As the MENA startup ecosystem continues to flourish, the region has become an increasingly attractive destination for global investors. Among these investors, a select group of international angel investors is making significant strides by backing innovative startups across the region. These angels, with their wealth of experience and keen eye for high-potential ventures, play a crucial role in fueling the growth of MENA-based companies. This article highlights some of the most notable international angel investors who are championing the region's entrepreneurial spirit in 2024, shedding light on their backgrounds, investments, and the startups they support.

Allison Pickens

Allison Pickens is a solo GP investor specializing in B2B AI and SaaS companies, supporting founders with scaling strategies, go-to-market initiatives, and category creation. She has invested in high-profile companies such as Jasper, DeepL, and Hightouch, and serves on various boards, including Commvault and dbt Labs. Recently, she participated in Cercli's $4 million seed round, led by Afore Capital, marking a notable investment in the MENA region.

Cedric Sellin

Cedric Sellin is an investor and advisor with expertise in tech, serving as president of ByTheTower and a founding member of Climate House. He co-founded the Auxilium Foundation and mentors through Entreprendre&+, focusing on social impact and philanthropy. Recently, he participated in LabLabee's $3.4 million seed funding round, supporting the innovative Algerian edtech startup's expansion in 5G, cloud, and AI technologies.

Guillaume Amblard

Guillaume Amblard is the CEO of Amblard Ventures, specializing in investments, mentorship, and advisory roles for startups in FinTech, deep tech, and sustainable impact sectors. With a history of successful exits, he has backed companies like InstaDeep and Crypto Facilities, and has a portfolio spanning diverse industries from AI to clean tech. Recently, he invested in Wattnow, a Tunisia-based cleantech company, as part of its multi-million dollar funding round led by Lateral Frontiers and 216 Capital.

Karim Atiyeh

Karim Atiyeh, co-founder and CTO of Ramp, previously founded Paribus, which was acquired by Capital One. With a background in fintech and experience at Oliver Wyman and as a CS50 Teaching Fellow at Harvard, he brings extensive expertise to the startup ecosystem. Atiyeh recently invested in Cercli, a MENA-based platform for managing global workforces, as part of its $4 million seed round led by Afore Capital.

Karim Beguir

Karim Beguir, co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, has a strong background in AI and machine learning, with a focus on autonomous decision-making systems. He has made notable investments as an angel investor, including in ClusterLab, a company developing AI and NLP technologies, and Wattnow, a cleantech startup focused on energy management. Beguir's investments reflect his commitment to supporting innovative companies across AI, cleantech, and regional initiatives.

Marc Lore

Marc Lore is a serial entrepreneur and founder of multiple ventures, including the food delivery startup Wonder and the City of Telosa. He has held leadership roles such as President & CEO of Walmart eCommerce U.S. and is also the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. As an angel investor, Lore contributed to MealPlanet’s $6 million Seed round, which was led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) and other prominent investors.

Mazin Yaseen

Mazin Yaseen is an experienced sales leader, currently serving as Head of Sales (EMEA) at PRODYS, with a strong background in the broadcast and media technology industry. He has held senior roles at Harmonic, where he led technical sales strategies and large-scale projects. Yaseen is also an angel investor, contributing to Orisdi's six-figure bridge investment round in April 2024, supporting the growth of Iraq’s leading fragrance e-commerce platform.

Nikhil Kamath

Nikhil Kamath is the co-founder of Zerodha, India's leading brokerage platform, and True Beacon, a disruptive asset management firm. He has a strong background in business strategy and team management, having previously worked as a partner at Kamath Associates. Kamath is also an angel investor, participating in Powder Beauty's pre-Series A funding round, which was led by Sophia Collective, NKEHL, and himself.

Nithin Kamath

Nithin Kamath is the founder and CEO of Zerodha, India's largest brokerage firm, and CEO of Rainmatter, a platform that funds and incubates innovative fintech startups. With a background in entrepreneurship and start-ups, he previously worked as a partner at Kamath Associates and has been involved in various aspects of trading and portfolio advisory. Kamath also participated in Powder Beauty’s pre-Series A funding round, which was led by Sophia Collective, NKEHL, and himself.

Pawel Iwanow

Pawel Iwanow is an early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and mentor, with a strong background in fintech and digital business. He currently serves as Chief Payments Officer and co-founder of Fresha, a leading beauty and wellness platform, and holds board positions in several companies, including Heroleads and Ideabox ID. Iwanow participated in OCTA's $2.25 million pre-seed funding round, which was co-led by Quona Capital and Sadu Capital, alongside other investors such as Sukna Ventures and 500 Global.

Philippe Limes

Philippe Limes is a startup entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in leading digital businesses across various sectors. He served as CEO of Coda Payments and CEO of Helpling APAC, and has co-founded multiple ventures, including NTH and Haute Avenue. Limes participated as an angel investor in Userguest's $2.4 million seed round, which was led by Al Mada Ventures and included other investors such as CDG Invest, Saviu Ventures, and Kalys VC.

Samar Hasan

Samar Hasan is a passionate advocate for gender equality and a leading innovator in emerging technologies, with a strong background in sustainability, startup strategy, and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Epiphany and has secured partnerships with major organizations like Google, AWS, and the World Bank, while also mentoring startups in Pakistan. Notably, Samar made his first angel investment in Velents AI, participating in a groundbreaking funding round that promotes gender equality in the investment landscape.

Sebastian Mejia

Sebastian Mejia is the co-founder and president of Rappi, a leading logistics platform in Latin America, and the founder of Grability, a company redefining the future of shopping for retailers. With a background in business development and investment across sectors such as technology, media, and finance, Mejia has co-founded multiple ventures and worked with G2 Investment Group. He participated as an angel investor in Cercli's $4 million Seed round, alongside other prominent investors like Karim Atiyeh and Tony Jamous.

Thane Kuhlman

Thane Kuhlman is the General Manager at JW Marriott Hotel Bogotá, with a diverse background in hotel management, including roles at Accor and IHG Hotels & Resorts. He has extensive experience in the hospitality industry, leading operations and managing high-profile hotels in various regions. Kuhlman is an angel investor in Userguest, a Morocco-based SaaS provider, which recently closed a $2.4 million Seed round with his participation alongside other prominent investors.

Tony Dong

Tony Dong is a founder and an angel investor with a focus on various startups. He previously served as VP of Engineering at Rippling, bringing extensive experience in engineering and leadership roles in tech companies. Dong is an angel investor in Cercli, a UAE-based HRtech company that recently raised $4 million in a Seed round with his participation alongside other prominent investors.

Tony Jamous

Tony Jamous is the CEO and co-founder of Oyster, a unicorn company that enables global hiring, payroll, and employee care, with over $230 million raised and a team spread across 60+ countries. Prior to Oyster, he co-founded Nexmo, a leader in CPaaS, which was acquired by Vonage, creating $750 million in value. Jamous is an angel investor in Cercli, a UAE-based HRtech company that recently raised $4 million in a Seed round, with his participation alongside other key investors.

In 2024, international angel investors are undeniably shaping the trajectory of MENA's startup landscape, contributing both capital and expertise to nascent companies. Their support not only accelerates the growth of innovative businesses but also fosters an environment of collaboration and cross-border growth. As these angels continue to invest in high-potential startups, the MENA region is poised for continued entrepreneurial success, with global partners playing an ever-increasing role in its development. The future looks bright for MENA’s startups, thanks in large part to these visionary investors.