Top Startup Investors in Jeddah

Jeddah’s startup scene hasn’t just arrived—it’s properly buzzing. Thanks to surging venture capital and Saudi Arabia’s ever-ambitious Vision 2030, new founders in Jeddah are finding genuine reasons to dream big. But ideas don’t acheive liftoff without capital: that crucial first cheque, smart angel investors, and the VC funding that takes you from ‘scrappy’ to ‘scaling.’

Whether you’re raising your first seed funding round or mapping out a Series A on your cap table, knowing which VCs are around—and what they want to see in your pitch deck—could mean the difference between next-level growth and a dead inbox.

Here’s a straight-talking, alphabetical guide to the main players investing in Jeddah’s startup ecosystem, pulled together with a dash of help from Arageek and a lot of founders’ late-night research.

One of Saudi’s key MENA-focused funds, Derayah Venture Capital keeps its eyes on high-growth tech. Regional reach means they know how to help startups scale beyond Jeddah and tackle the broader Middle East and North Africa market. If your startup’s ambition matches their scope, they could well be the growth partner you’re after—provided you can get their attention, as details about their process and portfolio are notoriously thin on the ground.

If you’re just setting up shop and need a foot in the door, Flat6Labs Jeddah is where a lot of local founders start. Known mainly for its accelerator, this outfit combines tight mentorship with that first bit of seed funding—just enough to get your MVP live. They keep Jeddah’s tech startup pipeline well-stocked and help promising teams polish up for bigger VC funding later on.

HALA Ventures doesn’t just hunt for any tech startup—they want proof of solid revenue. Their cheque spans from pre-seed all the way to Series B, so if you’ve already proven there’s a real market for what you do, you’re their type. These investors add proper consultancy muscle; think of them as more risk-sensitive than some, but serious about scale. They’re based in Khobar but cover Jeddah and the wider GCC.

Led by Abdulaziz Al Omran, Impact46 functions as both an asset manager and a classic venture shop, picking alternative investments with high-growth potential. Details about sectors and portfolio are a bit hush-hush, but they’re often cited among the Kingdom’s strongest VC names, especially for bolder founders angling for scale. Not a bad door to knock on if you’re looking for someone with flexible capital and a slightly broader game plan.

Since 2015, Raed Ventures has been all over the early-stage startup scene—fintech, e-commerce, enterprise tech, and plenty more. With over 60 investments (and 26 as lead), if you grab their backing, you’re in solid company. They love founders who want to make actual impact, and they’re not afraid to get hands-on post-investment. Look to Raed if you need investors who stay active through every funding round.

Sukna Ventures in Jeddah makes its approach clear—they’re all in for tech startups with real exit potential. They’re vocal about the need for more IPOs and M&A deals to keep Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem thriving. Backed by seasoned general partners, Sukna is on a mission to build a strong and sustainable startup pipeline across the Western Region and beyond. Keep an eye on them for their sharp local insights—and don’t hesitate to ask them directly what they believe makes a startup truly fundable.

Founded by entrepreneurs, Vision Ventures sees startups through a founder’s lens. They jump in at seed or Series A, looking for tech across e-commerce, cloud, mobile, and smart transport. Region-wide, they’re very active—and usually take board seats for a proper hands-on feel. If you want a VC that offers advice as well as cash, they’re worth getting on your shortlist.

Wa’ed Ventures packs serious firepower as Saudi Aramco’s VC arm. They famously led a $30m Series A for Zension Technologies—so scale’s not an issue. Typically targeting consumer tech and electronics, they can step in at Series A but likely dip into other rounds too. Expect thorough diligence and high expectations, but you’ll get unrivalled strategic support and access to Aramco’s massive network.

For startups spinning out of academia, Wadi Jeddah’s where you turn—particularly if you’re building on smart or creative tech. Their “Fund for Audacious Investment” chases high-risk, high-reward ideas, thanks to their tight linkup with King Abdulaziz University. Unique for supporting research commercialisation and early-stage innovation, they set out to invest where others hold back. They’ve put money behind everything from real estate to next-gen campus startups.

However you slice it, Jeddah’s startup ecosystem is firing on all cylinders. With funding rounds getting larger, more Jeddah accelerators coming online, and a growing base of local and regional investors, it’s a founder’s market—at least for those who do their homework. Expect even more action in AI and disruptive tech soon, with rumblings of future GenAI unicorns not just in Riyadh, but right here by the Red Sea. For more, keep an eye on Arageek—it’s where the real VC gossip tends to break first.