At COLABS, we believe meaningful conversations help drive stronger startup ecosystems. In partnership with Termsheet, we recently welcomed Ahmad AlNaimi, General Partner at STV, to COLABS Narjis in Riyadh for an exclusive fireside chat exploring venture capital, startup growth, and the future of technology in the region.
The event brought together founders, investors, startup operators, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders for an evening of open discussion around venture capital, company building, and the future of technology in Saudi Arabia.
As the largest independent and a global top-quartile venture capital firm in the Middle East, STV continues to shape the region's innovation landscape through its investments in high-growth technology companies, including its Emerging Tech & AI Fund, which has attracted backing from Google, Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), and other leading regional institutional investors.
Moderated by Zubair Naeem Paracha, Co-founder of Flare, Founder of MENAbytes, and Advisor & Partner at COLABS, the conversation explored STV's investment philosophy, what investors look for in startups, and the opportunities shaping the region's technology ecosystem. A key theme of the discussion was the evolving technology landscape, with Ahmad sharing STV’s continued focus on supporting early-stage startups through its Emerging Tech & AI Fund.
Since launching the Emerging Tech & AI Fund, STV has invested in four early-stage companies that demonstrate its vision for AI in the region. These include Sawt, which is advancing Arabic AI voice technology for customer support; Clarity, an AI platform helping businesses better understand customer interactions; Signit, which is modernizing legal services through AI; and Stream, a startup simplifying billing and payments infrastructure for Saudi businesses. Together, these investments highlight STV's focus on backing founders using AI to solve practical business challenges.
The conversation continued through the networking session, bringing together founders, investors, and operators to connect, share experiences, and explore new opportunities.
Through events like these, COLABS continues to support the entrepreneurial community by creating spaces for founders to connect, learn, and grow. As Saudi Arabia's innovation landscape continues to evolve, we look forward to creating more opportunities that inspire collaboration and contribute to the future of technology across the region.