MENA STRATEGY

Investing in the Middle East & North Africa

Since 2012, 500 Global has been investing across MENA, building a portfolio of 300+ regionally headquartered companies through our funds, accelerators, and education programs. Recognized as the most influential investor in Riyadh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and one of the most active investors in MENA, we’re a trusted partner to founders and investors driving the region's next wave of innovation.

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We made our first MENA investment in 2012 and began deploying our first dedicated regional fund in 2017. Since then, we’ve launched five dedicated funds, run 25+ founder cohorts across four countries, and built a regional portfolio that includes 14 companies valued at over $100M.

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Localized expertise, global scale

Sustainable performance emerges when every part of the ecosystem - policy, capital, talent, institutions, and community - develops in tandem. By reinforcing this full infrastructure, we enable innovation to scale more efficiently, creating the conditions for stronger outcomes and long-term competitiveness.

300+

Regional portfolio companies

500+

Regional founders supported

$85M+

Invested in the ecosystem

14+

Companies valued over $100M

100+

Companies accelerated

450+

Regional investor alumni

35%

Accelerator portfolio companies that have a female founder.

10,000+

Jobs created since 2021.

A trusted partner in the region

500 Global is more than a venture investor in MENA — we serve as a trusted partner to founders, investors, and institutions shaping the region’s innovation economy. With a investment team spanning pre-seed to pre-IPO experience and regional headquarters, we bring on-the-ground expertise and deep connectivity to help startups scale and ecosystems mature. Through our accelerator programs, venture education, and advisory work, we support the development of a thriving, future-ready entrepreneurial landscape across MENA.

2012

500 Global’s first investment in MENA - Jeeran.

2017

Launched 500’s first regional fund to invest in MENA startups.

Launched our first accelerator program in the region. MENA Dojo Series A program.

2018

Launched the Misk 500 MENA Accelerator program.

2019

Launched the first edition of VC Unlocked: Saudi Arabia and Bootcamp for Accelerator Managers (BAM) program in MENA.

2021

Established our regional headquarters in Riyadh, alongside our Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator and fund in partnership with Sanabil Investments.

2022

Launched Angel Investing Unlocked by 500 Global in partnership with Sanabil Investments.

2023

Launched the Seed Bootcamp, Scale-up Program and BAM program in Egypt, in partnership with ITIDA.

2025

Launched 500 MENA LP to address the growth stage funding gap in the region.

Our regional programs

Across MENA, our work is grounded in the Eco6 Framework, a methodology that identifies the structural, financial, and human-capital forces shaping the region’s rapidly evolving innovation landscape. By addressing these needs through our programs, funds, and educational initiatives, we help strengthen the capabilities of founders, investors, and ecosystem partners, enabling the MENA ecosystem to compete and thrive on a global stage.

Founder

Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global

Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global accelerates ambitious MENA startups with traction to scale regionally and beyond.

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Founder

Sanabil Startup Unlocked by 500 Global

Sanabil Startup Unlocked by 500 Global is a bootcamp for early-stage founders building in MENA

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Investor

Sanabil VC Unlocked by 500 Global

Sanabil VC Unlocked by 500 Global develops the next generation of MENA venture leaders.

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Investor

Sanabil Angel Investing Unlocked by 500 Global

Sanabil Angel Investing Unlocked by 500 Global trains the next generation of MENA angels.

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Thought leadership

Insights and updates from across the region.

500 Global launches MENA LP

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The Fund will invest primarily in startups with proven product-market fit and significant growth potential, addressing the critical funding gap MENA founders face, particularly in the expansion stage.

Egypt Fast-Tracks AI Growth with Strategic Investments and Talent Development

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Egypt’s AI ecosystem is growing rapidly, and we see tremendous potential in startups integrating AI into their solutions. By fostering collaboration between investors, startups, and government stakeholders, we can unlock new opportunities and scale AI-driven businesses. – Amal Enan, Managing Partner, 500 Global

The 10th batch of the Sanabil Accelerator

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Out of 735+ applications received, nine promising companies have been selected for their potential to build from MENA to the world. These nine companies stood out for demonstrating real traction, deep customer understanding, and technology that could scale rapidly.

Three Years of Partnership, Progress, and National Impact

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We celebrate our three-year collaboration with Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA). Together, we have worked toward a shared goal: strengthening Egypt’s innovation ecosystem in ways that advance national priorities around digital transformation, while creating commercially investable opportunities with global potential.

Events across the region

Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global Demo Day

Sanabil VC Unlocked by 500 Global

Abu Dhabi Finance Week

Events across the region

Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global Demo Day

Strategic partnerships

500 Global partners with governments, sovereign funds, development finance institutions, foundations, and international organizations to strengthen innovation ecosystems and support long-term, inclusive economic growth. Through founder and venture education, ecosystem programs, and institutional collaboration, we work alongside partners to translate innovation into durable, globally competitive outcomes.

COnnect

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DISCLAIMER

PORTFOLIO COMPANIES DISPLAYED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL INVESTMENTS IN VEHICLES MANAGED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”) AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE INVESTMENTS WILL BE PROFITABLE OR THAT OTHER INVESTMENTS MADE IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS OR RESULTS. THIS LIST INCLUDES CURRENT AND FORMER 500 GLOBAL PORTFOLIO COMPANIES WHICH HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED AS WELL AS COMPANIES WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE AN INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING, AND MAY INCLUDE COMPANIES THAT ARE NO LONGER OPERATING OR HAVE CHANGED SECTOR, REGION OR TECHNOLOGY. SOME UNICORNS AND CENTAURS IN THE 500 GLOBAL PORTFOLIO HAVE NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED THEIR VALUATIONS AND ARE NOT LISTED ON THIS PAGE. THIS LIST IS UPDATED PERIODICALLY AND AS SUCH MAY NOT REFLECT RECENT 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENTS. PAST RESULTS OF 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, POOLED INVESTMENT VEHICLES, OR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. THE SECTOR, REGION AND TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIZATIONS SHOWN ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN MADE BY 500 GLOBAL, ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY NOT ALIGN WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS OR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF OTHER INVESTORS OR THE COMPANIES LISTED ON THIS PAGE. NO CONTENT ON THIS PAGE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES, CONSTRUCTED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 STARTUPS FUND, OR USED AS THE BASIS FOR ANY INVESTMENT DECISIONS. ALL LOGOS, NAMES, AND TRADEMARKS OF THIRD PARTIES REFERENCED HEREIN ARE THE TRADEMARKS AND LOGOS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ANY INCLUSION OF SUCH TRADEMARKS OR LOGOS DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE ANY APPROVAL, ENDORSEMENT OR SPONSORSHIP OF 500 GLOBAL BY SUCH OWNERS.