
Wa’ed Ventures
Description
Wa’ed Ventures stands as the dedicated venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, distinguishing itself as the largest VC fund within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With a substantial fund size of $500 million, the firm plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and driving economic diversification in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Its strategic location in Dhahran positions it at the heart of the Kingdom's industrial and innovation hub, enabling close collaboration with emerging technology companies.
The firm's investment strategy is primarily focused on Saudi-based startups, targeting companies from the Seed stage through to Series B rounds. Wa'ed Ventures is known for its equity partnerships, providing crucial capital to promising ventures across a diverse range of sectors, including fintech, energy tech, industrial tech, and digital solutions. Typically, Wa’ed Ventures deploys first cheques ranging from $1 million to $10 million, demonstrating its capacity to support startups through significant growth phases. This investment range allows them to back early-stage companies while also participating in larger, more mature funding rounds.
Beyond capital provision, Wa’ed Ventures is committed to offering strategic guidance and leveraging its extensive network to support portfolio companies. The firm's mandate extends to stimulating local content and innovation, thereby contributing to the development of a knowledge-based economy. By investing in high-growth potential startups, Wa’ed Ventures not only seeks financial returns but also aims to create job opportunities, enhance technological capabilities, and strengthen the overall entrepreneurial infrastructure within Saudi Arabia, solidifying its position as a cornerstone investor in the region.
Investor Profile
Wa’ed Ventures has backed more than 21 startups, with 11 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 12 rounds, about 57% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States.
- Strong thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Construction, Information Technology.
- Led 7 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $10M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (38%)
- Series A (33%)
- Series B (14%)
- Series Unknown (14%)
Country Focus
- Saudi Arabia (48%)
- United Arab Emirates (24%)
- United States (14%)
- Egypt (5%)
- The Netherlands (5%)
- United Kingdom (5%)
Industry Focus
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Construction
- Information Technology
- Software
- B2b
- Building Material
- Education
- Predictive Analytics
- E-commerce
- Marketplace
Frequently Asked Questions
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