Agility Global, a leading multi-business operator and long-term investor, has made a significant move by announcing an investment in a new venture capital fund focused on early-stage startups across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The UAE-based company is partnering with Global Ventures, a Dubai-headquartered investment firm known for backing growth-stage companies in emerging markets, to support the region’s next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

This latest investment marks a crucial step in Agility Global’s commitment to fostering the MEA region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As part of its ongoing efforts to empower local startups and encourage innovation, the company aims to leverage its extensive industry expertise and resources to help new businesses thrive.

Expanding MEA’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Agility Global’s venture capital arm has become a key player in supporting early-stage companies that are set to disrupt industries and drive growth in the region. With investments spanning various sectors including clean energy, digital logistics, e-commerce, healthcare, and agri-tech, Agility’s portfolio is a testament to its forward-thinking approach to fostering innovation in the MEA region.

Tarek Sultan, Chairman of Agility Global, emphasized the company’s vision of supporting businesses led by the region’s entrepreneurs and innovators. “The Middle East and Africa are brimming with innovation and entrepreneurial energy,” Sultan said. “Through our venture capital arm, Agility Ventures, and our investment in Global Ventures’ new MEA fund, we are encouraging the region’s startups to commercialize and scale great ideas and innovations.”

This strategic move highlights Agility’s dedication to not only providing financial backing but also offering guidance and expertise to emerging businesses in developing markets. By focusing on the entire entrepreneurial journey—from ideation to scaling—Agility is positioning itself as a catalyst for growth in the region.

Focus on Women-Led Ventures

One of the standout aspects of Agility Global’s new investment is its focus on supporting women-led ventures in the region. Sultan pointed out that while women make up only about 15% of all venture capital decision-makers globally, Agility is eager to support a women-led fund in the Middle East and Africa. This commitment to diversity in investment is part of Agility’s broader vision to create an inclusive venture ecosystem that provides opportunities for all stakeholders, particularly women-led businesses.

By investing in Global Ventures’ third fund, Agility hopes to inspire more women to take leadership roles in startups and contribute to the region’s burgeoning entrepreneurial landscape. As the venture ecosystem continues to grow in the MEA, Agility’s support of women-led businesses represents a crucial step toward creating a more diverse and equitable business environment.

Global Ventures: A Proven Track Record

Global Ventures, the fund manager for this new initiative, has established itself as a key player in the MEA region’s venture capital scene. Since its inception in 2018, the firm has focused on mission-driven founders building companies that create positive societal impact across various sectors. To date, Global Ventures has invested in more than 60 companies in ten markets, with a focus on industries such as supply chain technology, fintech, digital health, and agri-tech.

Noor Sweid, Founder and Managing Partner at Global Ventures, expressed her enthusiasm for the new partnership with Agility Global. “Anticipating a shift towards resource efficiency in sectors such as supply chain, our new fund, Fund III, is strategically aligned with industries poised for technological transformation in emerging markets over the next decade,” said Sweid. She added that Agility’s leadership in supply chain technology will be instrumental in helping Global Ventures identify and support startups addressing critical challenges across the region.

This collaboration between Agility Global and Global Ventures represents a powerful alliance that will drive innovation in sectors such as supply chain technology, energy, and agri-tech—industries that are expected to play a vital role in the economic growth of the Middle East and Africa.

A Growing Commitment to Technological Transformation

Agility Global’s investment in Global Ventures’ Fund III is the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at supporting technological transformation across the MEA region. Earlier funds managed by Global Ventures have focused on fintech and digital health, reflecting the firm’s interest in sectors that impact millions of lives.

The first fund, launched in 2018, concentrated on fintech, while the second, established in 2022, focused on health tech and digital health innovation. Fund III, which Agility Global is backing, is expected to focus on startups innovating in supply chain technology, energy management, and agri-tech—industries where technological disruption is not only inevitable but also essential for addressing the region’s pressing challenges.

This growing focus on technology-driven industries reflects Agility Global’s broader vision of creating long-term, sustainable impact in the MEA region. By investing in industries poised for transformation, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of technological advancement in emerging markets.

Agility Global’s investment in Global Ventures’ new MEA fund underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in the Middle East and Africa. By backing mission-driven startups in key industries such as supply chain technology, energy, and agri-tech, Agility is not only contributing to the growth of the region’s venture ecosystem but also driving technological transformation that will shape the region’s future.

Through this investment, Agility Global reaffirms its role as a champion of innovation, inclusion, and long-term growth, offering entrepreneurs the resources and expertise they need to bring their ideas to life. As the MEA’s entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like this one between Agility Global and Global Ventures will be instrumental in shaping the region’s economic future.