StrategyConnect

🌍 MENA Financial Deals Overview: Dec 1–15, 2024 The first half of December witnessed 23 funding deals, amassing a total of $585.5M+ across various sectors in the MENA region. Here are the highlights: 1️⃣ Top 3 Deals: Quantix Technology Projects LLC (UAE): $500M in Debt Finance to bolster its CashNow consumer lending platform. Iliad Partners Tech Ventures Fund I (UAE): $50M Fund Launch supported by Jada Fund of Funds and other prominent backers. Wafeq وافِق (UAE): $7.5M Series A funding led by 9900 Capital to expand its fintech offerings. 2️⃣ Sectoral Insights: EdTech: Aanaab and AlGooru | القورو from Saudi Arabia raised $7M and $4M, respectively, reflecting the growing demand for digital learning solutions. HealthTech: BioSapien (UAE) secured $5.5M in pre-Series A funding, emphasizing innovation in healthcare technology. Web3 & Gaming: Dechat (UAE) and Playgama (UAE) attracted funding, showcasing the region's interest in emerging technologies. 3️⃣ Geographic Trends: UAE dominated the funding landscape with major deals across fintech, healthtech, and venture capital. Saudi Arabia followed closely with significant investments in edtech and sports platforms. 4️⃣ Notable Acquisitions: SANIPEX GROUP (UAE): Acquired by Aliph Capital, highlighting consolidation trends in lifestyle product supply chains. Koora Break (Saudi Arabia): Acquired by Rio Ferdinand, signaling the growing global interest in MENA's sports sector. 5️⃣ Early-Stage Momentum: Seed and pre-seed rounds were abundant, with startups like Nowlun.com (Egypt) and Better (UAE) paving the way for future innovation. 🔗 Key Takeaway: The MENA region continues to thrive as a hub for diverse investments, driven by robust fintech growth, edtech innovation, and venture capital activity. #MENADealsWithStrategyConnect #FundingTrends #StartupEcosystem #MENAInnovation #SeedCapital #SeriesA #SeriesB #preseedfunding #acquisition #MENAfinancialnews

#ExpertHourWithSC In our recent Expert Hour on 'Innovative Business Models for Consultants,' we dove deep into how the consulting landscape is evolving—from SMEs’ willingness to invest in innovation to the challenges of engaging corporate innovators versus nimble startups. Our industry expert highlighted how GenAI is shaping scenario planning, accelerating strategy development, and leaving a lasting impression on clients. Key Takeaways: • AI in Action: Trend mapping, scenario planning (Scenario360), and rapid workshop deployment are reshaping client engagements. • Industry Trends: Incremental evolution outweighs large-scale disruption, calling for new definitions and measures of innovation success. • Scaling with Gurukul: Targeting individual innovators and leveraging AI-driven, small-ticket services create impactful, scalable growth. A big thank you to our expert and the engaged participants. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions!

Celebrating a year of growth and collaboration! 🚀 🎉🤝 StrategyConnect team recently came together for a virtual offsite. It was a session filled with new introductions, exciting company updates shared by our founders - Haninder & Shubham, games, and plenty of laughs! This gathering truly captured the essence of who we are and what we strive to achieve: united by innovation, fueled by camaraderie, and dedicated to making a lasting impact. A perfect way to celebrate our journey this year and gear up for an even more exciting 2025. Here’s to another year of building together! 🤜🤛 #VirtualOffsite #TeamWork #TogetherWeGrow Haninder Pal Singh Shubham Yadav Teja Thota Tanaya Shekatkar Naved Mustafa Tanya Walia

Curious about how health-tech startups can thrive in today’s fast-evolving landscape? Choosing the right business model—whether it’s B2B, B2C, B2B2C, or SaaS—can make all the difference. Each has its perks and challenges, but knowing which one fits your venture is key. In our latest blog, we break it all down, share success tips, and dive into real-world examples from our work with health-tech innovators. 👉 Check it out and discover what works best for your startup: https://lnkd.in/gS7QYkK3 #HealthTech #HealthcareInnovation #BusinessModels #DigitalHealth #HealthcareTechnology #SaaS #B2B #B2C #B2B2C #StrategyConsulting #TechStartups #BusinessGrowth #InnovationLeadership

#MENADealsWithStrategyConnect 🚀 $442M+ in funding raised across 24 deals! The MENA region continues to shine with a mix of large-scale investments and promising early-stage ventures. Here are some notable deals: 🔹 Saudi Education Fund: $300M to revolutionize education in Saudi Arabia. Launched by EFG-Hermes Private Equity 🔹 eyewa (UAE): $100M Series C to drive regional expansion, led by General Atlantic and others. 🔹 Cipher | سايڤر (Saudi Arabia): $13.3M pre-IPO funding to scale cybersecurity innovations. 🔹 Locad (Singapore): $9M pre-Series B round for logistics growth in MENA, led by Global Ventures & other investors. 🔹 Watercycle Technologies (UK): $5.6M to enhance climate tech solutions, led by Par Equity. 🔹 ariika (Egypt): $3M Series A extension to transform furniture e-commerce, led by Beltone Venture Capital & Citadel International Holdings. 🔹 Amenli (Egypt): $2.3M to boost insurtech in the region, with backing from EBRD and Y Combinator. 🔹 EdfaPay (Saudi Arabia): $5M pre-Series A funding to advance fintech services, led by OmanTel Innovation Labs. 🔹 Qara Digital Solutions (Egypt): $2.6M to expand supply chain operations, supported by NTDP’s Relocate Initiative. From tech to education, MENA's funding landscape is evolving rapidly, creating waves of innovation and opportunity. #FundingUpdates #Startupecosystem #fundingdeals #venturefunding #fundlaunch #privateequity #edtech #insurtech #logitech #fundingseries

With the e-commerce market projected to exceed $57 billion by 2026, MENA is leading the charge in digital transformation. 📈 Trends like mobile commerce (70%+ transactions via smartphones), same-day delivery innovations, and AI-driven personalization are redefining shopping experiences. From Vision 2030 initiatives accelerating growth to sustainability practices and cross-border e-commerce shaping the future, the region is ripe with opportunity. Stay ahead in this fast-evolving sector by exploring the innovations and strategies driving success. Read more below. #EcommerceTrends #RetailTrends #MENAInsights #MENAregion #mobilecommerce #MENAtrends #industrytrends #induustryupdates

#MENADealsWithStrategyConnect MENA Deal Highlights | Nov 1-15, 2024 🌍 Over $91.45M+ in funding was raised in the MENA region during the first half of November. Here's the complete roundup: 1️⃣ Lean Technologies (Saudi Arabia): $67.5M (Series B) Led by General Catalyst, with Bain Capital Ventures, Duquesne Family Office LLC, and Arbor Ventures. 2️⃣ UnifyApps (UAE): $20M (Series A) Backed by ICONIQ Growth and Elevation Capital, bringing total funding to $31M. 3️⃣ Revenya Capital (Saudi Arabia): $2M (Seed) Supported by Arzan Venture Capital, Arzan Financial Group (AFG), and a credit facility from AFG’s network. 4️⃣ Mush Social (Saudi Arabia): $1.2M (pre-Seed) Funded by Nifal Consulting, Nahr Al-Jazeera Holding, and angel investors. 5️⃣ Popcorn AI (UAE): $0.5M (pre-Seed) Led by Spring Studios, with Salica Investments and Al Waha Venture Capital Fund of Funds. 6️⃣ WarburgAI (UAE): $0.25M (Seed) Backed by undisclosed investors. 7️⃣ Brands.io (UAE): Undisclosed (Seed) Funded by undisclosed investors. 8️⃣ Efreshli (Egypt): Undisclosed (Seed) Supported by undisclosed investors. From fintech to AI and interior design, these firms are driving innovation across MENA. Looking to navigate the dynamic MENA startup ecosystem or secure top strategic talent for your next big move? StrategyConnect specializes in connecting businesses with the right expertise to execute their vision. Let’s make things happen! 📩 DM us to learn more about how we can support your business goals. #MENADealsWithStrategyConnect #StartupFunding #MENADeals #SeriesA #oreseed #seedfunding #businessgrowth #venturecapital #privateequity

#MENAGovtInitiatives From renewable energy breakthroughs to transformative urban developments, October saw 111 major projects across the MENA region, driving sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. 🌍 Key Highlights: 👉 Saudi Arabia's NEOM Ready-Mix Concrete Facility: A $186.6M project supporting Vision 2030 with carbon capture technology. 👉 UAE's Al Dhafra Solar PV Project: A 1,500 MW solar initiative powering the UAE's renewable energy goals. 👉 Morocco's Seawater Desalination Plant: Africa’s largest, addressing climate resilience and water security. 👉 UAE-Oman Rail Network: Enhancing connectivity and economic integration across the Gulf. 👉 Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion: A $2.7B investment to position Dubai as a global business hub. 💡 Investment Impact: These projects are set to create 50,000+ jobs and contribute billions to regional GDP, with Saudi Arabia's AI hub alone projected to add $71B! 🔋 Spotlight on Sustainability: From green hydrogen to AI-powered infrastructure, the focus remains on building a smarter, greener future. Dive into the full report below on these transformative initiatives, sector insights, and their long-term impact. Looking to turn insights into action? StrategyConnect helps you identify, connect, and collaborate with top talent and experts to navigate opportunities in the MENA region’s booming sectors. Let's work together to shape the future—contact us today! #MENA #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #EconomicGrowth #MENAregion #Consultingprojects aramco Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)

🌏 Expanding AI Innovation | Project Snapshot Recently, StrategyConnect partnered with a Japan-based AI marketplace looking to scale into the UAE market. This platform democratizes AI, allowing businesses to access custom-built AI solutions, host competitions, and leverage blockchain to ensure fair rewards. Here’s how we contributed to their success: Our Approach: 👉 Crafting a Compelling Fundraising Narrative: Developed a pitch to boost investor confidence and secure UAE-based funding. 👉 Financial Health Assessment: Analyzed revenue streams and designed diverse monetization strategies. 👉 Roadmap & Partnerships: Outlined a 3-year roadmap, set quarterly goals, and identified strategic partners for growth. Meet Our Consultant: 🚀 Ex-Bain Associate Partner 🎯 Expertise in Strategy, International Expansion & Growth 📍 Based in New York, USA From AI startups to public sector transformations, we connect you to consultants who drive real value. Curious about our network or need insights to scale your next big project? Let’s connect! #consultantdeployment #projectsnapshot #aiinnovation #aimarketplace #fundraising #investorpitch #consultingprojects #strategyconnect

💵 #MENADealsWithStrategyConnect From October 16 - 31, over $896.3M flowed into the MENA region through 20+ financial deals, underscoring the robust interest in sectors like deep tech, fintech, and logistics. 🌍 Here are some of the top highlights: 💰Beta Lab (Saudi Arabia) raised $300M for deep tech investments, led by the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, and international partners. BIM Capital (Saudi Arabia) secured $200M through a joint venture with Japan’s SBI HOLDINGS, LLC, focusing on diversified investments. Moonbase Capital (Spain-based) launched with a $15M fund targeting SMEs in emerging markets across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East NorthLadder (UAE) raised $10M in Series B funding from stc Group’s tali ventures by stc, Dutch Founders Fund, and Crescent Ventures to expand its trade-in platform across the GCC. Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) (UAE) launched a $100M fund with support from Shurooq and the Al Nahdi family office, focused on private equity opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Abhi (YC S21) (Saudi fintech) secured $15M in debt financing from Shorooq Partners and Amplify Growth Partnership to expand earned wage access for the workforce invygo (Saudi mobility startup) raised $45M in Series A funding, backed by STV’s NICE Fund and other investors to fuel regional growth Pargo (South African logistics platform) raised $4M to enhance its cross-border e-commerce logistics, backed by 3Capital Ventures, Endeavor, SAAD Investment Holdings, and UW Ventures Stay tuned for more insights and join us to explore the impact of these strategic investments in shaping the future of MENA! #StrategyConnect #MENA #InvestmentTrends #FundingUpdates #MENAregion #privateequity #venturecapital #startups #financialdeals