- June 30, 2021
Building a startup and venture capital ecosystem takes a lot of core inputs, from regulatory and business environments, to access to market and talent, and of course adequate and fair funding optionality for founders. In its essence, it follows the simple law of arithmetics, the more you put in, the more you get out – in spades – accelerating the speed of economic transformation and adding value to society.
Our foundation is built on the desire to see the regional ecosystem grow and be a significant contributor to economic opportunity and growth for the next generation. We believe passionately in the region’s potential and want to add more capital, more resources and more talent in the most impactful way we could think of.
Introducing +VC! We are thrilled to announce that we are launching a new venture capital firm to add more capital to the burgeoning startup ecosystem in the MENA region.
Having spent the last 10 years investing in startups in Silicon Valley and the MENA region, we have seen a lot of deals, and invested in more than most. Taking everything we’ve learnt and observed over the years, with +VC, we aim to dramatically increase the level of knowledge and support we provide our investments in the region.
As a team, we have established a reputation as the most active investors in the region, and amongst the most founder-friendly investors you could have on your cap table. Through +VC, we will continue building on that legacy, investing in the best founders in the MENA region and diaspora at the seed stage, helping them grow with focused in-depth guidance for all our founders, when they need it, free of charge.
Based on our own backgrounds as entrepreneurs, operators and investors, we got into the business of investing in early-stage MENA founders because of our core belief and optimism in regional talent and opportunities. We believe that tech startups fueled by the right investment can yield massive rewards and effect real change. You can ask any of our founders, we’re not in it just for the money, but firmly believe that by doing things the right way, the money will come. We back missionaries over mercenaries, and look at ourselves just the same.
Our founding principles:
+Founders – Support founders with a bias towards execution
Our founders are our greatest strength. We invest in and support exceptional founders with a bias towards execution. We look for founders who are foremost on a mission to make the world around them a better place, with the right balance of hustle, grit and resilience. At the seed stage, we strongly believe that the founders are the best indication of the future success or failure of the startup – not the market and or product.
+Community – Add value through community
We know the significant value a supportive community can have on a startup’s development. We are building the strongest community of founders, mentors and investors to support each other and grow together. Through our +Growth initiative, every startup we invest in will receive a level of training and guidance unique to us, helping them lay the foundations and groundwork for future growth.
+Thesis – Invest early and often
We believe that diversification is the most valuable tool we have available to us as seed stage investors, particularly in emerging markets. It enables us to shift risk from the point of individual investment back towards the fund structure and strategy. Our large, diversified portfolio structure reflects this with founders from across the MENA region, from diverse backgrounds, and in often underserved geographies and sectors. We’re looking to be the first investment at the seed stage, after a product has launched and has shown market traction, and to lead the seed rounds we participate in. Our aim is to invest in over 100 startups per fund, and follow on heavily in the top 20% once we see the founders and startups outperform, allowing us to be partners alongside our founders for several stages in their lifecycle.
Read more about what we’re looking for and what we have to offer in our FAQ section, and apply through our online application form when you think you’re ready.
We look forward to continuing to add value to founders, investors and the broader startup community in the MENA region and diaspora.