MASNA Ventures Launches $100M Defense-Focused VC Fund in Saudi Arabia

MASNA Ventures, a firm founded by an American entrepreneur, has announced the launch of Saudi Arabia’s first venture capital fund dedicated to defense technology, with plans to raise at least $100 million from US and Saudi investors.

The fund will focus on backing defense technology companies in the United States or other allied countries, while also supporting the establishment of manufacturing operations within Saudi Arabia, according to co-founder Lucien Zeigler, speaking to Semafor.

Zeigler noted that MASNA’s fund plans to complete approximately 10 investment deals, initially targeting drone and counter-drone systems, precision-guided munitions, and AI-enabled defense systems.

The fundraising initiative seeks to capitalize on deepening defense cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia, particularly following the Kingdom’s designation as a major non-NATO ally in November, during the meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and US President Donald Trump at the White House.