Hello there,

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 🌍

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.

Let's delve into the core sections of our weekly newsletter:

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• Pakistan's fintech PostEx is expanding into the GCC region starting with KSA and the UAE through a $7.3 million Pre-Series A round led by Conjunction Capital, with contributions from Dash Ventures, Sanabil500, and others.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• E Daddy, a Dubai-based mobility startup, secured $15 million in funding to launch its fully electric motorcycle in early 2025, aiming to enhance sustainable transportation across the GCC and Africa.

• Saudi fintech Resal raised $9 million in a funding round led by Derayah Ventures, aiming to expand its digital rewards and accelerate its business growth within KSA.

• Riyadh-based Yalla Plus secured $2.7 million in a seed round led by Merak Capital, to expand its hospitality tech solutions globally while empowering 100,000 entrepreneurs in line with KSA's Vision 2030.

• Saudi loyalty platform aggregator Mithu raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding from Adaverse to consolidate restaurant loyalty programs, expand market presence, and develop a Web3-based tokenized app.

• Saudi IT firm Asas raised $320,000 in pre-seed funding to boost the development of its Resquad AI platform, which facilitates collaboration between software development companies.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Dubai's Meteora Developers acquired Maisour, a UAE-based real estate crowdfunding platform, in a multimillion-dollar deal to democratize property investment with fractional ownership.

🏦 About Investors

• Gate Ventures and the Blockchain Center in Abu Dhabi launched Falcon Gate Ventures, a $100 million fund to boost Web3 innovation globally, focusing on decentralized infrastructure and regulatory collaboration across key regions.

• KBW Ventures, led by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, has made its debut investment in Egypt, backing NoorNation, a climate tech startup addressing critical infrastructure challenges in rural and remote areas.

📈 Deep Dive Bites

Explore the dynamic venture capital landscape of Saudi Arabia, where top VC firms are fueling the country's entrepreneurial revolution. These firms are not only providing crucial funding but also shaping the future of innovation across various sectors. Delve into the full article to uncover how these key players drive economic diversification and empower startups to succeed.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

E Daddy

Dubai-based mobility startup E Daddy has secured $15 million in funding from undisclosed investors to launch its first fully electric motorcycle in early 2025. Founded in 2023, E Daddy is committed to enhancing sustainable urban transportation across the GCC and Africa. The company, backed by a decade of automotive expertise from M Auto Groups, is set to manufacture Made-In-UAE electric two-wheelers, offering customizable, compact, and agile vehicles designed for delivery operations. With cutting-edge battery technology and a focus on eco-friendly mobility, E Daddy is poised to play a key role in the global shift toward cleaner, quieter, and more efficient transportation solutions.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Falcon Gate Ventures

Gate Ventures, the venture capital arm of the cryptocurrency exchange Gate.io, has partnered with the Blockchain Center in Abu Dhabi to launch Falcon Gate Ventures, a $100 million fund aimed at advancing Web3 innovation globally. This fund is dedicated to supporting decentralized infrastructure, ecosystems, and applications that will reshape digital interactions. With a focus on regions including the Middle East, Asia, the USA, and Europe, Falcon Gate Ventures seeks to accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies in the Web3 space.

 🤑 Opportunity Radar

Growth X Accelerator - Cohort 5

Join Microsoft's Growth X accelerator cohort 5! This 8-week, equity-free program for AI startups offers virtual workshops, curated mentor panels, and $150,000 in Azure credits. With support from Microsoft and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, scale your AI solutions with expert guidance and access to investors. Apply by September 2nd—it's the last week to apply for a chance to participate in this transformative opportunity.