INFOGRAPHIC: Startup Funding in Africa and the Middle East

Investor confidence has been rising across the Middle East and Africa in recent weeks, but this week tells a different story. While Middle Eastern startups continue to secure massive funding rounds, Africa seems to be hitting a temporary slowdown.

Leading the charge across the region is Dubai-based healthcare fintech KLAIM, which landed a whopping $26 million—$10 million in Series A equity and $16 million in debt financing. The round, led by Saudi-based Mad’a Investment and joined by CDG Invest, is set to fuel KLAIM’s expansion across the GCC, reinforcing the region’s growing fintech dominance.

Meanwhile, deep tech is having a moment in Israel. Quantum computing firm QuamCore secured $9 million in Seed Funding from Viola Ventures and Earth & Beyond Ventures, marking another big step toward the future of scalable quantum computing.

The wellness industry isn’t left out either. UAE-based Longevity Wellness Hub pulled in $4 million from undisclosed investors to accelerate its ambitious GCC expansion strategy.

Beyond healthcare and deep tech, other sectors like fashion and e-commerce, proptech and automotive fintech also saw investment activity.

For instance, fashion startup Aya got $1.6 million in a Seed round led by Saudi-based Khwarizmi Ventures, alongside Turki Alrajhi, Raed Ventures and others to expand its product offerings and market reach, proving that the region’s appetite for online shopping isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Proptech startup Ajras also closed a $1.5 million pre-Series A round, led by Veda Holding, to refine its rent payment solutions while, Kuwait’s Motery, a digital car-buying and financing platform, raised an undisclosed Seed round at an $8 million valuation to expand its footprint.

Africa, on the other hand, saw fewer blockbuster funding rounds this week, though AI remained a bright spot. Egyptian AI startup Widebot raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding to build an Arabic large language model (LLM)—a clear sign that investors see huge potential in localized AI solutions. Heavyweights like Keheilan Asset Management II, Enza Capital, and LoftyInc Capital backed the round, betting big on AI innovation in Arabic-speaking markets.

In North Africa, Moroccan superapp ORA Technologies closed a $1.9 million pre-Series A round, led by Witamax and Azur Innovation Fund. The cash injection will boost its food delivery services and digital payment solutions, further positioning it as a regional player.

This week, Middle Eastern startups stole the spotlight, while Africa saw a funding dip. Is it just a momentary setback or an early sign of shifting investor sentiment? With fintech, AI, and e-commerce still attracting strong interest, the next few weeks will determine whether Africa regains its momentum—or if the funding gap continues to widen.