COREangels MEA, in partnership with PTS Holdings and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, has launched a $10 million investment fund to support early-stage innovation across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). At the centre of the initiative is a clear mission: to invest in purpose-driven tech startups aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those in the rapidly evolving fintech sector.
During its 5th Investment Committee forum held in Cairo, COREangels MEA selected five standout startups from a pool of over 1,000 applicants. Each selected startup will receive up to $150,000 in seed funding, along with access to tailored advisory and technical support. This year’s theme, “Fintech as the Foundation for Inclusive Growth,” underscores the fund’s strategic focus on expanding financial access and digital inclusion.
Among the chosen startups are:
- eMaisha Pay (Uganda): A platform providing farmers with access to microloans, crop insurance, and digital savings tools.
- RentBeta (East Africa): A rent payment solution streamlining landlord-tenant transactions through automation and flexible billing.
- Aqua Offers (Egypt): A loyalty and instant savings platform that uses performance-based customer engagement.
- Monak (MENA): A bundled service offering financial, health, and insurance support to migrant communities across the region.
- Reeple (Nigeria): A fintech service simplifying global payments for African freelancers and digital workers.
The selection process was spearheaded by Kemtix Ventures, the innovation and venture studio arm of PTS Holdings, which conducted rigorous evaluations to assess each startup’s scalability and alignment with impact objectives.
“This fund is more than just capital—it’s an ecosystem,” said Maha Mandour, Co-Founder of COREangels MEA and Chairperson of PTS Holdings. “We combine smart investment with operational guidance and a network of committed partners to build startups that are ready to grow and impact society.”
COREangels MEA leverages a hybrid investment model, bringing together global angel investors, local entrepreneurial expertise, and innovation studio infrastructure. The aim is to bridge funding gaps for early-stage founders while helping them navigate growth and scale within and beyond their local markets.
The Cairo event brought together over 100 investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from across Nigeria, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE. A key highlight was the participation of Rui Falcão, President of COREangels International, whose presence reinforced the initiative’s ambition to link frontier innovation in MEA with global capital.
“Our goal is to connect promising startups in emerging markets to sustainable, smart capital,” said Rui. “COREangels MEA is not just funding startups—it’s building a cross-border community of innovation.”
The event was hosted at the Arab Academy’s Entrepreneurship Center, led by Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the event further formalized the partnership between the Academy and PTS Holdings, with a shared goal to support early-stage entrepreneurs and institutional innovation across the region.
Panel discussions, founder clinics, and investor workshops were complemented by cultural immersion activities—reflecting COREangels MEA’s belief that investment should go beyond numbers to foster human connection, identity, and long-term impact.
With fintech in the MEA region projected to exceed $100 billion by 2028, the COREangels MEA fund is well-positioned to become a leading force in inclusive, sustainable startup growth across Africa and the Middle East.
