VC React Podcast (E22): New Funding Tends for 2025 In MENA's PropTech, FinTech, AgriTech & AI AdTech

VC React Podcast:

Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. Stay tuned for: expert analysis, independent opinions, and maybe some heated conversations!

Hosts:

• Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur.
  Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on https://www.vcpreneur.com/

• Jamie Lane, FWDstart.
  Sign up to FWDstart Newsletter on https://www.fwdstart.me/

Available on:

• Youtube: VC React Podcast

• Spotify: VC React Podcast

• Apple: VC React Podcast

• Amazon: VC React Podcast

Guests:

1. Andrea Azzolari, Senior Associate @ Plug & Play - Saudi
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaazzolari/  
- VC Firm Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/  

2. Ayat Al-Sabbag, Investment Principal @ Suhail Ventures
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayat-sabbagh/  
- VC Firm Website: https://suhail.vc/  

3. Julien Plouzeau, Senior Partner @ Oraseya Capital
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienplouzeau/  
- Company Website: https://www.oraseyacapital.com/

In Today's Episode:

News of the week brought to you by FWDstart:

• Saudi rent now, pay later firm Rize closes $35m in equity and debt funding

  Summary: Saudi Arabia-based proptech Rize has closed a Series A investment round worth $35 million in a mix of equity and debt. The round was led by Raed Ventures, with participation from SEEDRA Ventures through its second fund as well as Aqar Platform, JOA Capital, NAMA Ventures, and HALA Ventures. Founded in 2021 by Ibrahim Balilah and Mohammed AlFraihi, Rize adopts the rent-now-pay-later model, which allows tenants to pay their rent in flexible monthly installments. Rize aims to use this investment to accelerate its growth rate, and continue offering tech solutions that meet the needs of tenants and property owners. In February 2024, Rize closed its Seed round at $2.9 million, led by Seedra Ventures, Hala Ventures, JOA Capital, and RZM Investments, along with other investors.

• MoneyHash, which provides single access to payment services in MENA, banks $5.2M

  Summary: US-based Egyptian fintech MoneyHash has secured $5.2 million in pre-Series A funding. The round is led by Flourish Ventures, along with Vision Ventures, Arab Bank's Xelerate, and Emurgo Kepple Ventures, with participation from Jason Gardner and existing investors, including COTU, RZM Investment, and Github founder Tom Preston-Werner. Founded in late 2020 by Nader Abdelrazik, Mustafa Eid and Anisha Sekar, MoneyHash is a payment orchestration that offers a comprehensive payment operating system as a service to address the various technological and product challenges faced by enterprise merchants. The newly acquired capital will be deployed to accelerate MoneyHash's market penetration in the MEA region. In early 2024, MoneyHash closed a $4.5 million Seed round, co-led by COTU Ventures and Sukna Ventures with others.

• Saudi agritech Arable closes $2.55 million Seed round

  Summary: Saudi Arabia-based agritech Arable has closed a $2.55 million Seed funding round, led by undisclosed investors. Founded in 2024 by Lawrence Ong and Christina Khalife, ARABLE creates hydroponic farms for vegetable production that are cost-effective and locally adjusted to the desert climate. Unlike many hydroponic technologies imported from the West—where conditions such as low sunlight and moderate temperatures are drastically different—Arable’s systems are engineered to thrive in the arid, high-temperature environment of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. Arable’s innovative approach allows facilities to be set up 4x faster, 4x cheaper, and operate at 2.5x lower cost compared to existing hydroponic solutions in the region. Additionally, 80% of the system’s components can be sourced or manufactured locally within the Kingdom, significantly reducing dependency on foreign equipment and expertise.

• Halo AI closes $6 million Seed led by Raed Ventures, Shorooq

  Summary: Saudi Arabia-based AI-powered networking platform Halo AI closed a $6 million Seed funding round, led by Raed Ventures and Shorooq, along with other investors. Founded in 2024 by Vito Strokov, Rami Saad, and Alex Gadalin, Halo uses AI to connect brands with nano- and micro-influencers who have audience relationships in specific niches. The investment will fuel Halo AI's global expansion beyond its launch in Saudi Arabia, with immediate plans for Dubai and Kuwait, followed by rapid scaling across MENA, Europe, and North America.

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