• Managed by Mubadala Capital, the funds will invest in startups and venture funds, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a tech and innovation hub
  • San Francisco-based Data Collective Venture Capital (DCVC) joins Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, alongside Global Ventures and Middle East venture partners
  • UAE-based startup Bayzat has raised US$16 million in Series B funding from a cohort of global investors including Mubadala Capital and Point72 Ventures

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Mubadala Capital today announced the launch of its first MENA-focused tech investment funds. With a total of US$250 million (AED 918 million), the Mubadala MENA tech funds will capitalize on the  growing  startup scene in in the region while empowering tech talent in the Emirates and across the wider region.

The funds will include a US$150 million (AED 550 million) “fund of funds” program, which will invest in funds that are committed to supporting the Abu Dhabi-based Hub71 ecosystem, including through investing in companies that leverage Hub71 for regional expansion and growth.  As part of this program, Mubadala Capital also announced that it will commit to three funds as a part of its first funds cohort - San Francisco-based Data Collective Venture Capital (DCVC), Middle East Ventures Partners (MEVP) and Global Ventures.

The investment program will also include a further US$100 million (AED 367 million) fund dedicated for direct investments in early stage technology companies led by  exceptional founders that are committed to be part of the Hub71 ecosystem. The fund will invest in founder-led companies, targeting either enterprise or consumer sectors and have established clear product/market fit. The fund aims to invest in a portfolio of 15 companies.

The first investment, from the direct fund, is in Bayzat, a Dubai-based startup that is focused on delivering an exceptional employee experience that’s accessible to every small and medium sized enterprise through a free cloud-based platform.  This helps companies automate HR administration, payroll processing and health insurance. Bayzat, one of the first companies to  setup operations in Hub71, has raised US$16 million (AED 58 million) in Series B funding from regional and global investors including Mubadala Capital and Point72 Ventures. The company has now raised a total of US$31 million (AED 133 million) and plans to use the capital  to invest in its technology and customer experience.

Ibrahim Ajami, Head of Ventures at Mubadala Capital, said: “After ten years of investing in tech companies around the world, the time has come to leverage the experience and expertise we’ve gained for the benefit of our home market. The MENA funds will drive the economic development of Abu Dhabi by stimulating tech investment activity. There’s a huge amount of untapped potential in the UAE and the wider region and we are on the right path to foster more home-grown innovations, attract exceptional talent and accelerate the evolution of a flourishing tech industry in the Emirate.”

Mubadala Capital’s ventures arm builds on Mubadala Investment Company’s decade-long track record of being an active investor in advanced technology. With offices in Abu Dhabi, London and San Francisco, the ventures business has made investments across the value chain of the technology sector, including committing US$15 billion to SoftBank Vision Fund 1. In the US, the ventures business manages Mubadala Ventures Fund 1, a US$400 million (AED 1.47 billion) US-focused early stage venture fund, and a fund of funds program targeting US-based established and emerging managers. In Europe, the team manages a US$ 400 million (AED 1.47 billion) fund investing in founders and companies across the continent, as well as a fund of funds program that adheres to a similar strategy as its US counterpart.

Co-founder and managing partner of DCVC Matt Ocko commented: “We already have a deep connection to the UAE through Mubadala, but the creation of the MENA tech funds further cements this partnership. We’re looking forward to supporting local talent and exciting founder-led companies as they drive innovation from Abu Dhabi’s Hub71.”

Mubadala has over a decade of experience of investing in the advanced technology sector, beginning in 2007 when it acquired a significant stake in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Mubadala also owns the world’s leading speciality foundry, GLOBALFOUNDRIES; Al Yah Satellite Company (Yahsat), which has three satellites in orbit; Injazat Data Systems, a cloud computing provider in the Middle East; and Khazna, a data center company located in the United Arab Emirates. Mubadala also has a significant stake in Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, known as du. 

© Press Release 2019

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.