News
a16z backs Saudi fintech Stitch in its first-ever GCC deal
2+ hour, 23+ min ago (298+ words) News " 14 May, 2026 Stitch, the operating system built for modern financial institutions, today announced it has raised $25 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The investment marks a16z's first in the GCC and brings Stitch's total funding to $35 million....
Lyrie. ai exits stealth with $2 million pre-seed round
20+ hour, 40+ min ago (198+ words) News " 13 May, 2026 Lyrie. ai, the autonomous cybersecurity platform developed by OTT Cybersecurity LLC, has announced the completion of a $2 million pre-seed funding round alongside its official exit from stealth mode. The company said the funding will support continued platform development,…...
Egypt-born proptech Byit expands into UAE
2+ day, 1+ hour ago (317+ words) News " 12 May, 2026 Byit, an Egypt-born proptech startup, has announced its expansion into the UAE alongside the launch of a new suite of AI powered solutions. These tools are designed to empower real estate brokers and enable more efficient cross-border property…...
Saudi Arabia issues first open banking license to Lean Technologies
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (348+ words) News " 30 March, 2026 Lean Technologies, the MENA region's leading financial infrastructure provider, has been granted the first major payment institution licence by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to provide open banking services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The issuance of…...
Wa'ed Ventures invests in Resemble AI to combat AI-generated fraud
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (459+ words) Wamda - Wa'ed Ventures, the $500 million VC arm of Saudi Aramco, has made a strategic investment in US-based Resemble AI, a company specialising in AI voice generation and real-time deepfake detection. - Resemble AI previously raised a $13 million strategic round backed by…...
UAE's Takeem secures backing from Second Century Ventures through REACH Middle East
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (188+ words) News " 23 February, 2026 Takeem, the UAE-based proptech that takes the anxiety out of renting and owning, has secured investment from REACH, an accelerator created by Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the US National Association of Realtors (NAR), which…...
Stake closes $31 million Series B led by Emirates NBD
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (156+ words) News " 17 February, 2026 The investment marks a significant milestone in Stake's evolution as a regulated fintech platform modernising how real estate is accessed, owned, and invested across borders. As global investors increasingly seek transparent, regulated exposure to real assets, Stake is…...
Saudi cybersecurity startup Solidrange raises $2. 4 million Seed round
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (491+ words) Wamda - Saudi Arabia-based cybersecurity startup Solidrange has raised $2. 4 million in a seed round led by Sharaka Capital, with participation from Sadu Capital, SEEDRA Ventures, and Tali Ventures, the investment arm of stc. - Founded in 2023 by Jamal M. Labani, Solidrange specialises in…...
Record year for MENA startups as funding climbs to $7. 5 billion in 2025
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (323+ words) Nesma Abdel Azim " 19 January, 2026 Startup investment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) reached a new high in 2025, marking the strongest funding performance the region's startup ecosystem has recorded to date. According to Wamda's annual investment report, 647 startups raised…...
Beltone joins $15 million Series A round in Moroccan proptech Yakeey
3+ mon, 2+ week ago (304+ words) Wamda - Morocco-based proptech Yakeey has raised $15 million in a Series A round, with Beltone Venture Capital joining as a strategic investor alongside IFC, Enza Capital, and 212 Founders. - Founded in 2023 by Karim Beqqali, Yakeey is building an end-to-end digital real estate…...