• 35+ top Middle East and North Africa technology founders are heading to London to connect with international capital to power growth
• As global venture investors become increasingly selective, MENA's strongest technology companies continue attracting international capital and expanding globally despite prolonged geopolitical uncertainty
• Key Capital seeks to further strengthen the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem with fourth edition of Key Trek, a week of curated events in London

More than 35 technology founders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will head to London this month to meet global venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices and strategic partners with the objective of connecting with international capital to fuel further growth, during Key Trek 2026, organised by VC secondaries asset manager Key Capital.  

While geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, MENA's technology ecosystem has continued to mature, producing companies that are increasingly attracting international capital and expanding into global markets. 

“Periods of uncertainty do not stop great companies from being built - they simply make capital more selective,” said Basil Moftah, managing partner at Key Capital. “The MENA founder ecosystem continues to thrive despite the challenging situation. The quality of entrepreneurs emerging from the MENA region has never been stronger and these founders are committed to drive growth and innovation, all while generating wealth and creating jobs and legacy. Key Capital’s role is to ensure international investors continue to meet these founders and incorporate them into their global portfolios. Long-term investment decisions should be driven by exceptional businesses rather than short-term headlines.” 

Key Trek 2026 - this year in its fourth edition - is a week-long programme that brings together many of the region’s most promising late-stage founders attracting strong participation from leading global investors. It includes a series of curated meetings, sector-focused discussion panels and sessions, as well as private dinners. Key Trek serves as a platform, facilitating strategic introductions that can lead to long-term business relationships and partnerships, introducing a pool of companies valued at over $150bn to international investors. Just last year, the programme encompassed 270 targeted meetings, 35 international investors and 32 MENA companies. 

The fourth edition will seek to highlight the depth and breadth of the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem, and will include companies from a broad range of technology sectors: AI and data, fintech and financial infrastructure, enterprise software, cybersecurity, deep technology, logistics and mobility, proptech and vertical SaaS. Participating companies will include market-proven firms such as real estate platform PRYPCO, unified AI infrastructure firm ThinkAI, healthtech BioSapien, logistics and digital trade document provider CargoX, financial infrastructure for B2B commerce SILQ, and SME digital banking/business solutions Hala (full list). 

“Highly curated and personalised opportunities to engage directly with the international investor community are invaluable. Beyond access to capital, they create the relationships, understanding and international exposure that help ambitious MENA companies scale globally,” explained Julie Barbier-Leblan, CEO and co-founder of Merit. While ClearGrid co-founder and CEO, Mohammad Al Zaben, explained: “as we progress in our vision to provide lenders with software and infrastructure to resolve debt in an efficient and fair way, ongoing funding from different types of investors becomes critical. It allows us to achieve critical mass to deliver value to current investors, customers and employees.”

Key Trek 2026 is supported by strategic ecosystem partners, including ⁠500 Global, Arbor Ventures, AWS, BECO Capital, BlackRock, Dubai Financial Market, DotZero, Dubai Future District Fund, Endeavor, ExBorder Partners, Hub71, Impact46, Inovia Capital, Jefferies, Key Capital, Pact VC, QED Investors, RAED Ventures, SHUAA Capital PSC, Stride Asset Management, VentureSouq, and Winston Taylor.

“As we think about moving the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem forward, programmes like Key Trek and Key Capital with its secondary capital offering are a critical part of the puzzle. The talent in the region is extraordinary and supporting high growth businesses with growth capital is the next step in their global ambitions,” explained Omar Majdouie, founding partner at RAED Ventures. 

Basma AlBadi AlDhaheri, head of value creation at Hub71, said: “Global investors are increasingly looking to this region for the next generation of high-growth technology companies, and Hub71 startups are well positioned to capture that interest. Through leading investor roadshows such as Key Trek, we are connecting our startups with the right investors, opening access to global capital and creating opportunities for them to scale and expand into international markets.”  

Key Trek 2026 will run from September 30 to October 7 in London, UK. 

About Key Capital

Key Capital is a venture capital (VC) secondaries asset manager, run by experienced operators and investors: Basil Moftah, Leena Khalil, Abdo Edris, and Sean Guilfoyle. The firm provides direct and structured liquidity solutions for founders, early investors and fund managers in high growth technology companies. For more information visit: https://key.capital/.