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Navigating the AI Revolution: Strategic Investments in MENA

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 24, 2025

Emergence of AI as a Boardroom Priority

In recent years, artificial intelligence has transcended buzzword status to become a strategic focus for investors and startups across the Middle East and North Africa. With AI venture funding reaching $224 million in 2024—a 66% year-over-year increase that now accounts for 12% of all VC dollars—the region is witnessing a dramatic shift in how technology is leveraged for growth.

Early-Stage Trends And Investment Challenges

Muhammad Zeeshan Hassan, Chief Investment Officer at Wa’ed Ventures, notes that before ChatGPT captured public attention, the regional landscape was fragmented. Today, nearly one in three startups in the investment pipeline identifies as an AI company. Although this surge in interest bodes well for fundraising potential, it also poses a challenge for investors striving to discern genuinely innovative ventures from those riding the hype wave.

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Despite this promising momentum, the MENA region still faces a scarcity of later-stage AI companies. The majority of deals—93% between 2022 and 2024—occur at the seed stage due to limited funding capacity. As investors have expressed, while there is a clear appetite for established AI models, capital constraints force a focus on early-stage opportunities, particularly in sectors like fintech where differentiation is key in a saturated market.

Bridging The Technical Knowledge Gap

A notable challenge in the region is the technical illiteracy among many venture capitalists. Unlike investors in Silicon Valley, who often have deep technical expertise or entrepreneurial experience, many MENA funds maintain a generalist approach. This mismatch in evaluating AI innovations can lead to missed opportunities and suboptimal capital deployment. To counter this, Wa’ed Ventures, backed by Aramco, has assembled a panel of global AI experts, ensuring that investments are guided by a robust technical understanding.

Localizing Innovation For Long-Term Impact

The strategic launch of a $100 million AI fund by Wa’ed in 2023 underscores the importance of localizing core technological capabilities within Saudi Arabia. Investments in companies such as chipmaker Rebellions, the compute platform aiXplain, and regional innovators like Elevatus and Intella demonstrate a commitment to building sustainable infrastructure far beyond mere application. As Hassan articulates, the focus is on foundational enablers—compute power, chip technology, and agentic platforms—that will drive enduring value in the region.

A Cautious But Visionary Outlook

While the current landscape is marked by robust enthusiasm, industry leaders remain pragmatic. Founders are urged to align valuation expectations realistically, especially in an environment distinct from Silicon Valley’s high-octane ecosystem. Encouragingly, regional policymakers have shown positive engagement, and initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, along with partnerships involving global chipmakers such as NVIDIA and AMD, signal a forward-looking commitment to overcoming talent and infrastructure challenges.

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Elevating Infant Nutrition: Nara Organics Unveils Premium Organic Formula

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 30, 2025

The Origins Of A Vision

When Esther Hallam welcomed her daughter Nara into the world, she immediately confronted a formidable challenge: identifying a trustworthy, high-quality organic infant formula. In a U.S. market dominated by cost-cutting practices—such as the use of skim milk supplemented with oils to meet nutritional standards—Hallam observed a disconnect between established availability and uncompromised quality. Research linking corn syrup to obesity and palm oil to reduced calcium absorption only reinforced her resolve to seek a safer alternative.

Redefining Industry Standards

Frustrated by the limitations of existing options, Hallam devoted seven years to developing an organic, whole-milk formula with the expertise of leading scientists and pediatric nutritionists. Nara Organics distinguishes itself by offering the highest percentage of milk fat of any formula on the U.S. market and a significantly reduced reliance on plant-based oils. The carefully selected blend of organic sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed oils not only meets nutritional needs but also minimizes potential health risks inherent to additives like palm oil, soy, and corn syrup.

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Manufacturing Excellence In Germany

Rather than manufacturing domestically—a decision influenced by previous concerns over Cronobacter contamination in American facilities—Nara Organics leverages the advanced, oxygen-controlled production environment of a German facility, widely regarded as the birthplace of powdered infant formula. Chief Marketing Officer Meika Hollender detailed that their unique manufacturing process, which minimizes oxygen exposure during can sealing, substantially extends shelf life and preserves formula integrity, setting a new standard in infant nutrition.

Strategic Investment And Market Impact

Backed by $32 million from prominent investors including AlleyCorp, BBG Ventures, Corazon Ventures, Gingerbread Capital, and Torch Capital, Nara Organics has also garnered support from high-profile celebrity investors such as Serena Williams, Gina Rodriguez, and Nicky Hilton. This robust investment positions the company at the vanguard of an organic infant formula market projected to grow from $20.7 billion in 2023 to $37 billion by 2032.

Enhancing Consumer Accessibility And Community Commitment

Nara Organics is available for purchase directly via its website, subscription models, and a dedicated mobile app that assists parents in tracking essential aspects of infant care. To underscore its commitment to community well-being, the company is donating over 1,400 cans of formula to the Good+ Foundation, which strives to alleviate multi-generational poverty by providing essential services to under-resourced families.

By merging state-of-the-art production with a commitment to organic, high-quality ingredients, Nara Organics is poised to redefine the benchmarks of infant nutrition in a competitive, evolving market.