Mena region software and deeptech startups receive backing from newly established venture Maza, led by Tambi Jalouqa.
New Seed Fund Maza Ventures Launches with Focus on Emerging Markets
Tambi Jalouqa, a seasoned entrepreneur and software engineer, has announced the launch of a new seed fund named Maza Ventures. Jalouqa, who spent over eight years at Propeller, including six years as CEO, is now aiming to back software and deeptech startups, particularly those from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Jalouqa's career in the tech industry spans over a decade, starting with his role as the founding CTO of POSRocket, a Jordanian POS startup later acquired by Foodics. He has also co-founded Xpand, a major product and software event in Jordan. Before the launch of Maza Ventures, Jalouqa made eleven angel investments.
According to its website, Maza Ventures is "not afraid to back moonshots." The fund's focus is on founders building market-leading companies, and it emphasises partnering closely with these founders to position companies for success through collaborative and hands-on support. This approach includes providing operational guidance and leveraging networks alongside financial capital to help startups scale efficiently.
While the specific details about Maza Ventures’ thematic areas, geographic focus, or unique strategies are yet to be disclosed, the fund's focus on emerging markets and highly technical founding teams suggests that it will likely combine broad sector coverage with a focus on founder commitment and scalable, impactful business models.
During his tenure at Propeller, Jalouqa helped raise two funds and invested in companies like Maqsam, Gameball, Oto, and Lawhive. With Maza Ventures, he aims to continue his support for promising startups, particularly those from the MENA region.
[1] Seed funds and early-stage investing: https://www.crunchbase.com/topic/seed-fund [2] Seed funds in emerging markets: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/05/20/the-rise-of-seed-funds-in-emerging-markets/ [3] Trends in seed fund investments: https://www.techcrunch.com/2021/02/24/the-trends-shaping-seed-fund-investments-in-2021/
[1] With Maza Ventures, Tambi Jalouqa is expanding his horizons in finance, focusing on early-stage investing in software and deeptech startups, particularly those in the emerging markets of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to position them for success through collaborative and hands-on support.
[2] Given the rise of seed funds in emerging markets and the potential of highly technical founding teams, Maza Ventures is likely to combine broad sector coverage with a focus on founder commitment and scalable, impactful business models, making it an attractive option for both startup founders and potential business partners in the technology sector.
