Khwarizmi Ventures has $70M+ to back GCC startups.

If you're building a startup in the GCC and raising a Seed or Series A round, there is another investor you should probably have on your radar.

Saudi Arabia-based Khwarizmi Ventures has launched Fund II and completed a first close exceeding SAR 270 million, or more than $70 million.

The fund is targeting technology and tech-enabled startups across the GCC, with initial investments ranging from $1 million to $5 million.

And this isn't a fund that's waiting to start investing. Khwarizmi Ventures says it is actively deploying capital and welcomes conversations with founders building across the region.

What does Khwarizmi Ventures Fund II invest in?

Fund II is designed for Seed through Series A technology and tech-enabled companies operating across the GCC.

Khwarizmi Ventures remains sector-agnostic rather than restricting the fund to a single vertical.

However, the firm has highlighted particular interest in areas including fintech, consumer and e-commerce technology, and AI applications.

That means this isn't an AI-only or fintech-only fund.

If you're building outside those categories, that alone shouldn't rule you out.

The more important filters are your stage, technology orientation, GCC relevance and potential to build a high-growth company.

How much can Khwarizmi Ventures invest?

This makes Fund II particularly relevant to founders whose current round is large enough to require institutional venture capital rather than a smaller angel or pre-seed cheque.

If you're raising a $200,000 pre-seed round, for example, the stated Fund II cheque range suggests this probably isn't the obvious fit.

If you're raising several million dollars at Seed or Series A, the numbers start lining up much more clearly.

Saudi founders should pay particular attention.

Fund II has a GCC-wide mandate, but Saudi Arabia is particularly important.

Saudi Venture Capital invested in Khwarizmi Venture Capital Fund II, and according to the announcement, at least 50% of the fund's capital will be allocated to startups based in Saudi Arabia.

That's a meaningful detail for founders building in the Kingdom.

Khwarizmi isn't simply a regional VC that happens to operate from Riyadh. A substantial portion of Fund II's capital is specifically intended for Saudi-based companies.

The first close also included commitments from institutional investors and leading Saudi family offices.

Khwarizmi already has serious GCC names in its portfolio.

This isn't Khwarizmi's first fund.

Its previous investments include companies such as:

The firm's first fund backed more than 30 startups and produced multiple exits within its first five years.

That track record matters because founders should evaluate more than the size of a VC's cheque.

You also want to understand whether the investor has experience helping companies navigate the market you're trying to win.

What does Khwarizmi offer beyond capital?

According to the firm, its involvement doesn't stop after writing the cheque.

Khwarizmi works with portfolio companies across areas including:

• Business development and strategic introductions
• Talent acquisition and senior hiring
• Follow-on fundraising
• Expansion into Saudi Arabia
• Access to equity and debt capital
• Connections across the GCC startup ecosystem

Does your startup fit Fund II?

Start with these four questions.

What should founders show Khwarizmi?

Khwarizmi doesn't publish a simple public scoring rubric for Fund II. But its investment mandate gives founders a useful starting point.

Why this market?

Show the size and urgency of the problem you're solving in the GCC.

Why now?

Explain what has changed in technology, regulation, customer behaviour or the market that creates the opportunity.

Why you?

Demonstrate why your founding team has a particular advantage in solving this problem.

What's working already?

At Seed and Series A, evidence matters. Show customers, revenue, usage, retention, pilots, contracts or whatever represents meaningful validation for your business.

What does this round unlock?

Don't just say you're raising $3 million.

Show what becomes true after deploying that $3 million.

That might mean reaching a specific revenue milestone, entering Saudi Arabia, securing regulatory approval, building a sales organisation or reaching the metrics required for your next institutional round.

How to pitch Khwarizmi Ventures

Khwarizmi Ventures currently accepts founder submissions through its website.

Founders can provide information about their company and funding round and submit their pitch deck for consideration.

Don't treat the submission form as a reason to send a generic deck.

Before submitting, make sure an investor can understand the following within the first few slides:

• Problem
• Market opportunity
• Product
• Traction
• Business model
• Why now
• Founding team
• Fundraising ask
• Use of funds and next milestone

Khwarizmi Ventures · Fund II

Raising a Seed or Series A round in the GCC?

If your startup fits Khwarizmi's mandate, you can submit your company and pitch deck directly to the investment team.

Submit Your Pitch →

The bigger signal for GCC founders.

The $70M+ first close is interesting.

But there's a bigger story here.

Khwarizmi raised capital from institutional investors and Saudi family offices. Saudi Venture Capital subsequently invested in Fund II, and at least half of the fund's capital is intended for Saudi-based startups.

For founders, that means another substantial pool of institutional capital is actively looking for Seed and Series A technology companies in the region.

Frequently asked questions