Disrupt.com aims to invest $100 million in AI-first ventures
Venture building firm announces plans to reinvest after $350 million exit
#UAE #venturecapital - Startup venture builder Disrupt.com plans to invest $100 million to build and fund AI-first technology ventures globally. Backing for the investment comes from three founders, who are reinvesting capital from a successful $350 million exit from Malta-registered cloud hosting platform Cloudways, which was acquired by US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings (DigitalOcean) in 2022. With registered companies in Dubai, Dublin, Ireland, the Disrupt.com group has also just rebranded Gaditek, its Karachi-headquartered software development company and venture incubator, with the Disrupt.com brand.
SO WHAT? - Dubai has a growing reputation as a hub for AI startups and this is attracting more and more tech funds to Dubai. However, the Middle East and North Africa’s overall volume of venture capital is down, with investments down 29% to just under $2 billion in 2024, according to Magnitt. This said, the UAE saw a minor decrease in VC funding of 8%. Disrupt.com’s decision to announce their venture investment plans in Dubai is in recognition of both the emirate’s and the UAE’s growing status as a destination for AI companies.
Here are some key details about the Disrupt.com announcement:
Disrupt.com plans to invest $100 million to build and fund AI-first technology ventures globally from its base in Dubai. The group has company registrations in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Dublin, Ireland and Karachi, Pakistan.
The group plans to target seed and early-stage startups focusing on five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. No plans were announced to register a venture capital fund.
Disrupt has been incubating and funding ventures for some years. The group’s last announced investment was in LAAM, a leading platform for South Asian fashion, with investment from the group. The startup’s funding round was led by Disrupt Capital alongside Graph Ventures, Mentors Fund and Zayn VC.
Disrupt was founded by three partners who are all serial entrepreneurs:
Aaqib Gadit (founder & former CEO of Cloudways, founding partner of Disrupt Ventures (Ireland), and former CRO of DigitalOcean);
Uzair Gadit (co-founder & former director Cloudways, founding partner of Disrupt Ventures (Ireland), and co-founder & CEO of PureVPN);
Umair Gadit (co-founder & former director Cloudways, founding partner of Disrupt Ventures (Ireland), co-founder & CEO of PureVPN, and co-founder & CEO of Savyour (Pakistan), which officially ceased operations this week).
Distrupt.com founders plan to reinvest some capital from their successful $350 million exit of cloud hosting platform Cloudways, which was acquired by US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings (DigitalOcean) in 2022.
According to the media statement, Disrupt.com employs a three-pronged approach: building startups from scratch, co-building ventures with external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups.
The group says it has already deployed over $40 million across its portfolio, including four growth-stage companies built from idea stage, seven investments in early-stage companies, including Cloudways.
The group rebranded Gaditek, its Karachi-headquartered software development company and venture incubator (founded 2008), with the Disrupt.com brand in December last year.
Distrup’s current portfolio includes Web3.0 platform ZigChain with 500,000+ users, cybersecurity venture PureSquare, and UAE fitness apparel brand Squatwolf showing the effectiveness of their model.