Welcome back to your premier source for all things startup in the MENA region! his week, we dive into the latest happenings shaping the future of our vibrant startup landscape

Yalla, let’s dive in!

Weekly Funding Roundup

• SecureMyScholarship (UAE) raises $550k

• Lune Technologies (UAE) secures $1.5M seed

• Phoenix Group (UAE) acquires 12.5% of Rekt Studios (UAE)

• AngelSpark (UAE) invests in Plain Tiger

• WheeKeep (KSA) closes $8M Series A

• Hevolution (KSA) invests $20M in Aeovian

• Aramco Ventures (KSA) invests in Dendra Systems

• Oman Investment Authority invests in Hysata

• Swypex (Egypt) raised a $4M seed round

• 212Founders (Morocco) invests in VelyVelo

In The News

• Glint (Egypt) announces $3M fund close

• UAE to invest $1B in Korea ventures

• Investcorp (Bahrain) partners with China's CIC for a $1B fund

• UAE Central Bank issues Open Finance Regulation

• Klumi Ventures (UAE) has become Abu Dhabi's first regulated Web3 VC

• Riyadh's Arabic AI Center launched

• Rasan (KSA) plans 30% IPO stake

• Smasco (KSA) plans a $240M IPO

• Qsalary (KSA) launches a 300M SAR fund

• PTS Holdings and BTU launched the Kemtech Valley-BTU studio

• Banque Misr partners and invests in el-mazzad.com

• Saudi-Egyptian Investment Co. targets a majority of Cira Education

Upcoming Programs & Opportunities

• CreaTech and All Things Media 2.0 Programs by The Collective Hub

• AI and Anytech Acceleration Programs by Kickstart Bahrain

• Misk Launchpad 6.0 and SPARK incubation programs by Misk

• Clyntech and Agrytech Acceleration programs by Berytech

• Selfmade Founders program for female entrepreneurs

• Startup10 Program by CIHEAM Bari

• AI Assistive Tools Hackathon by Vodafone

• The Tank Innovation Challenge by Umniah

Cool Events

• Seamless Middle East - 14/15 May, Dubai

• World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum - 14 May, Manama

• GITEX Africa - 15 May, Marrakesh

• RiseUp Summit - 16 May, Cairo

• Techstars Startup Weekend - 16 May, Manama

• Orange Corners Palestine Demo Day - 22 May, Zoom

• Kickstart Bahrain EdTech Demo Day - 30 May, Zoom

Interesting Stuff

• Fnjan Episode Becomes Most Watched Podcast Episode on YouTube Globally

• Dubai launches a long-term visa for gamers

• UAE ranks third globally for crypto holders

• MBZUAI explores AI solutions for extreme weather after Gulf floods

• Europe to launch chamber of commerce in Riyadh

• Top 7 Most Active Gulf Investors in Europe

• Explore the Investment Landscape in Iraq

Techy Bytes

• Beltone Holding (Egypt) launches a $100 million platform for export companies

• Codebase Technologies (UAE) launches a financing solution to address a $5.2 trillion gap

• Abu Dhabi pilots first passenger-carrying drone flights

• PayBy (UAE) announces palm-of-hand electronic payment service launch

• WOSUL (KSA) launches self-ordering kiosk

• Key (KSA) car rental introduces innovative monthly subscriptions

• Lezzoo (Iraq) announces the launch of a cross-border e-commerce service

• Wayve Secures $1.05B for AI self-driving tech in Europe