Investor Profile: Nuwa Capital

Nuwa Capital is a Dubai- and Riyadh-based investment platform founded in February 2020 by Khaled Talhouni, Sarah Abu Risheh and Stephanie Nour Prince. The firm was built on a founder-led, value-creation approach to venture investing, after the partners observed a lack of genuinely operational and strategic support from investors in the region. Regulated by the DFSA to advise on financial products and manage collective investment funds, Nuwa focuses on rapidly growing markets across MENA and neighbouring geographies, including Turkey, Pakistan and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Fund and investors

Nuwa's flagship fund, Nuwa Ventures Fund I, targets $100 million and reached first close at three-quarters of that target in under a year. Its limited partners include large regional corporate groups and family offices — leaders in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, real estate, F&B, media and logistics — for many of whom the commitment was their first position in a MENA fund, alongside leading regional institutional investors. The firm has built its model around connecting these corporate LPs directly with the startups changing their industries.

Thesis and founder support

Nuwa describes its edge as closeness to the region's investment and startup community, delivered through a structured value-creation framework and a network of operating partners. Its signature Nuwa Network — a close-knit community of founders and operational experts — helps portfolio companies navigate scaling and expansion challenges. Sectorally the firm leans into direct-to-consumer, SaaS, fintech, and mobility and logistics. Managing Partner Talhouni has publicly argued that the region's real funding gap lies at growth stage (rounds of $20 million and above), and that long-term capital solutions there are a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Partners and portfolio

The founding team brings a decade-long regional track record, with earlier investments in companies including Careem, Mumzworld, Goldenscent, Twiga Foods, Insider and Nana Direct. Nuwa's own portfolio spans omnichannel eyewear marketplace Eyewa, furniture marketplace Homzmart, earned-wage-access platform Flexxpay, short-term-rental operator Silkhaus, meal-plan provider Calo, parametric insurer Mantas, retail-media platform Gowit, AI procurement platform Nafes, B2B buy-now-pay-later platform Mala, debt-resolution platform ClearGrid and liquidity provider Muwazana.