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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Middle East, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌍
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📰 Important News
- South Korea and Saudi Arabia signed two MoUs linking venture capital and space collaboration to boost startup growth, deep space research, and bilateral innovation under Saudi Vision 2030.
- Black Iris Angel Network launched in Saudi Arabia by Q Fund and New Whys to bridge early-stage funding gaps, offering capital, curated deal flow, and mentorship.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- COGNNA closed a $9.2 million Series A round to scale its AI-led SecOps platform, expand across MENA and global markets.
- Reno raised $4 million in equity and debt to launch its AI-powered renovation app and expand across the UAE and GCC.
- Nabt secured $3.4 million in a seed Extension to expand its agritech infrastructure, scale fresh produce logistics and data platforms across KSA.
- Funch landed $500,000 to scale its AI-driven lunch subscription that uses flexible credits, demand forecasting, and sustainable delivery.
💰️ Notable Exits
- Paribu acquired CoinMENA in a deal valued up to $240 million, marking Turkey’s largest fintech transaction and expanding its regulated footprint into high-adoption MENA markets through Bahrain and Dubai licenses.
- NOB acquired Saudi digital newspaper Al Wiam to expand its media presence and enhance innovative digital journalism, strengthening the paper’s position as a leading online news platform since its 2006 launch.
🏦 About Investors
- 500 Global and Sanabil launched Batch 10 of the Sanabil Accelerator, selecting nine high potential MENA startups in AI, fintech, and e-commerce to scale globally through an execution driven program.
🚀Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
COGNNA
COGNNA, founded in 2023 in Saudi Arabia by Ibrahim AlShamrani and Ziyad AlSheri, is rapidly becoming one of the region’s most influential players in AI-driven cybersecurity. The company’s flagship Nexus platform delivers proactive Cybersecurity as a Service, enabling faster threat detection, lower SOC costs, and seamless enterprise onboarding. Fresh off a $9.2 million Series A round led by Impact46 with backing from BNVT Capital, Vision Ventures, and tali ventures, COGNNA is now accelerating its expansion across MENA and preparing for global markets. Guided by CEO AlShamrani and CTO AlSheri, the company is building an agentic AI-powered SOC designed to anticipate threats and strengthen digital resilience worldwide.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
500 Global
Founded in 2010 in Silicon Valley by Dave McClure and Christine Tsai, 500 Global has grown into one of the world’s most active multi-stage venture capital firms, backing over 2,600 companies across 80 countries. With more than $2.3 billion in AUM, the firm invests early in high-growth sectors including AI, fintech, e-commerce, and edtech, and is recognized for championing diverse and unobvious founders. Led in MENA by Managing Partner Amal Dokhan, 500 Global recently launched Batch 10 of the Sanabil Accelerator, selecting nine high-potential startups from over 735 applicants. Through its global footprint and execution-driven programs, the firm continues shaping ecosystems and accelerating innovation worldwide.
🤑Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: The HAX Program
The HAX Program, run by SOSV, is a global accelerator for hard-tech startups building solutions in hardware, climate tech, health tech, industrial tech, energy, and AI. Founders gain access to investment, hands-on engineering resources, a world-class mentor network, and long-term venture support through SOSV’s multi-stage platform. The program targets pre-seed hard-tech teams with early prototypes and strong customer insight. Apply now to join a globally diverse community and accelerate your path from prototype to scale.
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