UAE-based venture capital firm FAST Ventures has launched the FAST Foundry Fund, a US $3 million micro-fund and venture studio aimed at supporting very early-stage technology startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, multiple sources reported.
The initiative, unveiled in November 2025, is designed to provide capital and operational support to founders in the earliest stages of their startup journeys, particularly those working on products in adtech, retail technology, creator economy tools, artificial intelligence and marketing-related verticals with potential for global scale.
FAST Foundry combines investment with FAST Ventures’ in-house resources, including product, marketing, engineering and AI expertise, giving founders structured backing from concept through early traction, the firm said. The model aims to address a common challenge in the region: many startups struggle to build repeatable demand and go-to-market momentum even when they have working products.
FAST Ventures was founded in 2023 by Waseem Afzal, who said the fund is intended to “build original, homegrown IP that understands this region deeply and can scale globally.” Participating startups can also draw on workspace and specialist support drawn from FAST’s broader ecosystem in cities including Dubai and Riyadh.
Under FAST Foundry, the $3 million micro-fund will provide early-stage capital typically up to $100,000 per startup, according to industry reporting alongside hands-on mentorship and access to cloud credits and senior talent. The approach reflects broader efforts to strengthen the MENA tech ecosystem by investing earlier in founders and reducing barriers between idea and market entry.
The launch of FAST Foundry comes amid sustained investor interest in innovation across the MENA region despite global funding headwinds, with early-stage support mechanisms seen as key to nurturing startups that can grow into larger, regionally scaled technology firms.
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