Presight & Shorooq Launch $100M AI Fund for 30 Startups
▼ Summary
– The $100 million Presight-Shorooq Fund I will invest in 25 to 30 AI and deep tech startups, with 40% of its capital reserved for later funding rounds.
– The fund aims to empower companies that can create a sustainable impact in key sectors like smart cities, energy, and fintech.
– Beyond capital, the fund provides strategic mentoring, human capital support, and access to advanced infrastructure like cloud computing and GPU processing.
– The partnership gives startups access to G42’s global network, helping accelerate their growth both locally and internationally.
– This initiative reinforces the UAE’s role as a global AI hub by combining strategic capital, advanced infrastructure, and a unique geographic position.
A major new $100 million investment vehicle is now actively seeking to fund the next wave of global artificial intelligence innovation. The Presight-Shorooq Fund I has been established with the explicit goal of identifying and backing 25 to 30 of the most promising AI and deep tech startups. In a strategic move designed to nurture long-term growth, a significant portion of the capital, forty percent, is earmarked for later funding rounds. This reserved capital will provide crucial follow-on support for portfolio companies that successfully demonstrate an ability to scale their operations and impact.
According to Mahmoud Adi, a Founding Partner at Shorooq, the fund’s mission extends beyond simple financial investment. He emphasized that the initiative aims to empower promising companies that can create a sustainable impact within key economic sectors. The support framework includes strategic mentoring on business models and market entry strategies, human capital assistance to attract elite talent, and comprehensive financial advisory services to help startups build resilient organizational structures. Furthermore, entrepreneurs will benefit from media and reputation-building programs leveraged through Shorooq’s extensive regional and international network.
A critical advantage for funded startups will be direct access to advanced technological infrastructure. The partnership with Presight unlocks resources in cloud computing, high-powered GPU processing, and secure data environments, all supported by the global reach of G42. This access is intended to dramatically accelerate growth trajectories for companies aiming to expand both within their local markets and on the international stage. Adi noted that this initiative powerfully underscores the UAE’s emerging role as a central driver in the AI ecosystem, combining strategic capital, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a unique geographic position that bridges Eastern and Western markets.
The fund plans to invest in companies at various developmental stages that are pioneering solutions in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics. Its investment focus spans a diverse range of fields, including smart cities, energy, fintech, and deep tech, among others. Portfolio companies will gain more than just capital; they will tap into Presight’s deep technical expertise and Shorooq’s vast network of partners and mentors across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.
This collaboration is seen as a defining moment for AI investment, uniting regional vision and capital with world-class innovation. The fund aims to bridge global markets and showcase the immense potential that is unlocked when the region’s resources converge with transformative ideas from around the world. The message to entrepreneurs is clear: the fund brings not only substantial financial backing but also a profound commitment to strategic guidance and a long-term partnership mentality.
(Source: Economy Middle East)
