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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
- Asanabegan hosting locally in the UAE through Amazon Web Services, enabling regulated industries to meet local data residency requirements.
- Fynd expanded into Saudi Arabia to support Vision 2030’s retail transformation with omnichannel store and supply chain solutions.
- DHL Express and LODD Autonomous partnered to explore the integration of unmanned aircraft Hili into DHL’s UAE delivery network for express logistics.
- RemotePass launchedSpendCardsfor distributed teams in 150+ countries, streamlining expenses, eliminating reimbursements, and easing tax compliance.
- MoneyHash partnered with Wayl to integrate local payment infrastructure, enabling merchants to access Iraq’s growing digital commerce market.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Angelic Intelligence raised $15 million in seed funding for global expansion with a focus on the Middle East.
- Rewa closed a seed round backed by QDB, Plug and Play, and REACH MENA to scale its UAE digital rent payments app.
- Deeptech companyImmensa received an investment to scale its digital spare parts platform globally, supporting on-demand manufacturing.
- UAE-based proptech company Takeem secured an investment from REACH Middle East to expand its rental guarantee and risk intelligence platform.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- Emirates Driving Company acquired a majority stake in Performise Labs to integrate AI into driver training and support regional growth.
🏦 About Investors
- Abu Dhabi’s $100 million Presight–Shorooq AI Fund I invested in five U.S. and UAE startups during its first quarter.
- Saudi-Egyptian venture capital firm EDAFA is planning to deploy $10 million in Egyptian startups in 2026.
- Riyadh Valley Company launched a fund, accelerator, and “The Garage” with SparkLabs to support university-led startups.
- YVL Capital Partners launched its AI-native investment platform and studio in Dubai to build and support early-stage AI companies.
- PIF subsidiaries Jada and Sanabil increased private credit allocations to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Angelic Intelligence
Angelic Intelligence, an emerging venture from Orchestro.ai, is stepping into the spotlight with enterprise software that helps organizations deploy AI with tighter governance, accountability, and operational alignment. Founded by Shekhar Natarajan, it has just raised $15 million in seed funding, though its backers remain undisclosed. It is now racing toward an April 15 global launch while targeting the Middle East for expansion. Natarajan leads the vision, with Bhaven Shah, EVP of Product, helping shape execution, while Orchestro.ai is already among its early adopters. With live deployments and more than 10 pilots underway, Angelic Intelligence is carving out a place as the trust layer for enterprise AI.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Presight Shorooq
Launched in Abu Dhabi in September 2025, Presight Shorooq Fund I is a $100 million AI-focused venture fund backed by Presight, G42’s AI arm, and investment firm Shorooq. It targets AI-native companies with defensible strengths in data, distribution, and infrastructure. In its first quarter, the fund backed NodeShift, Candid, Hebbia, Blue, and Crunched after reviewing more than 1,000 opportunities and syndicating with investors across the U.S. and Asia. Presight CEO Thomas Pramotedham anchors the corporate side, while Shorooq’s founding partners Mahmoud Adi and Shane Shin, alongside AI-focused partner Dr. Bilal Baloch, bring venture depth.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
THRIVE Studio Sprint
- 📢 Organizer: SVG Ventures | THRIVE
- 🗂️ Category: Incubator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation, Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Agriculture & Food
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 02, 2026
MassChallenge Switzerland 2026 Accelerator
- 📢 Organizer: MassChallenge Switzerland
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator, Award/Prize, Competition/Challenge
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 04, 2026
World Wide Vibes Hackathon
- 📢 Organizer: GenAI Works
- 🗂️ Category: Hackathon, Training & Learning
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: AI & Data, Infrastructure & Smart Cities, Social & Governance, Education & Workforce
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 07, 2026
Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability
- 📢 Organizer: Techstars
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation, Pre-seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Energy & Environment
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 08, 2026
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