LvlUp Ventures' MENA hub backs first 50 companies and draws 500+ applications in first three months

LvlUp Ventures’ MENA Global Investment Hub has backed its first 50 startups and reviewed more than 500 applications in its first three months, the Dubai-based hub said, moving toward a stated goal of backing 250 companies across the Middle East and North Africa over the next 12 months. Launched in Dubai earlier in 2026, the hub has already placed more than 80 additional companies in active due diligence and participated in regional rounds such as the Pre-Series A in Gameball, an AI-native customer loyalty platform serving MENA e‑commerce.

Direct quote

“More than 500 applications and our first 50 companies backed within three months demonstrate both the strength of MENA’s founder ecosystem and the demand for a deeply engaged investment platform in the region,” said Aaron Golbin, General Partner at LvlUp Ventures. “Our focus is not simply on deploying capital. It is on building long-term infrastructure around founders, bringing more global investors and partners into the ecosystem, and helping the region’s most ambitious companies scale internationally. We are still at the very beginning.”

Context and details

The MENA Global Investment Hub is positioned as LvlUp Ventures’ regional platform for investing in and supporting high‑potential founders across the Middle East and North Africa. Since its Dubai launch, the firm reports receiving applications spanning fintech, artificial intelligence, B2B software, e‑commerce and consumer technology—sectors that reflect the range of entrepreneurial activity in the region.

• Backed companies to date: 50
• Applications reviewed in three months: 500+
• Active due diligence pipeline: 80+ companies
• Regional investment example: Gameball (Pre‑Series A), an AI-native customer loyalty platform

LvlUp has also been building an on-the-ground programming slate through its LvlUp Labs MENA event series, which aims to connect founders with operators, mentors, corporate partners and investors. The hub said it is continuing to expand its network of ecosystem partners—including corporations, family offices and institutional investors—to support companies scaling across MENA and internationally.

LvlUp Ventures itself is a globally ranked venture firm: PitchBook places the firm as the world’s #7 most active venture capital firm and #2 most active early-stage investor, with more than 1,000 companies across its portfolio and programs. The MENA hub is explicitly mandated to back 250 companies across the region, a target that underpins the hub’s stated 12‑month push.

Outlook

Looking ahead, LvlUp says it plans to expand its on-the-ground presence into Saudi Arabia and Qatar as it scales the hub’s activities. With a pipeline of more than 80 additional startups and ongoing founder programming, the firm is positioning the hub to attract further deal flow and partnerships from across the region. LvlUp is inviting founders building in MENA to apply to the Global Investment Hub and continues to onboard corporate and institutional partners to back the next generation of category‑defining companies.

Contact: Aaron Golbin, General Partner, and Sanjana Raheja, Associate MENA Partner, LvlUp Ventures. Website: https://www.lvlup.vc