Angel investors in Saudi Arabia are individuals or groups who provide startup funding to early-stage companies. These investors are crucial in the startup ecosystem as they offer seed funding and early-stage investment that is essential for the growth and success of new businesses. The role of angel investors has become increasingly significant in the Saudi Arabian economy, especially with the surge in MENA startups.
- Saudi Arabian angel investors are known for their willingness to take on higher risks compared to traditional investors.
- They provide venture capital to technology startups and other innovative businesses, facilitating digital entrepreneurship.
These investors often come from successful entrepreneurial backgrounds themselves and have a keen interest in nurturing new talent. Their involvement goes beyond just financial support as they also offer business mentorship, leveraging their experience and networks to guide startups toward success.
Riyadh Angel Investors (RAI) is a notable organisation within this space, managing an extensive RAI portfolio of diverse startups.
This network of Saudi Arabian angel investors is dedicated to fostering growth and innovation through investment thesis development and tailored funding solutions. Their angel investment network is critical for nurturing the next generation of Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs.
List of 10 Best Angel Investors in Saudi Arabia
Angel investors play a pivotal role in nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing financial support, mentorship, and strategic guidance to startups. In Saudi Arabia, several prominent angel investors have significantly impacted the growth and development of new ventures. This article delves into the profiles and investment approaches of ten notable Saudi angel investors.
1. Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal
Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal is a prominent business figure, technology enthusiast, and investor. He is an ardent advocate for clean energy, healthy living, humane treatment of animals, and supports Middle Eastern entrepreneurs.
With investments spanning three continents, Khaled bridges the Middle East’s evolving economies with the Western world, investing in diverse global businesses from technology startups to established construction companies.
Notable Investments
- Black Sheep Foods: Participated in Series A funding.
- Furahaa Group: Led Seed Round.
- BlueNalu: Involved in Convertible Note funding.
- TurtleTree: Participated in multiple funding rounds.
- CLMBR: Led Seed Round.
- Back to the Roots: Led Venture Round.
2. Musaab Hakami
Musaab Hakami leads VentureSouq’s investments in innovative and impactful FinTech startups across the globe. VentureSouq, a MENA-based venture capital fund manager, boasts a portfolio of over 100 companies in 25 countries.
Musaab has been with the firm since July 2022, bringing over 10 years of experience in scaling businesses, managing transformations, and leading technology investments.
His core competencies include new business development, investment, marketing communications, social development, and financial management. He is a certified expert in understanding venture capitalists and analytics for decision-making. Musaab is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs who solve pressing global challenges with technology, creating positive social and environmental impacts.
Notable Investments
- CatX: London Area, UK
- Pathao: Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Wellx: Dubai, UAE
- Nomod (YC S21): London, UK
- Sivo (YC W21): Vancouver, Canada
- Rain: San Francisco Bay Area, USA
- Lisan: Dubai, UAE
- Suplias (YC S21): Lagos, Nigeria
3. Omar Rebhan
Omar Rebhan brings 13 years of experience in leading and developing teams in both established entities and new ventures across diverse sectors, including tech-enabled startups and commercial businesses.
His expertise encompasses business development, financial optimization, organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, strategy implementation, operational excellence, and project delivery.
Notable Investments
- Coffinado: Led the Pre-Seed Round for this innovative startup.
- Space Nation: Participated in the Seed Round, contributing to its growth.
- PerchPeek: Invested in the Seed Round, supporting its expansion.
- Funding Souq: Engaged in the Pre-Seed Round for this emerging venture.
4. Mohammed Alzubi
Mohammed Alzubi is the Managing Partner at Nama Ventures, a pre-seed/seed stage fund focused on driving tech innovation in MENA, especially Saudi Arabia. He was previously the Managing Director of Tharwa Capital, a financial investment firm in Dubai, and led the Venture Capital practice at Global Investment House in Kuwait.
Mohammed also served as the Director of Technology Investments at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) and was the Founder and CEO of Sulaf Solutions in Silicon Valley.
Mohammed is an active angel investor with Sand Hill Angels, an Advisory Board member of LinkSV and kyube.com, and a founding board member of Techwadi. He mentors regional technology companies and advises In5 incubator in Dubai and Oasis 500 incubator in Jordan.
Notable Investments
- Calo: Subscription-based nutritional meal plans
- Termii: Digital messaging channels for businesses
- PalmHR: Automated HRMS
- Trteeb: Custom tailor clothing marketplace for thobes
- Basket: Online grocery delivery service
- Aumet: Automates distributor assignments for manufacturers
- Tajir: Helps stores save money and boost sales
- Tamara: Shop on the go without fees
- Grabbd: Discover new places and create personal city guides
- eZhire: Efficient car rental service
5. Fadi Ghandour
Fadi Ghandour is a prominent figure in the investment and entrepreneurial landscape, currently serving as the Executive Chairman at Wamda Capital and as an Angel Investor.
His extensive experience includes pivotal roles as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at MENA Venture Investments, and he has served as a Board Member for organizations such as Oasis500, Jordan Aircraft Maintenance, Insider, INJAZ Al-Arab, 360VUZ, Endeavor Global, and formerly The Abraaj Group.
Notable Investments
- Replit: Later Stage VC, Software Development Applications
- Shippify: Logistics
- Tripvillas: Restaurants, Hotels, and Leisure
- Derq: Road Safety
- Onfleet: Business/Productivity Software
- Matternet: Logistics
- ArabiaWeather: Information Services (B2C)
- Tamatem: Entertainment Software
6. Abdulla Elyas
Dr. Abdulla Elyas, a prominent figure in the tech and investment world, is best known for his role as a Co-Founder of Careem. His impressive career includes serving as a Board Member at Noon Academy and an Advisor at Raed Ventures.
He is also the Co-Founder of Enwani and has held significant roles such as Senior Management Consultant at IDS Scheer Consulting and Research Partner in Waste & Recycling at SAP. Dr. Elyas holds an MSc in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from RWTH Aachen University.
Notable Investments
- Buildnow: Seed Round in Financial Software
- Pemo: Business/Productivity Software
- Baraka: Financial Software
- Noon Academy: Educational Software
- Kitab Sawti: Early Stage VC in Publishing
7. Deemah AlYahya
Deemah AlYahya is a renowned Saudi businesswoman and the founder of WomenSpark, a platform dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in the tech industry. She is a strong advocate for women in technology and entrepreneurship.
Founded by Deemah AlYahya, Women Spark is the first Saudi Female Angel Investment Group dedicated to fostering an empowering ecosystem for female angel investors and entrepreneurs.
Since its inception, Women Spark has successfully trained over 26,000 women, promoting greater involvement and leadership in the investment sphere.
Notable Investments
- CADO Gifting (Seed Round)
- Stllr Network (Seed Round)
- Taffi (Seed Round)
- Playbook (Pre-Seed Round)
- QIDZ LLC (Seed Round)
- Eighty6 (Seed Round)
- Wafeer (Pre-Seed Round)
- Starzly (Pre-Seed Round)
8. Faris Al Rashed
Faris Al-Rashed is the Founder & Chairman of the Trustees Board at OQAL. He is also a member of the Venture Capital & Private Equity Association. He is a prominent angel investor and entrepreneur with a diverse investment portfolio and a commitment to fostering innovation.
Faris Al Rashed is a prominent figure in the entrepreneurial and venture investment landscape. As the Founder and Chairman of the Trustees’ Board at OQAL Angel Investors Network, he has played a crucial role in fostering innovation and supporting emerging startups.
Notable Investments
- Careem: Revolutionized ride-hailing in the Middle East.
- Hala: Innovates in the transportation sector.
- Lendo: Enhances financial services.
- Sabbar: Improves workforce management.
9. Yaser Saeed Alghamdi
Yaser Alghamdi is a notable Saudi angel investor with extensive experience in the financial and investment sectors. He is a distinguished investor with a broad portfolio in innovative sectors.
His expertise spans IT infrastructure management, cloud services, business continuity, and data management. His investments reflect his commitment to cutting-edge technology and transformative business models across various regions.
Notable Investments
- Designhubz: A web-based 3D and Try-On Augmented Reality (AR) platform for brands and retailers in Dubai.
- Ejaro: Saudi Arabia’s first licensed peer-to-peer vehicle sharing marketplace based in Jeddah.
- Serb: A platform in Masqaţ, Oman, focused on managing drone operations and regulatory compliance.
- Shaffra: Offers Metaverse-as-a-Service, enabling organizations to develop their own metaverses in the UAE.
- Byanat: Provides IoI data analysis solutions for telecom and electricity companies in Masqaţ, Oman.
- Bon: A B2B marketplace for wholesale in the HoReCa market, based in Masqaţ, Oman.
10. Mazen Al Jubeir
Mazen Aljubeir is a prominent investor based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with extensive expertise in finance and investment management. As the Co-Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Isometry Capital, he specializes in investing in SMEs and growth companies in Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Aljubeir is also actively involved in various Boards of Directors, contributing to several leading government organizations, public corporations, private enterprises, and social ventures. His investment portfolio reflects a strategic focus on innovative and high-growth opportunities in diverse sectors.
Notable Investments
- Careem (Seed Round)
- MRSOOL (Series A)
- Noon – The Social Learning Platform (Series A)
- Ocurate (Seed Round)
- Soum (Seed Round)
Some of the top angel investor groups in Saudi Arabia in 2024
These investors and groups are instrumental in fostering the startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, providing not just capital but also valuable mentorship and networking opportunities.
- OQAL Angel Investors Network: Established in 2011, this is one of the earliest angel networks in Saudi Arabia. It has over 200 members and has completed numerous deals across the MENA region.
- WomenSpark: It is the first female angel investor network in Saudi Arabia. WomenSpark focuses on supporting startups led by female founders and has made several significant investments.
- Athaal: This Jeddah-based group was founded in 2018 and invests across the Middle East and Africa, focusing on early-stage startups.
- Riyadh Angel Investors (RAI): Comprising over 50 members who are top executives in various corporations, RAI targets seed-stage startups across the MENA region.
- KAUST Innovation Fund: While not exclusively an angel investor, KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) supports startups through funding and incubation programs.
- Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures (Wa’ed): Wa’ed invests in Saudi startups, offering venture capital and loans to innovative projects.
- Misk Innovation: Part of the Misk Foundation, Misk Innovation supports young entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia through various initiatives, including funding and mentoring.
- Impact46: A venture capital firm that also acts as an angel investor, Impact46 focuses on tech startups in the Kingdom.
- Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC): This government-backed company supports the venture capital ecosystem by co-investing in startups alongside angel investors.
- Taqnia: A technology-focused investment firm that invests in innovative startups in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Also Read
Role and Importance of Angel Investors
Angel investors in Saudi Arabia are individuals who provide startup funding to early-stage companies, often in exchange for equity or convertible debt. These investors play a pivotal role in nurturing the growth of technology startups and digital entrepreneurship across the region. They typically engage in venture capital investments, offering crucial seed funding and early-stage investment to nascent businesses.
As the Saudi Arabia economy continues to diversify, these investors are increasingly focusing on MENA startups that offer innovative solutions and technological advancements. Their involvement often extends beyond financial support, including valuable business mentorship and connections within the industry.
The surge in startup accelerators in Saudi Arabia reflects a broader trend toward supporting early-stage ventures. These accelerators offer essential resources such as business incubation, mentoring, and growth capital, which are instrumental in the success of startups. Additionally, they align with the investment trends in the country, emphasizing sectors like tech innovation and digital transformation.
To Sum Up
Saudi Arabian investors are increasingly active, contributing to the vibrancy of the local startup ecosystem. They are supported by investment firms in Saudi Arabia, which offer both private equity and venture capital. These firms, along with individual angel investors, help bridge the funding gap for startups, driving forward the country’s economic and technological advancements.
Moreover, Saudi government startup support programs play a significant role in this ecosystem, providing both financial and infrastructural backing to encourage entrepreneurial activity. This support, combined with the expanding angel investment network in Saudi Arabia, creates a fertile ground for startup success and sustainable business growth.
Overall, angel investors in Saudi Arabia are integral to the thriving startup scene, offering not only capital but also strategic guidance and industry connections. Their contributions are essential in shaping the future of digital entrepreneurship and tech innovation in the region.
