Welcome to this week’s MENA startup roundup! We’ve got the latest on funding, tech innovations, and exciting upcoming events

Let’s get started!

💰 Weekly Funding Roundup

• Yuze (UAE/Fintech) secured $30 million in investment

• Mealplanet (UAE/FoodTech) secured $6 million in seed funding

• HeroGo (UAE/Logistics) received investment from AngelSpark

• Resal (KSA/Fintech) closed a $9 million investment round

• Pentagon Games (KSA/Gaming) secured $6 million in seed funding

• Yalla Plus (KSA/SaaS) closed a $2.7 million investment round

• Asas (KSA/IT) raised SAR 1.2 million in a pre-seed round

• Athir (KSA/HealthTech) secured an undisclosed round

• Darahem (KSA/Fintech) was acquired by Al Rajhi Bank

• Aramco Ventures (KSA) invested in Promethean Particles (UK)

• Kem (Kuwait/Fintech) secured $3 million in investment

• E-ramo (Egypt/Digital Solutions) closed a seed investment round

📰 In The News

• Mena startup funding trebled

• Gulf IPOs raised 45% more in Q2 than last year

• Qatar Investment Authority invested $180 million in TechMet

• Ooredoo invested QAR 2.8 million to advance Qatar's quantum technology

• Aramco pledged $100 million in funding for KAUST research

• Abu Dhabi added 30 new activities to its freelancer license

• Oman unveiled new corporate and VAT tax rates aligned with Vision 2040

• Beltone Holding secured a license to offer financial solutions in Egypt

🦄 Startup Highlights

• Ehfaaz (UAE/Cleantech) was featured for transforming waste in Khaleej Times

• Thndr (Egypt/Fintech) launched Alpaca to improve investment access MENA

• Spendwisor (Qatar/Fintech) partnered with Al Jazeera for BNPL service in Qatar

• NOW Money (UAE/Fintech) partnered with CBI and Network International

• Ziina (UAE/Fintech) secured an SVF License to enhance its financial services

• Four Egyptian nominations at the GSA Edition X awards in Istanbul

🏆 Upcoming Programs & Opportunities

• Llama Design Drive Acceleration Program | UAE, KSA, Egypt

• Startupbootcamp Energy and Sustainability Accelerator - Saudi Arabia

• Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) | Sharjah

• QBIC Lean Startup Program | Qatar

• Wave 6 FinTech Incubation and Acceleration Program | Qatar

• WAIC Investment Readiness Bootcamp | Jordan

• EdTech Incubate Program | Egypt

• Apply to Go Live Fund for funding | MENA

📅 Must Attend Events This Week

• Building Products In The AI Era with Sohaib Thiab - 19/08 | Amman

• World Environmental Social & Governance Summit - 20/08 | Dubai

• VC Perspectives on Global Startup Fundraising in 2024 - 20/08 | Virtual

• Entr SUMMIT 2024- Entrepreneurs Day - 21/08 | Dhahran

• Startup Funding in GCC: How to Raise Money - 21/08 | Virtual

• Introduction to Idea Lab 2024 By Intelak Hub - 22/08 | Virtual

🌟 Interesting Stuff

• Driverless cars are set to roll out for Saudi officials by next year

• A comprehensive guide on how to spend your cryptocurrency

• Mubadala Capital puts its faith in biotech startups

• Watch Blockchain Basics for Startups session by Takween Accelerator

• Explore a deep dive into women’s role in MENA/GCC tech by Stephanie Nour Prince

• Report on The MENA Economic Context 2024 is now available

🤖 Techy Bytes

• MBZUAI presented record-breaking AI research

• The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) launched a new large language model in Abu Dhabi

• Pixel 9 lineup and other devices unveiled at Made by Google 2024

• Epic Games launched its own app store

• Acer launched its AI all-in-one PCs

• Telegram added new monetization features for creators

• Gemini will now take notes on Google Meet

• Everything you need to know about Microsoft Copilot