Welcome back to your weekly dose of what’s happening in the MENA startup world!

This week, We're bringing you all the major headlines, latest updates, must-attend events, and not-to-be-missed opportunities. Stay tuned!

Fundraising Roulette

🇦🇪 AlephYa (Edtech)→ undisclosed

🇦🇪 Biptap (FinTech) → $2M Pre-Seed

🇦🇪 Cercli (Payroll Saas)→ $4M Seed

🇦🇪 GlobalPay (Fintech) → undisclosed

🇦🇪 Navatech (Contech) → $750k Seed

🇦🇪 Ziina (Fintech)→ $22M Series A

🇸🇦 HissaTech (Proptech)→ $665K Pre-Seed

🇸🇦 Malaa (Fintech) → $17.3M Series A

🇸🇦 reachware (Automation)→ $3M Seed

🇸🇦 Syarah (Used Car Marketplace) → $60M Series C

🇸🇦 The Lending Hub (Fintech) —> $3.20M Seed

🇹🇳 Wattnow (Cleantech)→ undisclosed Series A

Movers and Shakers

Tabby (KSA) acquired Tweeq (KSA/Fintech)

Tarabut (UAE) acquired Vyne (UK)

Al Rajhi Bank (KSA) acquired majority stake in Drahim App (KSA/Fintech)

Basata (Egypt) acquired 27.1% of MadfoatCom (Jordan/Fintech)

Future Food Foundry (UAE) invested $20 million in NextGen Farms and Sustenir Group

Master Investment (UAE) invested in Faraday Future (USA)

Mubadala applied to take full control of Turkey’s Getir

Ecosystem Updates

SC Women in Tech winners announced

Anjal Z Techstars Founder Catalyst program selected 20 startups for Cohort 05

OST selected 30 startups, including 10 from Tunisia and 10 from Morocco for its new cohort

DMCC & Bybit launched the largest Web3 Hackathon in MENA

EG Bank launched Mint Accelerator in collaboration with USAID

Orange Jordan launched its 11th season of BIG Program

Founder Institute launched an accelerator in Morocco

Startup Highlights

Rebound (UAE/Cleantech) launched new subscription-based recycling platform

Adaye (UAE/FemTech) launched a range of menstrual care products

Bayut (UAE) launched TruBroker

Tamara (KSA/Fintech) granted preliminary consumer finance license

Comera Pay (UAE) received approval to provide digital financial services

Lendo (KSA/Fintech) partnered with J.P. Morgan

Beyon Money (Bahrain/Fintech) partnered with Binance

Open For Application

UAE → EU Digital Invest Program | UAE

The Accelerator @World Summit AI | Qatar

StartUp Bahrain Weekend | Bahrain

Orange Corners Incubation Programs | Palestine & Upper Egypt

500 Global Seed Bootcamp | Egypt

My MVP Program | Morocco

GrowthX Accelerator Program | Middle East

Madarek Ideation Program | Virtual/Mena

Web3 Unleashed #2 Hackaton → $100k Prize | MENA

C3 Impact Accelerator | Global

Cool Events

• Future Banks Summit & Awards - 09/09 | Riyadh

• Flat6Labs Demo Day - 10/09 | Riyadh

• Alchemist Launch Event - 10/09 | Doha

• Global AI Summit - 10-12/09 | Riyadh

• Finnovex Middle East 2024 - 10-11/09 | Dubai

• Ripple Summit - 10-11/09 | Alexandria

• Startup Funding in Morocco - 11/09 | Virtual

• Dubai AI & Web3 Festival - 11-12/09 | Dubai

• Saudi Event Show - 11-12/09 | Riyadh

• EGA Ramp-Up Investor Pitch Day - 11/09 | Abu Dhabi

• Rally Startup Festival - 11-12/09 | Alexandria

• Techstars Ai Pitch Day - 12/09 | Riyadh

• Sahara Expo 2024 - 15/09 | Cairo

Techy Bytes

e& UAE unveiled second AI-powered autonomous store at Dubai Mall

Saudi Central Bank to enable Samsung Pay service in Q4 2024

Sony launched MENA Hero Project to empower local game developers

Saudi Pro League partnered with TikTok to enhance fans’ digital experience

King Abdulaziz University launched 1st AI Research Program

Huawei launched AI initiatives to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation

Safe Superintelligence founded by Ilya Sutskever raised $1B for 20% after 3 months of launching