Top Startup Investors in Manama

Manama has slowly but surely turned into one of the Gulf’s most promising startup hotspots, especially for anyone with a taste for fintech, e-commerce, or just doing things differently. If you’re a founder, you already know that finding the right VC partner can be the difference between a blazing unicorn and a very steep learning curve.

Access to capital—be it from seasoned angel investors or heavyweight fund managers—remains a serious hurdle. So, here’s a no-nonsense, alphabetical list of active venture capital firms backing early-stage startups in Bahrain’s capital, with a hat tip to Arageek for putting some of these players on our radar.

500 Global’s Sanabil Accelerator brings Silicon Valley energy to MENA, giving Bahrain’s ambitious tech founders a way into fast-tracked growth. Their three-month programme is hands-on, mixing growth hacks with mentoring, a solid cap table pep talk, and enough networking to boost your next funding round. For anyone thinking big and prepping a pitch deck, this one’s worth a look—especially if you want your startup plugged into a top global network.

Al Waha Fund of Funds made headlines as the region’s first proper fund-of-funds, spinning a hefty $100 million into local and regional VCs. Managed by Bahrain Development Bank, it doesn’t invest directly in startups but backs the funds that do—so if you see an extra pool of cash in a Bahraini accelerator, this is likely why. Thanks to support from heavyweights like Mumtalakat and National Bank of Bahrain, local tech entrepreneurs are getting fewer excuses to complain about fundraising.

Launched by the family behind many of Bahrain’s traditional business successes, Al Zayani Venture Capital brings old money and new ideas together. Since 2021, they’ve taken a shine to startups shaking up how people live, buy, and work, aiming to back disruptive tech and standout founders. They’re especially keen on ventures not afraid to challenge the status quo in Bahrain or across neighbouring markets.

One of the more active names for Bahrain tech, Angivest Ventures is all about early-stage bets on promising startups ready to shake up markets. They combine seed or Series A funding with a hands-on approach and don’t mind rolling up their sleeves alongside founders. Their portfolio covers everything from fintech to digital health—so if you’re building in these spaces, Angivest is an address worth getting on your shortlist.

Faith Capital’s approach is tailored for founders behind digital marketplaces. With at least one solid Bahraini investment on record, they still keep things fairly under the radar. Their VC arm gets extra credibility from Mohammed AlMunifi, who’s been seen judging at local pitch events. If you’re building the next big thing in commerce or platforms, they’re a name to add to your next warm intro list.

If you’re just setting up shop and need a foot in the door, Flat6Labs Bahrain is where many local founders in Manama begin their journey. Best known for its accelerator program, the hub offers hands-on mentorship combined with essential seed funding—just enough to get your MVP off the ground. Flat6Labs keeps Manama’s startup scene thriving by supporting early-stage teams and preparing them for larger rounds of VC investment down the line.

Hope Ventures is one of Bahrain’s more visible names for marketplace, e-commerce, and consumer startups. They don’t just write cheques—they try to hand founders the right tools, networks, and genuinely useful resources. Although relatively young, they’ve already made a mark with investments in marketplace apps and specialist consumer services, backing pitches that cross borders into Oman and the UAE too.

Part of a global venture capital group with roots in China, MSA Capital has added Bahrain to its wider MENA focus. Info about their local deals is thin, but they’re on every serious list of Bahrain VCs. If you’re after funding for a tech-driven or scalable venture and want a talking point on your cap table, it’s worth keeping MSA on your radar as a strategic door-opener.

Shorooq Partners pop up on most lists of regionally active VCs, including Manama. While you won’t find pages of detail about their Bahrain portfolio, Shorooq has a rep for backing bold founders and ventures with cross-border promise. If you’re looking for a Series A or later-stage funding round, it’s worth seeing if your pitch aligns with what they’ve supported elsewhere in the region.

Bahrain’s original angel investor company, Tenmou was the country’s first to get serious about betting early on founders. Even now, they’re referenced in any discussion about the Manama startup ecosystem. With at least one live marketplace investment, they still play a useful first-cheque role for new founders getting started with their first cap table.

Bahrain’s venture scene has grown up—there are now more routes than ever for founders with grit, from pre-seed to Series A and beyond. Whether you’re updating your term sheet, dreaming up a fresh cap table, or just on the lookout for your next accelerator, don’t forget: there’s no shortcut to building something real but plenty of smart capital waiting to back the builders. As always, do your homework, check who’s partnered with who, and remember—even one spelling mistake is forgivable when you’re hustling to put Bahrain on the startup map.