Founders building technology companies across the Middle East, Africa and other emerging markets can submit their startup directly to Global Ventures, a UAE-based venture capital firm investing in technology-enabled companies with the potential to scale internationally.

Global Ventures reports approximately $400 million in assets under management, more than 70 portfolio companies and investments across 12 markets.

Its portfolio includes companies working in payments, healthcare, enterprise software, e-commerce, digital infrastructure, logistics and other sectors considered important to the future of emerging economies.

Unlike a grant programme, Global Ventures provides venture investment. Founders receiving capital should expect equity and investment terms to be negotiated as part of the financing round.

What Is Global Ventures?

Global Ventures was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.

The firm describes its investment philosophy as backing “global-first” founders, particularly entrepreneurs building from markets with significant untapped economic potential.

Although deeply rooted in the Middle East and Africa, Global Ventures is not limited to startups serving one domestic market.

It looks for companies capable of taking locally relevant solutions into multiple countries and eventually competing internationally.

The firm combines investment capital with market knowledge, corporate relationships and operational support intended to help portfolio companies expand across the region and beyond.

Which Sectors Does Global Ventures Invest In?

Global Ventures focuses particularly on what it describes as consequential sectors.

These include:

• Fintech and financial inclusion;
• Healthtech and healthcare;
• Edtech and the future of work;
• Agritech and food systems;
• Enterprise SaaS;
• Digital infrastructure;
• Other technology-enabled businesses addressing major economic needs.

The firm’s portfolio demonstrates the breadth of this strategy.

For example, Paymob provides digital-payment infrastructure, Yodawy operates in digital health and pharmacy services, while Arrow Labs provides enterprise software for field-workforce management.

What Stage Does Global Ventures Invest At?

Global Ventures works with growth-oriented technology companies across emerging markets.

Its current portfolio includes businesses at different stages, including Series A and Series B companies.

The firm’s newest messaging particularly emphasises founders who have established traction and want to scale across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Global Ventures does not currently publish one universal minimum revenue requirement or one standard cheque size for every direct investment on its public website.

Founders should therefore avoid inventing an investment range based on old third-party databases.

The amount invested depends on the company, stage, financing round and fund strategy.

Which Markets Does the Firm Cover?

Global Ventures has built its reputation primarily around the Middle East and Africa.

Its portfolio includes founders in markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and African technology ecosystems.

The firm argues that emerging markets can produce technology businesses with global advantages because founders often need to solve fragmented infrastructure, financial access and other difficult structural problems from the beginning.

For African founders, this means a startup does not need to relocate entirely to Dubai merely to be relevant.

However, the company should ideally have a credible connection with the markets Global Ventures understands and supports.

What Does Global Ventures Look for in Founders?

The firm’s own writing on emerging-market investing emphasises the importance of exceptional founding teams.

Operating in markets with regulatory complexity, fragmented infrastructure and rapidly changing customer behaviour can require significant resilience and adaptability.

A strong founder should therefore demonstrate:

• Deep understanding of the local market;
• Ability to execute despite complexity;
• Strong leadership;
• A scalable technology product;
• Evidence of customer demand;
• Ambition beyond one small market.

The best applications should combine local insight with international ambition.

What Should Be in Your Pitch Deck?

Your deck should explain the business quickly.

Include:

• Problem;
• Product;
• Target customers;
• Market opportunity;
• Revenue model;
• Traction;
• Key operating metrics;
• Competition;
• Expansion plan;
• Founding team;
• Current fundraising round;
• Use of capital.

If the startup already generates revenue, provide actual figures rather than vague statements such as “fast growing.”

Investors will want to understand revenue growth, customer retention, unit economics and how expansion into additional markets affects the business.

How Important Is Regional Expansion?

Very important.

Global Ventures’ central positioning is around companies capable of scaling beyond one local market.

A founder should therefore explain why the company’s product can travel.

For example, if a Nigerian fintech company wants to expand into the Gulf, it should address regulatory differences, customer behaviour, banking integrations and partnerships rather than treating regional expansion as simply opening another office.

Likewise, a UAE healthtech company expanding into Africa should demonstrate that its model can work within different healthcare and payment systems.

Global-First Accelerator

Global Ventures also currently operates a Global-First Accelerator with Companies Creating Change.

This is separate from the firm’s ordinary venture investment process.

The seven-week accelerator targets Europe-based Series A startups with proven product-market fit that are ready for international expansion.

Its focus includes agriculture, financial inclusion, healthcare, future of work and digital infrastructure.

Founders should not confuse the accelerator eligibility criteria with Global Ventures’ overall venture-capital strategy.

How to Apply for Global Ventures Funding

One helpful feature is that Global Ventures provides a direct founder submission route.

Its official contact page includes a Submit Pitch Deck option for startups looking to scale.

There is no publicly listed annual application deadline for direct venture investment.

Founders can therefore submit according to their fundraising timeline.

Submit your pitch deck to Global Ventures

Because the firm receives startup opportunities across several markets, founders should make the first communication concise and relevant.

State the location, sector, financing stage, current traction and amount being raised before expecting the investment team to study a long presentation.

For high-growth businesses emerging from the Middle East and Africa, Global Ventures offers a potentially useful combination of capital and the cross-border network required to turn regional traction into international expansion.