Investor Profile: A15 — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

A15 funding is one of the best-documented success stories in Middle East venture capital. "We invest in winners early" is the Cairo firm's tagline, and it has the exits to back it up. For founders researching how to get funding from A15, it is an early-stage, founder-first VC that bets pre-seed and seed on technology companies across the MENA region, with a focus on Egypt.

A15 funding: thesis and sectors

Founded in 2014 in Cairo, A15 describes itself as thesis-driven and sector-agnostic, with a view of how the world will evolve — and it backs founders who fit that view, sometimes reaching out proactively and occasionally joining at the venture-building stage to help build the team, tech and go-to-market. Its portfolio spans fintech, e-commerce, SaaS, enterprise software, logistics, healthcare, AI and digital infrastructure: notable names include Paymob, Menthum, Nowlun, OneOrder, Esaal, Shezlong and Valify. A15 manages a portfolio of 40+ companies operating in over 20 countries and has delivered eight exits — including two "dragon" exits, TPAY Mobile and Connect Ads, that each independently returned the entire value of its debut fund, producing a 10x return to early investors.

Cheque size and stages

A15 is an early-stage venture fund investing up to Series A, typically entering at pre-seed and seed. Its exact fund size is not publicly disclosed, but recent activity shows its pace: in January 2026 alone it announced a $1 million investment in Knot Technologies and a $1.1 million strategic investment in Byit alongside Beltone Holding and angel investors, while December 2024 saw it co-lead a $1.7 million seed round in Nowlun.

Notable portfolio and exits

Beyond the live portfolio, A15's exit record is its calling card: TPAY Mobile (76% stake sold to Helios Investment Partners in 2018 — MENA's first "dragon" exit), Connect Ads (86% stake sold to Aleph Holding in 2021), and Otlob (sold to Rocket Internet). In 2026 it sold portfolio company Viral Wave to PopArabia, the regional partner of Nasdaq-listed Reservoir.

Partners and programmes

The firm is led by Managing Partner Karim Beshara; Bassem Raafat joined in 2022 after five years at Helios Investment Partners. A15 is also active in ecosystem-building: it joined the NVIDIA VC Alliance in 2026 and partnered with RiseUp and BitRoot on NVIDIA SIGNALS, an accelerator for early-stage AI founders in Egypt.

How to apply for funding

A15 sources deals through its own website at a15.com and through its founder network. There is no rolling application portal — founders are encouraged to reach out with a strong, thesis-fitting story, since the firm sometimes proactively contacts companies that match its view of where the region is heading.