Disrupt to invest $100m to fuel next generation of AI startups

• Targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs.

In a year marked by a contraction in global venture capital funding, the founders of UAE-based Disrupt.com—Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit—are taking a bold contrarian stance. Announcing a $100 million commitment to create and support AI-first technology ventures worldwide, this UAE-based venture builder is poised to redefine the landscape of startup funding.

The trio, who previously achieved a landmark $350 million exit with their cloud hosting platform, Cloudways, is reinvesting their expertise and capital into the burgeoning tech ecosystem.

Disrupt.com’s innovative approach diverges significantly from traditional venture capital practices. While many firms retreat amidst economic uncertainty, Disrupt.com embraces the challenges of the current environment, emphasising the importance of strategic investment in sectors poised for growth.

Making targeted investments

Their commitment to fostering startups is underscored by a three-pronged strategy: building proprietary startups from the ground up, co-developing ventures with external entrepreneurs, and making targeted investments in early-stage companies.

This model allows Disrupt.com to function as fractional co-founders, providing startups not only with financial backing but also with essential technical and operational support.

The firm’s $100 million initiative focuses on five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation.

By prioritising pre-seed to Series A startups that exhibit strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, Disrupt.com aims to cultivate a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem that values long-term success over short-term gains.

This philosophy is particularly relevant in the current climate, where funding in the MENA region has seen a significant decline, with venture capital investment dropping by 29 per cent in 2024.

Potential for innovation

Disrupt.com’s existing portfolio illustrates the effectiveness of their model. Notable successes include ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has rapidly scaled to over 500,000 users and manages hundreds of millions in assets, as well as PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture. Such achievements highlight the potential for innovation and growth even in a challenging funding landscape.

 “Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience, financial investment, and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups,” founding partner Aaqib Gadit said.

“With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem solving and creating businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up, but lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us.”

Unlike traditional venture capital firms, Disrupt.com employs a three-pronged approach to creating value: building their own startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups and VC funds.

Through their unique ‘CoBuild’ model, they function as fractional co-founders, providing dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to drive early adoption in a capital-efficient way.

Growth potential

The firm’s $100 million commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation.

Disrupt.com primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs.

The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29 per cent to just under $2 billion in 2024, according to Magnitt. Saudi startups saw a 44 per cent funding drop to $750 million, while UAE funding decreased 8 per cent to $613 million, creating a challenging environment for early-stage ventures.

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