QDB invests in sustainable AI firm Multiverse Computing

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has announced it is investing in Multiverse Computing as part of the company's €500mn Series C funding round that values the firm at €1.5bn. The investment, confirmed at a signing ceremony in Doha attended by QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al‑Sowaidi, joins a consortium co‑led by Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP Solar Impulse Venture Fund and Bullhound Capital. QDB said the move will support Multiverse Computing in establishing Doha as its regional headquarters and extend the company’s efficient, sovereign AI offerings into the Middle East.

"Our investment in Multiverse Computing reflects the ambition of the Startup Qatar Investment Programme to attract high‑growth technology companies that can contribute meaningfully to Qatar’s innovation ecosystem," QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al‑Sowaidi said. "By supporting the establishment of the company’s regional headquarters in Doha, we are bringing world‑class expertise in efficient and sovereign AI closer to the local market, while creating new opportunities for partnerships, knowledge transfer and regional commercial growth."

Multiverse Computing, founded in Spain and recently achieving unicorn status, focuses on building AI language models and improving their efficiency through advanced compression and model architecture optimisation. The firm develops its own models and offers compression of third‑party models so that AI tools can run on standalone devices rather than relying on large‑scale cloud servers — reducing energy consumption, lowering compute costs and improving responsiveness. Enrique Lizaso, co‑founder and CEO of Multiverse Computing, said the partnership accelerates the company's regional ambitions.

"The AI industry's future relies on doing more with less by running powerful models efficiently, sustainably, and securely without being constrained by legacy infrastructure," Lizaso said. "Partnering with Qatar Development Bank and establishing our regional headquarters in Doha accelerates our ability to deliver this vision to the Middle East and beyond. Qatar’s forward‑thinking approach to sovereign AI and its strategic location make it the ideal launchpad as we scale our CompactifAI platform across new markets."

Deal structure and regional strategy

• Round size: €500mn Series C, valuing Multiverse Computing at €1.5bn.
• Lead investors: Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP Solar Impulse Venture Fund, Bullhound Capital, alongside QDB.
• Local signatories: Mohamed al‑Emadi, executive director of Incubation and Venture Capital Investment at QDB, participated in the Doha signing.
• Operational plan: Multiverse will establish its regional headquarters in Doha to serve customers and pursue partnerships across the Middle East.

The Multiverse technology — marketed in part through its CompactifAI platform — is positioned to offer "sovereign AI" capabilities, enabling organisations to retain control over data and models by running compressed or bespoke models on local hardware. QDB framed the investment as advancing Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) 2024‑2030, which prioritises innovation and the attraction of cutting‑edge technology firms to diversify the economy.

Outlook

The investment is part of the broader Startup Qatar initiative, led by QDB’s investment track to attract global tech companies to the country. Since Startup Qatar launched in 2024, QDB says it has invested in more than 40 startups from 15 countries. At Web Summit Qatar 2026, QDB announced an expansion of the programme with a target portfolio of QR1bn by 2030, signalling further capital commitment to bring international tech players and their intellectual capital to Doha. For Multiverse, Doha will serve as a regional hub to scale its efficient AI solutions across the region while contributing to local capacity building and commercial partnerships.