Investor Profile: Plus VC (+VC)

Plus VC (+VC) is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on seed to Series A investments in tech and tech-enabled startups across MENA and its diaspora. Founded by Hasan Haider, the firm positions itself on fair terms, fast deals and deep founder support — drawing on more than a decade of investing experience and over 200 transactions across 15 MENA countries.

The managing partner

Haider brings more than 10 years of MENA investing experience. He was previously Managing Partner, MENA at 500 Startups, where he turned the firm into the most active VC fund in the region, raising and deploying the 500 Falcons fund and running partnerships and programs across the regional ecosystem. He has personally invested in more than 180 startups. Before that, he co-founded and led Tenmou, the first business angel organisation in Bahrain and one of the first in MENA — work that became a case study by the World Bank and Harvard and was taught to entrepreneurship policymakers at Babson College. He began his career in finance and investment banking at Sico. The +VC team includes Ali Mahmood (Executive Director), Ibrahim Alhejailan (Partner and Board Member), Zainab al Sharif (Partner), and venture partners Zahid Zahid and Sumu AlKhudair.

Cheques and approach

+VC typically invests approximately $100,000 at the seed stage, with follow-on investments of up to $500,000 in subsequent rounds leading to Series A, backing around 20% of its portfolio with reserves. The firm offers standardised, founder-friendly legal documentation and actively helps startups close full rounds through its network. Its origins trace back to Silicon Valley, giving portfolio founders access to networks across the US and the region. Beyond capital, the team provides training in critical growth areas and hands-on mentorship from startup veterans.

What they look for

+VC seeks teams from or based in MENA with a launched product and real user or customer traction — it does not invest in ideas alone. It favours ventures pioneering innovations not yet seen in the region, across sectors where technology drives distribution or the business model, with a preference for initiatives aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG factors. Its stated ideal founding team combines three roles: coder, growth marketer and subject-matter expert.

Community and programs

Every portfolio company joins the +Community, a network of founders across sectors and cities for advice and mutual support, plus an annual, exclusive +Portfolio Summit featuring workshops and community-building with investors and LPs. In 2021 the firm also launched its first Summer Internship Program to widen access to venture-capital careers across backgrounds.