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STV

Asia, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

Description

STV (Saudi Technology Ventures) stands as a prominent and influential venture capital firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established with a vision to empower and scale the most innovative technology ventures, STV has rapidly cemented its position as the largest independent VC fund in MENA, boasting a substantial $500 million in assets under management (AUM). The firm is known for its strategic approach to identifying and backing disruptive companies that are poised to redefine various sectors across the region.

STV's investment thesis centers on early-growth stage technology companies, primarily focusing on Series A and B rounds, though they have shown flexibility for exceptional Seed+ opportunities. They seek out businesses with strong unit economics, scalable models, and experienced management teams. Their portfolio spans critical sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, edtech, and SaaS, reflecting the evolving digital landscape of the MENA region. STV often takes a lead or co-lead position in funding rounds, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to help their portfolio companies achieve significant growth and market leadership.

The firm's commitment to the MENA ecosystem is evident through its impactful investments. STV's first fund, STV Fund I, launched in 2018 with $200 million, quickly deployed capital into some of the region's most promising startups. With the launch of STV Fund II in 2022, their capacity to fuel innovation further expanded, contributing to their impressive $500 million AUM. As of early 2024, STV has invested in over 30 companies, playing a pivotal role in the success stories of regional unicorns and high-growth ventures, thereby fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial environment across Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA market.

Investor Profile

STV has backed more than 29 startups, with 6 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 12 rounds, about 41% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series A, Series B, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Financial Services, FinTech, Payments.
  • Led 3 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $5M – $20M.

Stage Focus

  • Series A (28%)
  • Series B (24%)
  • Series C (14%)
  • Seed (10%)
  • Series D (7%)
  • Pre Seed (3%)
  • Debt Financing (3%)
  • Series E (3%)
  • Undisclosed (3%)
  • Series Unknown (3%)

Country Focus

  • Saudi Arabia (62%)
  • United Arab Emirates (21%)
  • United States (7%)
  • Egypt (3%)
  • Bahrain (3%)
  • Singapore (3%)

Industry Focus

  • Financial Services
  • Fintech
  • Payments
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Finance
  • Billing
  • E-commerce
  • Information Technology
  • Software
  • Restaurants
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does STV frequently co-invest with?

VentureSouq
Asia, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai
Co-Investments: 6
Bossa Invest
South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo
Co-Investments: 5
Shorooq Partners
Asia, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Co-Investments: 4
Mubadala
Asia, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Co-Investments: 5
Endeavor Catalyst
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 8
Sanabil
Asia, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Co-Investments: 5
MSA Novo
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 5
Raed Ventures
Asia, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Co-Investments: 11
Peak XV Partners
Asia, Karnataka, India, Bengaluru
Co-Investments: 4
Arbor Ventures
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 5

Which angels does STV often collaborate with?

Shared Deals: 1
LB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
AB
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
RC
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
BF
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
Juha Paananen
Asia, Singapore
Shared Deals: 1
PT
North America, District of Columbia, United States, Washington
Shared Deals: 1
IA
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by STV?

Calo

Manama, Al Manamah, Bahrain

Calo is a D2C foodtech startup that serves personalized meal subscriptions by matching users with chef-cooked meals.

AppsFood and BeverageNutritionSubscription Service
Series BJul 29, 2025
Amount Raised: $39,000,000
Morni

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Morni is an interactive platform that provides roadside assistant services.

AppsMobile AppsPredictive AnalyticsTransportation
Series UnknownJun 23, 2025
SILQ

Singapore, Central Region, Singapore

SILQ is a platform dedicated to bridging economies and empowering businesses to trade, grow, and navigate new frontiers.

UndisclosedApr 9, 2025
Amount Raised: $110,000,000
Tabby

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Tabby is a payments and shopping app that enables customers to make purchases and pay for them in installments.

BillingFinanceFinancial ServicesFinTechPayments
Series EFeb 12, 2025
Amount Raised: $160,000,000
Buildnow

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Reinventing liquidity for the construction supply chain

Business DevelopmentCreditLending
Debt FinancingFeb 11, 2025
Amount Raised: $10,000,000
Calo

Manama, Al Manamah, Bahrain

Calo is a D2C foodtech startup that serves personalized meal subscriptions by matching users with chef-cooked meals.

AppsFood and BeverageNutritionSubscription Service
Series BDec 30, 2024
Amount Raised: $25,000,000
invygo

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

invygo app-based car subscription company that gives customers an access to dealership verified cars.

Car SharingE-CommerceInformation TechnologyMicro LendingRentalSubscription Service
Series AOct 23, 2024
Amount Raised: $8,000,000
Noon - The Social Learning Platform

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Noon (Noon Academy previously) is loved by 10+ million students in 8 countries.Our goals is to impact 50 million students by 2023.

E-LearningEdTechEducationPredictive AnalyticsSocialTutoring
Series BNov 2, 2023
Amount Raised: $40,783,719
Tabby

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Tabby is a payments and shopping app that enables customers to make purchases and pay for them in installments.

BillingFinanceFinancial ServicesFinTechPayments
Series DNov 1, 2023
Amount Raised: $250,000,000
qlub

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Qlub develops a fast and secure payment solution for consumers in restaurants.

Financial ServicesFinTechPaymentsRestaurants
SeedMar 17, 2023
Amount Raised: $25,000,000