acf/wide-cards

ROSHN Group signed a memorandum with the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise under the ROSHNEXT program. 
The agreement focuses on urban governance insights, urban planning, and commercial procurement frameworks. 
ROSHN representatives discussed urban design and training with Singaporean officials and companies. 
Singapore&#8217;s urban planning expertise will help ROSHN boost innovation in Saudi real estate practices. 
This partnership aims to advance Saudi Arabia towards a knowledge-based, innovation-focused economy.

Specialized Medical Company plans to raise SAR 1,87 billion through its IPO, pricing shares at SAR 25. 
The IPO was oversubscribed by almost 65 times, signalling strong investor interest. 
SMC will float 75 million shares, representing a 30% stake, on the Saudi Exchange. 
The company operates two hospitals in Riyadh, with three more under development. 
Investors are advised to research carefully amidst the excitement around SMC&#8217;s market entry.

Ransomware attacks and data breaches are increasingly challenging businesses globally, according to Rubrik Zero Labs. 
Rubrik and Rackspace Technology have joined forces to create the Rackspace Cyber Recovery Service. 
This service aims to rapidly restore data and workloads after cyber attacks in the cloud. 
Using AI and zero-trust frameworks, the service offers swift, automated recovery and security solutions. 
Launching in April 2025, this solution is crucial for adapting to complex digital transformation risks.

Anmat Technology for Trading Company will debut on Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Parallel Market, Nomu, in June 2025. 
They will float 5 million shares, representing 11,63% of their total share capital. 
Stock price fluctuations on Tadawul could reach up to 30% daily and 10% statically. 
This move aims to boost liquidity and fund growth, likely stirring post-Eid market interest. 
Traders are preparing for Anmat&#8217;s launch, marking it as a significant market event.

London Business School is launching its first executive education programmes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 
These programmes align with Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Vision 2030 to enhance leadership and economic diversification. 
LBS ranks first globally in the Financial Times&#8217; 2025 Open Executive Education programme rankings. 
The Riyadh programmes mark a deepening partnership with the Kingdom, boosting regional leadership skills. 
LBS connects a global alumni network across 157 countries, offering diverse faculty expertise.

Salesforce is heavily investing in AI, cloud services, and workforce expansion in the Middle East. 
The company plans a $500 million investment in Saudi Arabia, partnering with AWS for local data centres. 
Collaborations include IBM on an AI Innovation Centre and university programmes for local talent development. 
Salesforce promotes &#8220;digital labour&#8221; to free teams from repetitive tasks, enhancing customer interaction time. 
Alkhotani advises regional firms to incorporate AI, emphasizing its necessity for business success.

Olam Agri secures a major $1,85 billion dual-tranche financing deal, backed by Saudi Arabia&#8217;s PIF. 
The package includes a $1,6 billion conventional facility and a $250 million Islamic tranche. 
Islamic finance is growing, aligning with ethical guidelines and attracting a wider investment base. 
This financing strengthens Olam Agri’s position for expansion and navigating market uncertainties. 
It highlights the increasing global acceptance of Islamic banking within broader financial strategies.

Lucidya announced a major reshuffle of its leadership team ahead of international expansion. 
Sisir Das joined as CFO, bringing expertise from Bank of America and Capgemini. 
Yara Milbes is now VP of Marketing, with two decades of international marketing experience. 
Anand Saurabh takes the role of VP of Engineering, contributing strong product engineering skills. 
CEO Asiri believes these hires will help Lucidya scale and outperform competitors.

Stride Ventures expands in Saudi Arabia, opening a second office and boosting local teams. 
The Gulf venture debt market, driven by Saudi Arabia, grows at a 54% CAGR. 
Vision 2030 and initiatives like the &#8220;Jada Fund of Funds&#8221; support economic diversification. 
Venture debt financing aids startups, benefitting sectors like fintech, logistics, and health tech. 
Global talents are moving to Saudi Arabia, recognising its dynamic venture capital landscape.

Khwarizmi Ventures plans to launch its second fund, raising $100-$120 million. 
The fund will focus on seed and Series A startups, especially in Saudi Arabia. 
Their first fund valued at $70 million was largely invested in promising startups. 
They seek startups with a solid product, revenue signs, and growth plans. 
The expectation is for significant growth in local startups and potential unicorns.

Saudi ed-tech startup Taawoni secured $1,6 million in a funding round led by M Capital. 
Taawoni bridges universities and institutions by automating cooperative training programmes. 
Their platform uses AI to provide professional development across various sectors. 
Taawoni partners with over 800 businesses and 14 academic institutions, aiding 34,000 individuals. 
The new investment will accelerate growth and expansion amidst Saudi Arabia&#8217;s digital transformation.

Mrsool has been acquired by NOMW Capital, aiming for a stock market listing. 
This partnership boosts Mrsool&#8217;s chances of going public around 2025. 
Founded in 2015, Mrsool has become integral to daily life in the Middle East. 
NOMW Capital holds a diversified portfolio in varied sectors like real estate and food. 
Many eagerly anticipate Mrsool&#8217;s developments following this strategic partnership.

Saudi firm HUMAIN plans a $10 billion fund targeting global AI innovators. 
They&#8217;re engaging tech leaders like Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI, and Elon Musk&#8217;s xAI. 
HUMAIN aims to manage 7% of AI training tasks globally by 2030. 
They&#8217;ve struck big deals with Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and Amazon to enhance Saudi AI infrastructure. 
Speculation exists around selling datacentre stakes to interested American companies.

Saudi Arabia leads global startup growth, achieving a remarkable 200% growth rate. 
Riyadh has entered the top 100 global startup cities, boasting 134% city-level growth. 
Key sectors include fintech, healthtech, digital commerce, and nanotechnology, driving innovation. 
Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Vision 2030 strategy enhances economic diversity beyond oil, fostering entrepreneurship. 
Local and regional tech startups are thriving with increased funding and infrastructure improvements.

Saudi fintech startup Stitch secured $10 million in Seed funding from key investors. 
Founded by Mohamed Oueida in 2022, Stitch reduces financial product launch time by 80%. 
Stitch plans to expand into East Africa, beginning operations in Kenya. 
The funding will enhance Stitch&#8217;s platform and create job opportunities. 
Industry watchers praise Stitch as a leading tech innovator in Saudi Arabia’s financial sector.

Bayader, a Bahraini edtech startup, secured SAR 1 million for its Saudi expansion. 
Their new app focuses on the &#8220;inner game&#8221; of entrepreneurship, emphasising mindset and personal growth. 
Over 400 training episodes crafted with industry insights support early-stage entrepreneurs. 
Saudi Arabia&#8217;s rapid startup ecosystem growth supports Bayader&#8217;s expansion plans. 
Investment will boost Bayader&#8217;s team, targeting wider MENA region entrepreneurial education transformation.

DisrupTech launches a USD 70 million fund to continue supporting fintech and emerging tech sectors. 
Having invested in 21 startups, the firm is looking for strategic exits by 2027. 
MNT-Halan reached unicorn status in 2022, planning expansion to Turkey and Pakistan. 
The firm aims to strengthen collaboration with banks, corporates, and regulators across Egypt. 
Fintechs in the Middle East are attracting significant investments, signalling growth in the sector.

Saudi Arabia launches a USD 10 billion fund for global AI startups. 
Humain seeks to develop advanced Arabic models and solid local AI infrastructure. 
Legislation will ease compliance for data centres based in Saudi Arabia. 
Subsidies for electricity are offered to encourage tech giants&#8217; relocation. 
Humain&#8217;s initiative aligns with Vision 2030&#8217;s economic diversification strategy.

Dubai-based fintech Qashio closed a $19,8 million funding round, including equity and non-equity funds. 
Supported by Rocketship, new investors like MoreThan Capital and MENA banks also participated. 
The funds will help Qashio expand into Saudi Arabia and enhance MENA fintech programmes. 
Qashio reported 800% annual revenue growth, serving users in 22 countries, including the UAE and UK. 
Founded by Armin Moradi, it provides corporate cards and financial services for diverse sectors.

Riyadh’s startup scene, decoded