The Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) – the largest investment fund of its kind in Jordan – has announced a $3 million investment in the Antler MENAP Fund LP, a $60 million early-stage venture capital fund launched by Antler to support startups from pre-seed to Series A across the Middle East and North Africa region. The fund follows a sector-agnostic mandate, aiming to accelerate innovation across industries.
This partnership underscores ISSF’s commitment to catalyzing Jordan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by backing prominent global VC funds with a strong regional focus.
Founded in Singapore, Antler is one of the world’s most active early-stage investors and a global leader in “Day Zero” investing—partnering with founders from the very beginning of their journeys. Antler currently operates over 15 pre-seed funds and is present in 27 cities across leading global tech ecosystems, with more than 1,500 early-stage startup investments to date.
Mohammed Al Muhtaseb, CEO of ISSF, said:
“Our partnership with Antler reflects a shared commitment to Jordan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It underscores the great potential for talent in Jordan and further emphasizes Jordan’s position as a regional innovation hub. Through Antler’s MENA fund and a dedicated program for Jordan, we aim to equip Jordanian founders with the capital, structure, and global networks needed to scale up their ideas into successful ventures. This partnership will support the development of a strong pipeline of high-potential startups. Antler’s global reach, regional presence, and proven success working with founders from Day Zero make them a strategic ally in our mission.”
Magnus Grimeland, Founder and CEO of Antler, added:
“This partnership with Jordan is a powerful endorsement of the entrepreneurial potential we see in the country. Jordanian founders are distinguished by their creativity, resilience, and global mindset. With Antler’s global reach and local talent, we’re excited to back bold ideas and build lasting impact for the Jordanian startup ecosystem.”
