Stride Ventures, a global leader in venture debt financing, has announced the expansion of its operations into Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The move includes doubling its local headcount and opening a second regional office, signaling both the financial maturity of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in shaping the future of startup financing in the region.
The announcement coincides with the release of the 2025 Global Venture Debt Report, co-authored by Stride Ventures and global consultancy Kearney.
According to the report, the global venture debt market has grown at a CAGR of 14% over the past five years, while the GCC region—led by Saudi Arabia—has quadrupled that, achieving a CAGR of 54%, increasing from $60 million in 2020 to around $500 million in 2024.
Traditional banks in the GCC have often been risk-averse, especially toward early-stage startups with few assets. Venture debt, with its non-dilutive, flexible structure, has helped fill that funding gap.
Key sectors like FinTech, E-commerce, Logistics, HealthTech, and ClimateTech have successfully closed venture debt deals, providing a blueprint for others.
Stride Ventures aims to triple its regional assets under management by 2026, and plans to deploy $500 million in the GCC over the next 3–5 years. The firm has already increased its regional team by over 60% and is seeing strong investor demand for its newest fund, which is set to exceed target commitments within months.
Currently, the company manages an active regional portfolio worth $110 million, with an average deal size of $10 million—highlighting both the opportunity landscape and the growing demand from Middle Eastern founders for strategic debt capital.
Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures, said:
“Saudi Arabia is defining the future of venture and private capital with clarity and scale. We are witnessing a new generation of founders who understand the value of this capital, supported by ambitious regional investors ready to drive growth.”
Founded in 2019, Stride Ventures has invested over $1 billion across 180+ companies, including 17 unicorns, solidifying its role as a key player in the Middle East’s fast-evolving financial and startup ecosystem.
