AI and Fintech Startups Across MENA Secure Millions to Scale Productivity, Real Estate, Agri-Tech, and Financial Solutions
Darwinz AI raised $325K seed funding to grow its Riyadh team and advance its AI co-pilot platform for PR and marketing professionals. The startup plans a global launch.

Darwinz AI Secures $325K Seed Funding to Grow Riyadh Team
Saudi Arabia-based startup Darwinz AI, also known as TheDar.AI, has raised $325,000 in seed funding to advance its AI-powered productivity platform for communication professionals. The funding round was led by Flat6Labs and Glint Ventures, signaling confidence in the startup’s potential within the Kingdom.
Founded in Egypt in 2021 by Emad El-Azhary and Mohy Aboualam, TheDar.AI has shifted its headquarters to Riyadh and developed dima, an AI co-pilot for public relations, marketing, and brand management. The platform focuses on automating content workflows and campaign management to improve efficiency.
The fresh capital will support expanding the Riyadh team, speeding up product development, and preparing for a global launch. Co-founder Mohy Aboualam emphasized the company’s dual roots and its ambition to scale globally from Saudi Arabia’s thriving ecosystem.
XFOLIO Raises $2M to Enhance Treasury and Wealth Management
French-Lebanese fintech XFOLIO secured $2 million in seed funding to improve its cloud-based platform that integrates portfolio management with treasury automation. Led by Middle East Venture Partners, this round will help XFOLIO develop AI-powered recommendation tools and enable cross-bank trading.
Founded in 2024 by Anis Rahal, XFOLIO targets financial institutions, family offices, and mid-sized wealth managers, offering a unified view of bankable and non-bankable assets while automating back-office processes.
Prop-AI Raises $1.5M to Drive AI in Real Estate
UAE-based Prop-AI secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to expand its AI-driven real estate intelligence platform. The funding round, led by Plus VC with contributions from regional investors, will support integration of more regional data, enhance AI infrastructure, and launch new enterprise tools.
Founded in 2023 by Ranime El-Skaff and Christian Kunz, Prop-AI automates real estate search, valuation, and investment decision-making, aiming to provide data-driven insights to buyers, investors, and professionals. The startup plans to scale across MENA and Europe.
DisrupTech Ventures Invests in Nigerian Agri-Fintech Winich Farms
Cairo-based DisrupTech Ventures made its first Sub-Saharan Africa investment by backing Winich Farms, a Nigerian agri-fintech startup focused on improving financial inclusion for smallholder farmers. Winich operates in 29 Nigerian states, connecting producers with buyers and providing financing to reduce losses and price volatility.
This investment reflects a belief in the scalability of fintech solutions addressing Africa’s agriculture sector. Winich plans to expand beyond Nigeria and explore export opportunities in the MENA region.
Octane Raises $5.2M to Streamline Fleet Payments
Egyptian fintech Octane raised $5.2 million to grow its closed-loop wallet system for managing fleet expenses such as fuel, maintenance, and petty cash. The funding, led by Shorooq Partners, Algebra Ventures, and SC Holding, will help Octane expand its merchant network and enhance AI-powered fraud detection and route optimization.
Founded in 2022 by Amr Gamal and Ziad Eladawy, Octane’s platform targets fleet operators and logistics firms looking to consolidate fragmented financial processes and optimize costs.
OCTA Secures $20M Credit Line to Support SME Automation
UAE-based fintech OCTA obtained a $20 million credit facility from Sukna Fund for Direct Financing, building on its $2.25 million pre-seed round closed in October 2024. The company automates contract-to-cash processes for SMEs, including invoicing, collections, payments, and embedded credit.
Founded in 2024 by Jon Santillan, Andrey Korchak, and Nupur Mittal, OCTA aims to improve SME cash flow management by embedding financing directly into daily operations. The funds will support expansion across Saudi Arabia and Gulf markets.
SaturnX Raises $3M to Expand Stablecoin-Based Remittance Services
Dubai-based SaturnX closed a $3 million seed round led by White Star Capital to grow its API infrastructure for stablecoin payments targeting business-to-business financial providers. Founded in 2024 by Mirnas Brescic, SaturnX plans to enter Southeast Asian markets with a focus on major remittance corridors like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
The funding will also advance compliance features and enhance enterprise capabilities on the platform, aiming to offer faster and more cost-effective cross-border payment solutions.
For product development professionals interested in AI applications across fintech, proptech, and agri-tech sectors, these startups exemplify practical use cases of automation and AI integration. Exploring related AI courses and certifications can provide valuable skills to engage with these evolving platforms. Check out Complete AI Training’s courses by job role for tailored learning paths.