Think, a Saudi Arabia-based AI infrastructure startup, has raised over $8 million in a pre-seed funding round, the largest of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The round was co-led by RAED Ventures and Wa'ed Ventures, with additional participation from strategic investors.
TL;DR
- Think raises $8M pre-seed to develop AI infrastructure platform, the largest round in MENA's AI sector.
- MENA startups raised $1.7B across 242 rounds in H1 2026, down 18% year-over-year, per Wamda's report.
- Investors are focusing on mature ecosystems and proven sectors, with fintech and logistics leading funding.
What happened
Think, founded in 2025 by Ahmed Al-Sharif and Ammar Enaya, develops an integrated AI infrastructure platform combining hardware and orchestration software. The platform aims to maximize GPU utilization, lower token costs, and reduce the complexity of deploying AI workloads for enterprises.
The $8 million pre-seed round was co-led by RAED Ventures and Wa'ed Ventures, with participation from Dhahran Techno Valley's venture capital arm and strategic angel investors. Think plans to use the capital to expand its team, scale manufacturing, accelerate product development, and support deployments across Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and selected international markets over the next 18 months.
Why it matters
This funding round highlights the growing interest in AI infrastructure and deeptech startups in the MENA region. Think's platform addresses key challenges in AI deployment, potentially benefiting enterprises looking to streamline their AI operations.
The round is notable for being the largest AI infrastructure and deeptech pre-seed funding round in MENA to date, underscoring the region's increasing focus on advanced technology sectors. For developers and startups, this investment signals a growing ecosystem for AI innovation in the region.
Key facts
- Think raised over $8 million in a pre-seed funding round, the largest AI infrastructure and deeptech pre-seed round in MENA.
- The round was co-led by RAED Ventures and Wa'ed Ventures, with participation from Dhahran Techno Valley's venture capital arm and strategic angel investors.
- Think plans to expand its team, scale manufacturing, and accelerate product development with the new funding.
- MENA startups raised $1.7 billion across 242 funding rounds in H1 2026, down 18% from the same period in 2025.
- Fintech and logistics were the leading sectors for funding in the MENA region during H1 2026.
- The UAE remained the region's leading startup market, attracting $1.2 billion across 83 deals.
- Early-stage companies accounted for most fundraising activity, with 172 early-stage startups raising a combined $444 million.
Context
The MENA region has seen significant growth in its startup ecosystem, with investors deploying capital despite geopolitical uncertainties. However, the market has become more selective, focusing on mature ecosystems and proven sectors like fintech and logistics.
Think's funding round is part of a broader trend of increased investment in AI and deeptech startups in the region. This trend is driven by the growing demand for advanced technologies and the need for efficient AI infrastructure solutions.
The MENA region's startup landscape is evolving, with a shift towards larger ecosystems and startups with clearer paths to scale. This evolution is reflected in the funding trends and the types of startups attracting investment.
