Tanami Beats 350+ Fintechs To Win Grand Prize At Money20/20 Middle East

Tanami was awarded the grand prize at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh on September 17, 2026, beating more than 350 fintech competitors to claim a $200,000 top prize. The company’s founders pitched across a three-day competition judged by investors and industry leaders, with the judges highlighting Tanami’s technology that connects regional investors to top-tier global asset managers and expands access to private market investments.

"Winning Best Fintech in Riyadh, at the heart of the region's fintech ecosystem, is a significant milestone as we scale our presence in Saudi Arabia," said Dr. Nawaf Al Maskati, Co-Founder and CEO of Tanami KSA. "The Kingdom's regulatory environment has given us the confidence to build here for the long term, and this recognition reinforces the work our team has put into that expansion. This is just the beginning of what we're building in the Kingdom."

Competition and recognition

Tanami emerged from a crowded field of more than 350 fintechs at one of the industry's largest regional gatherings. Over the three-day Money20/20 Middle East event, participating startups presented to a panel of investors and industry leaders, culminating in a final round where Tanami secured the grand prize of $200,000. The award recognises the startup’s focus on building infrastructure that enables investors to access institutional-grade private market opportunities.

What Tanami offers

Tanami describes itself as a private markets investment platform that broadens access to institutional-grade investment opportunities through a seamless digital experience. The platform enables investors to construct diversified portfolios spanning:

• Private equity
• Private credit
• Real estate
• Infrastructure
• Other alternative investments

The company’s approach is to provide the technological and operational infrastructure for investors in the region to connect with global asset managers, addressing historical barriers to private market participation.

Leadership response and strategic focus

"This win belongs to the entire team. We built Tanami to bridge the gap between institutional-grade private markets and investors who have historically had limited access to them," said Faisal Al Jalahma, Co-Founder and CEO of Tanami. "To stand out among more than 350 fintechs at Money20/20 is an important milestone, but it also raises the bar for what comes next. We remain focused on building the infrastructure and investment experience that investors across the region can trust."

The founders were photographed on stage receiving the Best in Show award and at their booth during the event, underscoring the visibility Tanami gained during Money20/20 Middle East. The recognition in Riyadh comes alongside the company's stated expansion plans in Saudi Arabia and signals investor and industry interest in solutions that open alternative investments to a broader regional investor base.

Outlook

With the $200,000 prize and the public endorsement from judges at Money20/20 Middle East, Tanami will likely accelerate product development and market expansion efforts in the Kingdom. The firm’s stated mandate to link investors to global asset managers positions it to target institutional and high-net-worth segments seeking diversification into private markets. As Tanami scales in Saudi Arabia, market participants will watch how the platform converts this early momentum into capital inflows and partnerships with international asset managers.