefits from top local brands and zero currency fees on global spending.
- Zand and Yuze have partnered to provide digital business accounts to SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs with fast onboarding and advanced financial tools.
- Beyon Money Business and EazyPay launched a wallet integration across EazyPay's Bahrain POS network, providing merchants with contactless payments.
- Maalexi plans to launch MAATEX on Avalanche as the world’s first agricultural asset token exchange.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- eMushrif raised a $7.5 million funding round led by Jasoor Ventures to scale its IoT and AI-powered school bus safety solutions in KSA and the UAE.
- Aamar secured a seed round exceeding $4 million to simplify and automate the leasing and asset-finance sector.
- MilkStraw AI closed a $2 million seed round led by VentureSouq to expand its product suite with new AI-powered tools for its 100+ startup customers.
- NEOM Level Up selected five Saudi game studios for its largest cohort yet, providing funding, mentorship, and access to a global publisher network.
- Syrian classifieds platform Doushesh raised pre-seed funding and onboarded Aqar CTO Adnan Khabbaz as a partner.
🏦 About Investors
- Red Sea Global and Bunat Ventures have launched a strategic AI venture fund to invest in around 25 early and growth-stage startups in Saudi Arabia.
- Kuwait’s Badir Fund for Developing SMEs announced its investment in the Middle East Venture Fund IV (MEVF IV).
- Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority is set to open its Main Market to all categories of foreign investors for direct investment starting Feb 1, 2026.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
eMushrif
Founded in 2016 in Oman by Adnan Alshuaili alongside Awadh Al Shukaili and Issa Alshuaili, eMushrif is building the digital backbone of safer school transportation across the Middle East. The startup delivers IoT- and AI-powered solutions that transform standard school buses into smart systems with real-time tracking, automated attendance, and safety monitoring. Led by CEO Adnan Alshuaili, eMushrif recently closed a $7.5 million funding round, led by Jasoor Ventures with participation from Annex Investment, Ithca Group, IDO Investment, and returning backer Phaze Ventures. The capital is fueling expansion into Saudi Arabia and the UAE, reinforcing eMushrif’s mission to modernize an under-digitized, mission-critical sector and raise regional standards for student safety and operational efficiency.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Bunat Ventures
Founded in the GCC region and regulated by ADGM, Bunat Ventures is a hybrid venture builder and operational VC backing high-impact startups across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. The firm blends a venture studio model with early-stage to Series B investing, combining capital with hands-on execution support. Its latest move, a dedicated AI venture fund launched with Red Sea Global, will back around 25 AI-native and AI-enabled startups in Saudi Arabia over the next three years, offering founders real-world piloting across RSG’s assets. Led by Khaled Zainalabedin alongside Khalid Saad, Chadi Hajjar, and Abdullah AlRebdi, Bunat positions itself as a bridge between visionary corporates and scalable startups, with a clear mission to turn emerging technologies into durable, region-shaping companies.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
Scale Your High-Tech Vision with ExciteLab
- 📢 Organizer: ExciteLab
- 🗂️ Category: Award/Prize, Funding, Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: DeepTech
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 13, 2026
RIOT Startup Accelerator
- 📢 Organizer: RIOT
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Stage Agnostic
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
LACI Startup Programs
- 📢 Organizer: Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
- 🗂️ Category: Incubator, Funding
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Energy & Environment
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
Thank you for joining us this week! We trust you found value in our latest edition. 🚀
Your feedback is invaluable to us, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts by replying to this email. We're committed to continuously improving and delivering content tailored to your interests and needs 📩
If you're interested in staying updated on global startup and investment trends, don't miss our other newsletters.
Additionally, stay connected with us on LinkedIn for more insights and updates 🔗
Looking forward to staying connected and bringing you more exciting content next time!