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COTU Ventures Launches $54M MENA Startup Investment Fund
The industry-agnostic fund focuses on supporting founders from the inception of their idea through to post-product launch.
COTU Ventures, which stands for Champions of the Underdog, has announced that it has raised $54 million to invest in what it calls “extraordinary founders” in the MENA region.
In a philosophy that explains the firm’s unique name, COTU will help startups at the earliest stages of their journeys, investing at the pre-seed and seed stages, where founders often have difficulty attracting attention from backers.
“I’ve been a part of the regional ecosystem since 2008, and it’s come a long way since then,” explained Amir Farha, founder and GP of COTU Ventures. “Saudi Arabia has opened up internationally, and governments have been driving policies and investment to activate the technology sectors of their local economies. We have a growing young population of tech-savvy, digitally connected consumers with substantial spending power. When you combine this with remarkably low customer acquisition costs and some of the highest revenues per user, there has never been a better and more profitable time to invest in the region than today”.
The fund from COTU is industry-agnostic and instead focuses on identifying and supporting the most talented founders from inception to post-launch. So far, the firm has invested in over 20 early-stage startups, including mortgage platform Huspy, UAE-based ResTech company Supy, and Sirdab, a leading Saudi storage and warehouse management platform.
Also Read: The Cloud Secures $12M For GCC And European Expansion
“Our partnership with COTU Ventures has been a cornerstone of Sirdab’s journey,” enthused Naif Alzahri, the startup’s founder. “Amir and the entire COTU team have contributed a wide array of expertise that has significantly enhanced our strategic, technical, and operational frameworks. Their unique approach to collaboration is rare to find [and the] foundation of trust and mutual understanding not only highlights the extraordinary nature of our relationship with COTU but also makes us eternally grateful for their support”.
COTU’s distinctive approach is rooted in the conviction that an individual’s early years serve as a barometer for their potential success as an entrepreneur. The firm believes there is a profound impact from decisions made during a startup’s infancy, and to that end equips founders with valuable resources, perspectives, and connections to better navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
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