Startups across the Middle East and North Africa are entering a new phase of momentum, with rapid growth fueled by fresh investment rounds, strategic alliances, and advancements in technology. The developments seen this week highlight a strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystem and growing investor optimism across several high-potential sectors, including agritech, AI-powered cybersecurity, digital commerce, and renovation technology.
Saudi agritech firm Nabt secured $3.4 million in an extended seed round, lifting its total raised capital to $5 million. The round, led by SHG Group with participation from Merak Capital and a group of angel investors, reflects strong confidence in the company’s long-term vision. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held as part of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture’s Sunbola program.
Nabt is working to transform the fresh-produce supply chain by building an integrated network of physical and digital infrastructure. Its fulfillment centers handle sorting, cooling, and last-mile delivery, linking farmers directly with commercial buyers in a streamlined and transparent process. The company also launched two new tools: Nabt Online Auction, designed to facilitate large-volume trading across the country, and Nabt Intel, a platform that delivers real-time market-pricing and demand insights.
CEO Abdullah Al-Otaibi noted that the company’s progress over the past two years demonstrates how vital efficient supply-chain infrastructure is to strengthening food-sector sustainability. The new funding will support Nabt’s expansion into more cities across the Kingdom while enhancing services that help improve food security and increase farmer profitability.
COGNNA raises $9.2 million
Saudi cybersecurity startup COGNNA completed a $9.2 million Series A round, led by Impact46 and co-led by BNVT Capital, with participation from Vision Ventures and Tali Ventures.
Founded in 2022, the company provides an AI-driven Agentic SOC platform that blends automation with human expertise to help organizations address compliance requirements and anticipate cyber threats before they escalate.
CTO Ziyad Al-Sheri emphasized that the platform is built to shift cybersecurity from reactive defense to predictive protection. The investment will accelerate COGNNA’s global expansion, bolster its research and development efforts in AI automation, and support scaling its teams and infrastructure across multiple operational areas.
Funch secures $500,000
Dubai-based food-technology startup Funch, which offers AI-enabled lunch subscription services, raised $500,000 in a pre-seed round led by Angelspark alongside several prominent regional investors.
The platform replaces conventional meal-plan models with a flexible, credit-based system that allows users to pause, skip, or cancel orders without fees. By using AI to forecast customer demand, optimize delivery routes, rotate menus, and minimize waste, the company aims to create a more efficient and sustainable food-delivery model.
The new funding will support expansion across Dubai and further development of its intelligent operational systems.
Paymob partners with Robusta
Egyptian fintech company Paymob announced a strategic partnership with Robusta Technology Group aimed at accelerating digital transformation in Egypt and the broader region.
The collaboration combines Paymob’s payments infrastructure with Robusta’s AI-driven product-development capabilities to deliver smarter, more seamless digital solutions for SMEs and large enterprises. The initiative aligns with Egypt’s broader digital-transformation agenda and Vision 2030 goals.
Reno raises $4 million
UAE-based renovation-technology startup Reno raised $4 million through a blend of equity and debt financing from a diverse group of regional and international investors.
Reno offers a unified platform for interior design and renovation services, integrating the entire process — from planning and visualization to execution — in a single digital experience.
The company plans to expand across the GCC, invest in advanced technological infrastructure, and continue enhancing the overall customer journey.
Glenwood PE and Mubadala invest in NanoH2O
Glenwood Private Equity and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company completed a co-investment in NanoH2O, a Korean manufacturer specializing in reverse-osmosis membranes for water-treatment systems.
Now operating independently after separating from LG Chem in 2024, NanoH2O supplies solutions to municipal and industrial clients worldwide, with more than 95 percent of its revenue generated outside South Korea.
Mubadala highlighted the company’s strong technological leadership and promising growth outlook, noting that the investment will support NanoH2O’s expansion, especially in the MENA region, where demand for water-security and decarbonization technologies continues to rise.
