ISSF Commits USD 7M to Endeavor Catalyst V to Connect Jordanian Startups With Global Capital

Jordan’s Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) has committed USD 7 million to Endeavor Catalyst V, a global co-investment fund that exceeds USD 300 million, in a move designed to channel international venture capital into Jordanian startups. The agreement, signed in Amman in the presence of Jordan’s Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smirat, marks the launch of ISSF’s second operational phase after completing its first investment cycle through 2025.

"The investment will enable the fund to continue strengthening Jordan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem," said Mohammad Al-Muhtasib, CEO of ISSF, at the signing. The partnership agreement was inked by Al-Muhtasib and Allen Taylor, Managing Partner of Endeavor Catalyst.

Why the deal matters

Endeavor Catalyst is the co-investment arm of Endeavor, the global entrepreneurship network that supports high-growth founders across more than 60 countries. The fund focuses on backing companies in emerging markets, and ISSF’s USD 7 million commitment is intended to create a pathway for Jordanian founders to access growth-stage capital and global investor networks. Endeavor Catalyst V itself is reported to be in excess of USD 300 million in size.

Allen Taylor, Managing Partner at Endeavor Investment Fund, underscored Endeavor’s long-term commitment to Jordan: "Since Endeavor entered Jordan in 2009 as its first market in the MENA region, we have been committed across several investment cycles, reinforcing our belief that a sustained presence creates the strongest investment opportunities and insights.”

Context and precedents

ISSF’s participation in Endeavor Catalyst V represents a strategic use of fund-of-funds-style investing by a national investment vehicle to plug local startups into global capital pools. The announced commitment follows the completion of ISSF’s first operational phase through 2025 and signals a shift toward enabling more cross-border growth rounds for Jordanian companies.

Endeavor and its co-investment vehicle already have a track record of supporting Jordanian-founded or Jordan-invested ventures. Notable examples cited in connection with the partnership include Replit, the AI-powered software development company founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, which has reached a valuation of approximately USD 9 billion. Other Jordanian companies previously backed by Endeavor Catalyst include Tamatem Games, Altibbi, Eon Dental, Tarjama, and Wazn HR.

• Commitment: ISSF — USD 7 million
• Fund: Endeavor Catalyst V — >USD 300 million
• Signatories: Mohammad Al-Muhtasib (ISSF CEO) and Allen Taylor (Managing Partner, Endeavor Catalyst)
• Presence at announcement: Sami Smirat, Jordan’s Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship

Outlook

The key metric to watch will be how much of Endeavor Catalyst V’s capital ultimately flows into Jordanian startups. ISSF’s commitment aims to bridge the gap between early-stage funding and the larger growth rounds needed for regional and global expansion. If the partnership translates into increased growth-stage rounds, it could attract more foreign capital into Jordan’s venture ecosystem and encourage similar fund-of-funds strategies across the region.

Investors, founders, and policymakers will be watching whether the second phase of ISSF’s operations, now initiated by this USD 7 million allocation, results in measurable increases in cross-border investments and a new generation of Jordanian companies scaling to international markets.