Global companies are being built in MENA.

Funding applications from founders in the Middle East and North Africa, by month, April – September 2026. We began tracking MENA as its own region in March 2026.

Why it mattersApplications more than doubled the month after we opened our Dubai hub in April, and have held at about 100 a month since.

Median raise target

MENA founders raising a seed round ask for a third less than the median applicant. Based on 661 MENA applications with a raise target.

Why it mattersCapital in the region is still concentrated at later stages. Smaller, earlier rounds are where a global investor with a local hub makes the biggest difference.

What MENA founders are building

52% of MENA applicants tag their company AI; fintech is the region’s strongest sector after B2B software.

Why it mattersMENA founders are building infrastructure (payments, credit, compliance and enterprise AI) that whole industries will run on, not only consumer apps.

What stage MENA founders raise at

62% of MENA applicants raise at pre-seed and 28% at seed.

Why it mattersThe pipeline is early and deep. Backing founders before their seed round builds the relationships that carry into Series A and beyond.