Raed Ventures Is Betting Big on Tech and AI to Power Saudi Startups
Raed Ventures, one of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering VC firms, is doubling down on early- and mid-stage tech startups and embedding AI as a strategic advantage, positioning its portfolio for sustainable growth in the Kingdom’s evolving ecosystem.
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At SuperReturn, the energy was unmistakable. For Husain Fekri, head of investor relations at Raed Ventures, the event was more than networking — it was a pulse check on the Kingdom’s venture ecosystem. SuperReturn brought together GPs, limited partners, and key ecosystem players across asset classes, offering insights into who’s investing where and where strategic directions are headed.
Raed Ventures itself is one of Saudi Arabia’s venture “OGs.” Founded in 2016 as one of the Kingdom’s first privately owned VC funds, the firm has spent over a decade backing early- and mid-stage tech startups across the region. With three funds under its belt, Raed Ventures has invested in over 60 portfolio companies, generating exceptional returns while carefully doubling down on the startups that have reached critical inflection points. DPI’s exits and IPO stories underscore the firm’s ability to spot and nurture scalable winners.
Looking ahead, Raed Ventures sees technology — and especially artificial intelligence — as central to sustaining competitive advantage. Fekri emphasizes that adopting AI is not enough; it must be embedded deeply within a startup’s business model. For the firm, AI isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a defensive play, designed to strengthen a company’s “moat” and propel it to the next level.
As Raed Ventures moves into 2026 and beyond, its strategy is clear: invest early, double down on proven successes, and ensure AI becomes a core component of each portfolio company’s growth story. For a firm that helped define Saudi VC’s first decade, the next chapter is about cementing its legacy in tech and innovation while preparing startups for the future of competition.
At SuperReturn, the energy was unmistakable. For Husain Fekri, head of investor relations at Raed Ventures, the event was more than networking — it was a pulse check on the Kingdom’s venture ecosystem. SuperReturn brought together GPs, limited partners, and key ecosystem players across asset classes, offering insights into who’s investing where and where strategic directions are headed.
Raed Ventures itself is one of Saudi Arabia’s venture “OGs.” Founded in 2016 as one of the Kingdom’s first privately owned VC funds, the firm has spent over a decade backing early- and mid-stage tech startups across the region. With three funds under its belt, Raed Ventures has invested in over 60 portfolio companies, generating exceptional returns while carefully doubling down on the startups that have reached critical inflection points. DPI’s exits and IPO stories underscore the firm’s ability to spot and nurture scalable winners.
Looking ahead, Raed Ventures sees technology — and especially artificial intelligence — as central to sustaining competitive advantage. Fekri emphasizes that adopting AI is not enough; it must be embedded deeply within a startup’s business model. For the firm, AI isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a defensive play, designed to strengthen a company’s “moat” and propel it to the next level.
