Stride Ventures, a global leader in venture debt, has ramped up its Gulf presence, placing Saudi Arabia squarely at the heart of its regional expansion strategy.
The firm has doubled its team in the region and opened a second regional office, signaling a bold move aligned with the Kingdom’s ambition to become a magnet for smart capital.
This announcement came alongside the launch of the Global Venture Debt Report 2025, co-authored with global consultancy Kearney. The findings are eye-opening: while the global venture debt market has seen a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over five years, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has grown nearly four times faster, hitting a 54% CAGR. In monetary terms, the GCC’s venture debt market jumped from $60 million in 2020 to $500 million in 2024, with Saudi Arabia leading the charge.
Central to this momentum is Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s landmark reform agenda that’s actively shifting the economy away from oil. Government-backed efforts like the Jada Fund of Funds (managing over $1.07 billion) and collaborations with Goldman Sachs and Franklin Templeton highlight a clear intent: enabling startups to access diverse capital without losing equity. Meanwhile, regulatory hubs like Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Hub71 are laying the groundwork for a flourishing private credit market.
Venture debt, as a non-dilutive and flexible financing tool, is gaining popularity where traditional GCC banks have been conservative. Fintech leaders like Tabby and Tamara have already tapped venture debt for over $100 million each, setting a precedent for startups in healthtech, logistics, and climate tech to follow suit.
Stride Ventures Accelerates GCC Investment Ambitions
Stride Ventures: Pioneering Venture Debt in the MENA Region
With a mission to triple its regional assets under management by 2026, Stride Ventures is eyeing a $500 million commitment to the region over the next 3–5 years. Its latest fund is already on track to be oversubscribed, reflecting intense investor confidence.
Stride’s current regional pipeline holds up to $110 million in active deals, with average ticket sizes of $10 million. These are not just numbers, they’re indicators of a maturing ecosystem where founders are increasingly seeking strategic, founder-friendly capital. Stride’s tailored approach offers exactly that, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for the next wave of regional unicorns.
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Beyond capital, the region is attracting top-tier talent from Silicon Valley, London, and Singapore, drawn by Saudi Arabia’s combination of policy stability and financial momentum. As Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures, aptly puts it:
“Saudi Arabia is shaping the future of venture capital and private credit with intention and scale.”
She adds, “We are seeing a new generation of founders who understand the value of non-dilutive capital to scale responsibly and an equally ambitious set of investors in the region ready to fuel their growth.”
This paradigm shift repositions the Middle East not as a passive investor but as an active innovation finance hub.
Fariha concludes, “Saudi Arabia is moving from being a capital source to becoming a capital magnet. Stride is proud to be part of this next chapter.”
The key question now? Not whether venture debt will thrive in the GCC, but how quickly it will scale, and whether institutional frameworks can evolve fast enough to support the region’s ambitious entrepreneurs. For startup founders, VCs, and tech talent across MENA, the answer may define the next decade.
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