Abu Dhabi-Based Access Bridge Ventures Launches With US$25 Million Fund To Support Early-Stage Startups

Abu Dhabi-based Access Bridge Ventures has launched a new fund with a capital of $25 million aimed at supporting early-stage startups in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

This fund is designed to provide vital financial resources to emerging companies in their formative stages, helping them scale and grow within the region's rapidly evolving startup ecosystem.

The $25 million fund will focus on investing in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce. The goal is to nurture the growth of these startups by providing not just financial support but also strategic guidance and access to a broad network of industry experts and partners.

This initiative comes at a time when the MENA region is witnessing increased entrepreneurial activity, with many new ventures emerging to capitalize on the region's economic growth and digital transformation. Access Bridge Ventures' new fund aims to play a crucial role in fostering this growth by enabling early-stage companies to thrive and expand their operations both locally and internationally.

The MENA startup ecosystem has seen significant growth in recent years, with a noticeable rise in entrepreneurship and funding driven by both opportunity and necessity, says Aghabi.

He highlights that the MENA region continues to be an attractive destination for venture capital investment due to its large, youthful population—over 40% of which is under 25—along with strong growth prospects and an increasingly supportive regulatory environment.
 
However, challenges remain, particularly in securing the "missing middle" of investment between seed and early-stage funding. Many startups struggle to survive due to this funding gap, with some founders taking six months to a year to secure pre-seed or seed funding.

Aghabi also points out a growing trend of international investors from both East and West showing interest in the region, making up about 25% of the funding base in 2019.

 Additionally, regional sovereign wealth funds are increasingly investing locally, and family offices and corporations are now more actively involved in funding existing startups and venture funds—a shift from the practices of just a few years ago.