COTU Ventures
Venture capitalPre-Seed–Growth · 6 people tracked
Investment thesis
COTU Ventures positions itself as the 'Champions of the Underdog,' focused on empowering exceptional founders across the Middle East and North Africa by providing their first check. The firm backs early-stage companies solving significant regional challenges, spanning sectors such as proptech, fintech, AI-driven B2B distribution, and labor/workforce solutions, as reflected in its portfolio of companies serving MENA markets.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 33 of 42 portfolio companiesSaaS ×18Fintech ×9AI & Machine Learning ×8Logistics & Supply Chain ×7Enterprise Software ×6Marketplaces ×5B2B Marketplaces ×4EdTech ×4
HQs:United Arab Emirates×11Saudi Arabia×4United States×3Egypt×2United Kingdom×1Türkiye×1
Investments · 42 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12022 · 12 dated
Marti is a Turkish mobility platform offering ride hailing and shared micromobility services (e-mopeds, e-bikes, e-scooters) powered by proprietary software and IoT infrastructure.
B2B MarketplacesIoTMobility & TransportationIstanbul, TR
Co-investorsAdapt VenturesAlleyCorpEBRD Venture Capital Investment ProgrammePartners for GrowthPartners for Growth (PFG)Wamda Capital+1 more
Swvl operates a mobility platform for managing, tracking, and optimizing transit and fleet operations, offering a Rider App, Captain App, Admin Dashboard, and Partner Portal.
Logistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationSaaS
Co-investorsCapria VenturesCedar Mundi VenturesDASH VenturesSawari VenturesVNV GlobalArzan VC+4 more
AdalFi provides AI-driven credit scoring and underwriting models that analyze deposit account transaction and behavioral data to assess overlooked consumer and SME borrowers, including thin-file and new-to-credit prospects.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS
Co-investorsAmaana CapitalFatima Gobi VenturesGobi Partners
Aydi builds agronomic software including ORTH, an AI assistant that learns a farm's land, crops, and weather to answer questions on pest detection and compliance, and a platform that unifies labor, inputs, and results into one system.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningSaaS
Co-investorsFoundation Ventures
Careem operates a super app offering ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery (Quik), and related everyday services to consumers.
ConsumerLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationDubai, AE
Karl Magnus Olsson(Founder)in
Co-investorsCedar Mundi VenturesCoatue ManagementDCM VenturesIris CapitalLumia CapitalRakuten Capital+3 more
Cercli is an AI-powered payroll and compliance platform designed for multi-entity, multi-country teams.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSDubai, AE
Akeed Azmi(Founder)inDavid Reche(Founder)in
Co-investorsPICUS CAPITALY CombinatorAfore CapitalKnollwood Investment Advisory
Co-investorsWamda Capital
Co-investorsGhaf Capital PartnersStrategxy Ventures LLC
DataCamp is a learning platform for teams that teaches data and AI skills through hands-on coursework accessible via web browser and mobile app.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEdTechNew York City, US
Jonathan Cornelissen(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inDieter de Mesmaeker(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Martijn Theuwissen(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Co-investorsSpectrum EquityTechstarsAccompliceArthur Ventures
Duplays organizes recreational and amateur sports leagues, games, and events, connecting people who want to play team and individual sports.
ConsumerMarketplacesSports TechDubai, AE
Englease is an online English-language learning platform offering live and on-demand classes, practice tools, training videos, and conversation clubs, with CPD (UK)-accredited certificates upon completing each level.
EdTechSaaS
Omar Sheehan(Founder)Omar Chihane
Co-investors500 GlobalBY Venture PartnersSalica InvestmentsWamda CapitalDubai Angel InvestorsLearnStart
Fresha is a booking platform and business management software for salons, barbershops, medspas, and wellness studios, letting consumers discover and book beauty and self-care appointments while providing businesses with online booking, payments, reminders, and consultation forms.
MarketplacesSaaSWellness & Fitness
William Zeqiri(Founder)inNick Miller(Founder)in
Co-investorsBECO CapitalEQ2 VenturesMiddle East Venture Partners (MEVP)Target Global
GoAudience is an AI-powered analytics and marketing platform for ecommerce brands that consolidates customer data from Shopify, Klaviyo, Meta, and TikTok to provide actionable insights and automatically sync marketing decisions across channels.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningE-commerceMarketing TechNew York City, US
Co-investorsTechstars
Huspy is a real estate technology platform that digitizes the home-buying process, providing access to mortgage products, properties, and related services like furniture and property management.
B2B MarketplacesFintechPropTechDubai, AE
Jad Antoun(CEO & Co-founder)inKhalid Ashmawy(Founder)
Co-investorsBalderton CapitalFifth WallFounders FundSequoia CapitalBreyer CapitalBY Venture Partners+6 more
Kingpin is an AI-powered sales agency for consumer brands that finds new retail buyers, runs multi-language email outreach from the brand's own inbox, digitises catalogues and line sheets, and captures orders across channels.
AI & Machine LearningRetail TechSales Tech
Co-investorsInfinity VenturesOutliers VCMu VenturesRed Swan Ventures
Kitopi operates and manages a network of over 200 restaurants and delivery-only kitchens across the Middle East, running homegrown food brands supported by its in-house Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS) that manages kitchen operations.
B2B MarketplacesFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Co-investorsMSA NovoNext Legacy PartnersNordstarReshapeSoftBank Vision FundVentureSouq+4 more
MaxAB operates a B2B e-commerce and supply chain platform connecting food and grocery retailers with suppliers, offering more than 3,000 SKUs alongside embedded finance products such as bill payments and credit.
B2B MarketplacesFintechLogistics & Supply ChainRetail Tech
Omar El-Ghazaly(Founder)inMohamed Ben Halim(Founder)inBelal EL-MegharbelMohamed Ben Halim
Co-investors4DX Ventures500 Global
Mayple provides proprietary global supply chain and cross-border e-commerce logistics solutions that integrate with Shopify and ERP systems to enable direct-to-consumer fulfillment without borders.
E-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Ammar Moiz(Founder)in
Co-investorsAlpaca VCCorigin VenturesInfinity VenturesOverton Venture Capital
MoneyHash provides a payment orchestration platform that lets businesses integrate multiple payment methods—cards, cash, wallets, BNPL, bank accounts, and crypto—customize checkout experiences, and localize payments by market.
FintechSaaS
Nader Abdelrazik(Founder)in
Co-investorsFirstCheck AfricaLoftyInc CapitalNuwa CapitalPreston-Werner VenturesTofino CapitalVentureSouq+5 more
Saudi proptech company that raised an $11.7 million Series A.
Nisfak is a matchmaking service that connects people with a compatible partner and measures compatibility through a privacy-focused, questionnaire-based process that avoids sharing photos or full names before direct contact.
ConsumerSocial
PropertyFinder is an online marketplace and mobile app for buying, selling, and renting residential and commercial properties in the United Arab Emirates.
MarketplacesPropTechDubai, AE
Co-investorsFrancisco PartnersVNV GlobalBECO Capital
Proximie provides a cloud-based operating system for connected operating rooms, giving medtech companies and hospitals real-time OR connectivity, structured surgical data, and AI-driven insights.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthMedical DevicesSaaSAltrincham
Nadine Haram(Director)Jonathan Lim(Director)inScott Huennekens(Director)Nadine Hachach-Haram(Founder)
BoardMohammed Shahzad Ahmed Malik(Director)
Co-investorsAdvent Life SciencesCapria VenturesCedar Mundi VenturesDraper AssociatesF-Prime CapitalQuesta Capital+2 more
Co-investorsBDev VenturesColle Capital PartnersSalica Investments
Rekaz is a booking and subscription management platform for service-based small businesses, providing a website to showcase services, online payments, WhatsApp integration, invoicing, and performance dashboards.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechRetail TechSaaS
Co-investorsShorooq PartnersImpact46
RemotePass is a platform for managing HR, payroll, and spend across a company's global and local workforce, including contractors, employer-of-record (EOR) employees, and direct hires.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaS
Kamal Reggad
Co-investorsA15EBRD Venture Capital Investment ProgrammeFlyer One VenturesKhwarizmi VenturesWamda Capital500 Global+1 more
The Middle East's first online car trading marketplace, offering a fast and hassle-free way to sell a used car; positioned as the region's leading used car marketplace and the largest car buyer in the UAE.
Co-investorsiMENA Group
Sirdab provides logistics and warehouse management infrastructure for companies across Saudi Arabia, offering storage, inventory management, transportation, and customs clearance through an integrated digital platform.
Enterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSRiyadh, SA
Naif Alzahri(Founder)inAbdulrahman Alnamlah(Founder)in
Co-investorsY CombinatorBECO Capital
William Stanley is a hospitality-only accountancy firm that helps restaurants understand and optimize their financial performance through detailed P&L analysis, inventory controls, and financial training.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechFoodTechSaaSLondon, GB
Dani El-Zein(Founder)Ibrahim Bou Ncoula(Founder)Tom Stanley(Founder)
Co-investorsAMK Investment OfficeCapria VenturesValia Ventures
Syarah is an online marketplace for buying and selling new and used cars in Saudi Arabia, offering inspected used vehicles (200+ point checks), warranties, test drives, home delivery, and financing options.
E-commerceMarketplacesMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsPartners for GrowthPartners for Growth (PFG)RAED VenturesVision VenturesBECO CapitalElm+1 more
Tenderd provides AI-driven fleet and equipment management software for businesses to optimize operations and reduce environmental impact.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareIoTLogistics & Supply ChainDubai, AE
Arjun Mohan(Founder)in
Co-investorsCathexis VenturesDynamo VenturesJam FundY CombinatorACE & CompanyRainfall Ventures
Huntsville, US
Rachael Marie Jackson(Executive Officer, Director)Richard Holloway(Director)Robert Thurber(Director)Lee Dannelly(Executive Officer, Director)David Kingsbury(Executive Officer, Director)Daniel Windham(Director)
Co-investorsAGE CryptoDigital Currency Group
Zenda is a fintech app that lets parents discover, enroll, pay, and track school-related payments—such as tuition, uniforms, activities, trips, transport, and canteen fees—in one place, while offering rewards on payments.
EdTechFintech
Co-investorsVentureSouqSTV
Bayzat is a cloud-based platform that combines HR management, payroll processing, employee benefits, insurance, and finance/spend management in one system for businesses.
HR TechInsurTechSaaSDubai, AE
Tarek Bayaa(Founder)
Co-investorsHub71Kube VCPartners for GrowthPartners for Growth (PFG)Point72 VenturesTech Invest Com+2 more
Exits · 2
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioPortfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
MoneyHash · empowerafrica.com · Aug 20, 2026
Careem · fwdstart.me · Aug 7, 2026
Huspy · uaestartupstory.com · Jul 7, 2026
Marti · stocktitan.net · Jun 29, 2026
SWVL · stocktitan.net · Apr 20, 2026
Kitopi · en.incarabia.com · Feb 5, 2026
Sirdab · extruct.ai · Dec 5, 2025
Kingpin · theaiinsider.tech · Dec 4, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has COTU Ventures made?
- COTU Ventures has 23 tracked investments.
- What stage does COTU Ventures invest at?
- COTU Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What is COTU Ventures's typical check size?
- COTU Ventures typically writes checks of $300K – $37M.
- What sectors does COTU Ventures focus on?
- COTU Ventures focuses on Fintech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Does COTU Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, COTU Ventures leads investment rounds.
- Who does COTU Ventures co-invest with?
- COTU Ventures most often shares deals with Wamda Capital, Cedar Mundi Ventures, Partners for Growth, among 57 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamThe Middle East Is Heating Up: Amir Farha of COTU Ventures Raised $54M To Invest In MENA Startups - YouTube
Foundersuite: Fundraising For Startups · Amir Farha
RCP #6 Raising the largest solo-GP fund in MENA, with Amir Farha [COTU Ventures] - YouTube
The Rally Cap Podcast · Amir Farha
"S5 Ep#4 Investing in people not companies with Amir Farha from COTU Ventures." - YouTube
DUCKLIFE · Amir Farha
Interview with Amir Farha, Founder - COTU Ventures on the sidelines of the Step Conference held in partnership with Dubai Internet City (DIC) | By Government of Dubai Media Office | Facebook
Amir Farha · facebook.com
Images
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