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The partnership between Yuno and Revolut Business, announced September 3, 2026, does more than add a payment button to an orchestration catalog. It connects Revolut's entire merchant-facing commercial stack — checkout, acquiring, and gateway — to Yuno's platform through one API, and it arrived three weeks after Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky's personal investment fund participated in Yuno's $45 million Series B. Three weeks before the commercial partnership was announced, Global PayTech Ventures led Yuno's $45 million Series B, with Storonsky's QuantumLight Capital joining alongside investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global, Monashees, Kaszek, Rasmal Ventures, and Further Ventures. That financial relationship puts a different frame on what the two companies are calling a partnership: Revolut's chief executive holds a financial stake in Yuno's growth while Yuno's platform now extends Revolut's merchant footprint into four markets. The September 3 deal is the commercial layer on top of a capital relationship. The integration is live. An online travel agency — a sector defined by high checkout abandonment and sensitivity to payment-method coverage — has already activated the connection. Enterprise merchants already on Yuno's platform in the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area, Singapore, and Australia can now enable Revolut's full merchant stack without writing new code. What Revolut Pay's Biometric Checkout Actually Does Revolut Pay is the neobank's one-click checkout product, backed by device-native biometric authentication — Face ID or fingerprint recognition through the Revolut app. The mechanism matters because no card details are exposed to the merchant: when a consumer taps the Revolut Pay button, they are redirected to the Revolut app, authenticate using their device's biometric layer (Apple Secure Enclave or Android Trusted Execution Environment — neither transmits a biometric template, only an authorization token), and the payment debits from their Revolut balance or a linked card as described in Revolut's developer documentation. The result, per Revolut's own published performance data, is a 98.5% average authorization rate and cart abandonment rates below 10% among merchants offering Revolut Pay, per Revolut's Aer Lingus case study. Both figures are significantly better than industry averages — cart abandonment across e-commerce typically runs between 70% and 80%. The product launched in September 2022 for UK and EEA merchants. Revolut has since extended it to Singapore and Australia — the four markets covered by the Yuno partnership — and the company now serves more than 80 million retail customers and over 800,000 business customers worldwide. For reference, Revolut counted 50 million retail customers as recently as November 2024 and gained 16 million new users in 2025 alone, making its customer base one of the fastest-growing in digital banking. Why the Three-in-One Bundle Matters Most payment method integrations give a merchant access to a checkout flow: the button at the point of purchase that captures the transaction. What Revolut Business offers is three distinct services — and historically, accessing all three required three separate commercial relationships. Revolut Pay is the checkout product. Revolut's payment gateway is the technology layer that routes authorization requests between the merchant, Revolut's banking infrastructure, and the customer. Revolut's merchant acquiring service is the licensed financial function that settles funds — Revolut holds acquiring licenses in the UK, EEA, Australia, and Singapore, meaning it can authorize and settle transactions directly without routing through a third-party acquirer. Bundling all three into a single Yuno connection eliminates what would otherwise be three separate negotiations, three sets of contracts, three integration sprints, and three ongoing compliance relationships. For enterprise merchants already on Yuno's platform — McDonald's, Uber, Rappi, inDrive, NetEase Games, GoFundMe, and Viva Aerobus are among Yuno's named enterprise clients — the marginal cost of enabling Revolut's full stack is effectively zero: it activates like any other payment method in their existing Yuno dashboard. "Checkout is being decided by wallets that make paying feel like nothing — one click, a biometric check, done," said Juan Pablo Ortega, co-founder and CEO of Yuno. "Wallets of this scale are becoming acceptance networks in their own right, and merchants can't afford a separate build for every one of them. Revolut connected its stack to Yuno once. Now, eligible merchants on our platform can switch on a checkout — plus acquiring and gateway — as easily as they turn on any other payment method." How Does Payment Orchestration Work, and Why Does It Change the Calculus? Payment orchestration platforms sit above payment service providers, acquirers, and payment methods, managing the entire transaction flow through a single API connection. A merchant integrates once with the orchestration platform; the platform handles routing, fallback logic, fraud tooling, tokenization, and reconciliation across every connected provider, as described in payment orchestration fundamentals. The architecture is specifically designed to solve a fragmentation problem: a merchant operating across five markets might otherwise need five different acquiring relationships, a dozen different payment method integrations, and separate dashboards for each. Orchestration replaces that stack with a single control layer. The technical tradeoff that enables the business model is centralization of routing intelligence — merchants gain flexibility and coverage while the orchestration platform manages the provider relationships. Yuno currently connects merchants to 1,000-plus payment methods and over 460 integrations across more than 190 countries. Using Yuno's smart routing, transactions are dynamically directed to the provider most likely to approve them — based on geography, BIN range, real-time provider performance, and cost parameters — with automatic failover to backup providers if the primary declines or goes offline. The company said merchants using its platform have seen approximately 5% improvements in authorization rates and saved merchants more than $500 million in processing costs over the prior year. That 5% improvement compounds quickly at enterprise transaction volumes. The payment orchestration platform market, valued at approximately $1.7 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $6.1 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 23.7%, according to ResearchAndMarkets. Is Yuno the Only Platform Carrying Revolut's Stack? No. In July 2026, Adyen separately made Revolut Pay available in pilot for eligible merchants in the EEA and Great Britain, positioning it as a path to reach what Adyen described as "one of Europe's largest digital banking customer bases." Adyen's is a pilot; Yuno's is a live integration. The distinction matters for merchants evaluating which orchestration platform to route through, but the broader point is that Revolut is distributing its merchant stack through multiple independent payment platforms rather than relying solely on direct integration. That distribution strategy reflects a wider pattern in how digital wallets with large user bases are expanding merchant acceptance. Revolut has previously announced Revolut Pay integrations with Booking.com (November 2025), Wizz Air, Aer Lingus (January 2024), and Wolt, among others. The Yuno partnership reaches the orchestration layer — the infrastructure that sits above individual merchants — meaning a single Yuno-Revolut connection in principle unlocks access for Yuno's entire enterprise merchant network in the four covered markets, rather than requiring separate negotiations with each merchant. Revolut's Expanding Merchant Infrastructure The Yuno deal is one piece of a larger build-out. Revolut launched merchant acquiring in Australia in February 2026, completing the four-market geographic footprint that the Yuno partnership now covers. In February 2026, Revolut also launched "Revolut Checkout" — a unified widget combining Revolut Pay, card processing, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Pay by Bank under one embedded interface, configurable from the Revolut Business dashboard without code changes, per Revolut's Checkout launch announcement. In September 2026, Revolut received conditional OCC approval for its US charter, which, if finalized, would allow Revolut to operate as a full-service US bank, which, if finalized, would allow Revolut to operate as a full-service US bank and potentially extend its merchant infrastructure into North America. Whether that would expand the Yuno partnership's geographic scope has not been confirmed. Revolut Business now serves over 800,000 business customers globally. The company's annualized revenue from its business division crossed $1 billion, and its acquiring arm processes more than 4 million monthly payments for merchants. What Merchants Should Know Before Enabling the Integration Eligibility applies. The Yuno press release notes that Revolut Pay, acquiring, and gateway services "are subject to eligibility and availability. Fees, Payment Processing Terms and applicable Revolut Business Terms apply." Merchants on Yuno's platform seeking to enable the integration should confirm their eligibility with Yuno directly before treating the four-market coverage as unconditional. The 98.5% authorization rate and sub-10% cart abandonment figures are Revolut's published averages, not guaranteed minimums, and will vary by merchant category, consumer segment, and geography. Travel and e-commerce, the sectors where Revolut has the most mature merchant relationships, are also the sectors where wallet-enabled checkout provides the greatest conversion lift. Revolut Pay's user base is concentrated among digitally native, mobile-first consumers. Merchants whose customer demographics skew toward that population — younger consumers, frequent travelers, mobile shoppers — will capture more of the wallet's conversion advantage than those serving older or offline-first customer segments. Frequently Asked Questions What exactly do merchants get through the Yuno-Revolut integration that they didn't have before? Before this partnership, a Yuno merchant wanting to offer Revolut Pay to customers in the UK, EEA, Singapore, and Australia would have needed a separate agreement with Revolut Business for the payment method and potentially separate arrangements for Revolut's acquiring and gateway services. The integration bundles all three — Revolut Pay (the checkout product), Revolut's gateway (the authorization routing layer), and Revolut's acquiring (the financial settlement service) — into a single Yuno connection. Merchants on Yuno's platform can now activate the entire Revolut merchant stack the same way they turn on any other payment method: through their existing Yuno integration, with no new code. Does using payment orchestration mean abandoning existing payment providers like Stripe or Adyen? No. Payment orchestration platforms like Yuno are designed to be provider-agnostic: they sit above existing payment providers, not in place of them. A merchant can keep using Stripe, Adyen, PayPal, or any other provider while routing some or all transactions through Yuno's layer. Yuno's smart routing then dynamically directs each transaction to whichever connected provider is most likely to approve it, based on geography, card type, cost, and real-time provider performance. Adding Revolut Pay through Yuno expands the merchant's payment method coverage without displacing existing providers. What is the connection between Revolut's CEO and Yuno beyond this commercial deal? Three weeks before the September 3 commercial partnership was announced, QuantumLight Capital — the personal investment fund of Revolut co-founder and CEO Nik Storonsky — participated in Yuno's $45 million Series B, announced August 12, 2026. The financial relationship predates the commercial one: Storonsky's fund backed Yuno's growth trajectory before Revolut Business formalized the integration partnership. This makes the commercial deal an extension of a capital relationship, not a purely arm's-length B2B agreement. How does Revolut Pay's biometric checkout protect consumer data? When a consumer pays through Revolut Pay, no card numbers or account details are shared with the merchant. The consumer authenticates using their device's biometric layer — Face ID on Apple devices, fingerprint on Android — through the Revolut app. The biometric template itself is stored on-device in the device's secure hardware enclave (Apple's Secure Enclave or Android's Trusted Execution Environment) and is never transmitted. What passes through the payment network is an authorization token, not the biometric data. Merchants receive payment confirmation without access to any underlying account credentials.

  Doha — Qatar’s Rasmal Ventures has led a USD 12 million Series A round for Roamless, a US-headquartered global connectivity startup offering a universal eSIM for travelers. The round included participation from Shorooq Partners, Revo Capital, Finberg, and JIMCO, marking one of the region’s notable investments in travel-tech and telecom infrastructure this year. Roamless and Its Single Global eSIM Founded in 2023 by Emre Demirel, Ali Gazioglu, Asim Alp, Selim Aykut, Cagdas Yalti, and Cengiz Oztelcan, Roamless provides a borderless mobile connectivity platform built around a single global eSIM. Key characteristics of the product: Pay-as-you-go and trip-based plans Coverage in more than 200 countries Seamless switching between networks while traveling No need to change SIM cards Unlike many eSIM providers that resell third-party networks, Roamless operates its own cloud-based telecom infrastructure. This gives the company direct control over network behavior, the ability to manage connectivity across hundreds of operators, and more flexibility to deliver offerings beyond data-only plans. Why Rasmal Ventures Led the Investment Rasmal Ventures’ participation reflects Qatar’s growing interest in infrastructure technologies, digital mobility, and platforms that support global travel and communication. The global eSIM market is expanding rapidly, driven by traveler demand, increased smartphone adoption, and regulatory pushes toward embedded SIM technology. The investment positions Qatar within a fast-growing sector while supporting the broader national innovation strategy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. Product Expansion and New Features With the new funding, Roamless plans to accelerate several major developments: Expansion of network coverage The company aims to add more carrier partnerships and improve availability in underserved regions. Launch of Roamless Numbers This feature will allow users to obtain local numbers in more than 20 countries. Users will be able to make calls and send and receive SMS directly within the app, offering a complete communication experience while traveling. AI-driven optimization Roamless intends to incorporate artificial intelligence to improve network quality, reduce connectivity costs, and tailor partner offers based on user behavior. Scaling B2B Connectivity Solutions Roamless is also investing in APIs and enterprise tools that allow airlines, airports, online travel agencies, financial institutions, and superapps to integrate connectivity into their customer experiences. This creates opportunities for businesses to offer value-added services, enhance traveler satisfaction, and unlock new revenue streams through embedded global connectivity. Impact on Qatar and the Region The deal highlights Qatar’s growing role as a regional center for venture investment and digital infrastructure. It also aligns with the country’s ambitions to participate in global-scale technology innovations and diversify the digital economy. For Rasmal Ventures, the investment strengthens its position in high-growth technology sectors and supports the development of platforms reshaping the future of travel, telecommunications, and digital mobility.

A New Chapter in Canada–Qatar Business Relations Begins Over a Simple Coffee By Tim Peters – CMO, Guideline.ai; Venture Partner, Rasmal Ventures   It’s remarkable how meaningful progress in international business often begins not in conference halls or formal government meetings, but in quiet, human moments. Recently in Doha, a group of Canadians—some residing in Qatar, others visiting from Canada—gathered for what was supposed to be a simple coffee. No agenda. No microphones. No protocol. Just people who cared about strengthening a relationship that is ripe with opportunity. My last visit to Doha was just over six months ago, when I attended the Qatar Economic Forum, one of the region’s most influential global gatherings. I remain deeply grateful to Qatar Media City and the Government of Qatar for the invitation. Even then, the momentum was unmistakable. Since that time, Qatar has continued to build on that energy—accelerating investment, innovation, diplomacy, and global connectivity at a pace few countries can match. This latest coffee meeting happened at a time when Doha was buzzing with international activity. I had arrived just as the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix was underway, and the city felt like a crossroads of the world—investors, technologists, policymakers, and visitors converging from every direction. It underscored what has been clear for years: Qatar is not preparing to join the global stage. Qatar is already on it. Meanwhile, Canada had just completed a significant moment of its own. The Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, had concluded a major visit to the Gulf days earlier. His mission strengthened AI and digital partnerships with both Qatar and the UAE, and created real momentum for bilateral cooperation. His meetings with Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, with the Qatar Investment Authority, and with leading Qatari institutions signaled that Canada sees Qatar not only as a regional partner but as a strategic collaborator in shaping the global future of responsible AI. With that backdrop, the timing of our coffee meeting could not have been more meaningful. Around the table were individuals whose work spans investment, innovation, government relations, entrepreneurship, and community building: Imad Kaddoura, Dr. Mehdi Khabazian, Katia Abboud, and Moamen Saber. What united everyone was the belief that something practical and overdue should exist: a modern Canadian–Qatar Business Council capable of supporting real commercial outcomes. This isn’t about creating a ceremonial body or another networking group. It’s about building a platform that helps Canadian companies navigate Qatar’s rapidly evolving business landscape—and helps Qatari investors, innovators, and institutions find meaningful partners in Canada. And the truth is, the moment for this collaboration has never been stronger. Qatar is advancing at remarkable speed, positioning itself as a global hub for AI, digital infrastructure, advanced research, sports, aviation, and sovereign investment. The country’s confidence on the world stage is matched by major domestic investments in innovation, education, and talent. A major part of that momentum comes from the growth of Qatar’s venture ecosystem. As a Venture Partner at Rasmal Ventures, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly the country is building the foundations of a globally competitive innovation economy. Rasmal is notable not only as Qatar’s first domestic private venture capital fund, but also as the first private VC fund in the country to launch with support from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). That backing reflects Qatar’s belief in nurturing homegrown innovation and attracting world-class companies to consider Doha as a home base for GCC and wider Middle East expansion. Rasmal is actively looking at Canadian AI, fintech, agri-tech, and media-technology companies that see the Gulf as a growth market. And increasingly, those companies are recognizing Qatar’s advantages: world-class infrastructure, policy stability, access to capital, and a strategically central location for regional scaling. Canada, for its part, is renewing its diplomatic and commercial presence in the region. The arrival of Canada’s new Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Karim Morcos, adds even more momentum. His deep experience across the Middle East, the UN system, and global development brings a level of insight and energy that is already being felt. He is complemented by the exceptional work of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in Doha—particularly Sonja Panday and Karthik Nathan—whose practical, business-focused engagement has been instrumental in advancing bilateral opportunities. From a corporate perspective, Guideline.ai sees Qatar as a natural partner in the future of AI-driven media intelligence, investment insight, and data transparency. Our regional lead in the Gulf, Maged Mostafa, is deeply embedded across the GCC—working directly with ministries, regulators, agencies, and major brands navigating digital transformation. Meanwhile, Joseph Berger, based in New York, oversees our relationships with sovereign wealth funds, global hedge funds, family offices, and institutional investors—many of whom increasingly view the Gulf, and Qatar in particular, as central to their global investment strategies. Together, their work connects commercial, government, and capital-markets perspectives, and we hope to contribute meaningfully to the council’s early efforts—not as the center of attention, but as a committed and constructive partner. This alignment—Qatar’s strategic ambition, Canada’s renewed engagement, the rise of institutions like Rasmal, and Minister Solomon’s successful Gulf mission—has created the ideal conditions for a reimagined Canadian–Qatar Business Council to take shape. If structured thoughtfully, the council can become: a gateway for Canadian companies entering the Gulf, a bridge connecting Qatari investors with Canadian innovation, a platform for trade missions and delegations, and a hub supporting growth around major events like Web Summit Qatar. It can also serve as a trusted space where business leaders and innovators on both sides collaborate on long-term, high-impact initiatives. When we stood up from that coffee meeting in Doha, there was a shared sense that something important had begun. Not because of formality, but because of sincerity. Not because of ceremony, but because the moment is right. Canada and Qatar have always respected each other. But now—with new leadership, deeper diplomatic engagement, a fast-growing venture ecosystem, shared interests in AI and innovation, and genuine momentum from both sides—the relationship is poised to grow in strategic, lasting ways. A new chapter is not only possible. It is already taking shape. And sometimes, it starts with a coffee.

Rasmal Ventures Announces Investment in NEXX at 10th Belt & Road Summit 2025 Doha, Qatar  – [11 September 2025] – Rasmal Ventures, a Qatar-based leading venture capital fund with backing from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), proudly announced its investment in NEXX, a a dual-headquartered Hong Kong and Qatar-based AI-driven logistics technology company, during the 10th Belt & Road Summit held in Hong Kong from the 10 – 11 September. The investment marks a strategic milestone for Rasmal Ventures, the first Qatar-headquartered VC fund, and reflects its mission to bring transformative global innovation into Qatar. As Rasmal Venture’s first commitment to a Hong Kong tech startup, the partnership highlights Qatar’s emergence as a hub for cutting-edge technologies and high-growth ventures. It also aligns with Rasmal Venture’s broader ambition to position Qatar as a platform for meaningful collaboration between Asia and the Middle East; anchoring innovation within the country while connecting it to global opportunities. Since its establishment in 2023 under the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Rasmal Ventures has rapidly become a key pillar of Qatar’s innovation economy. With the launch of its Rasmal Innovation Fund I and strategic backing from QIA’s $1B Fund of Funds, Rasmal Ventures has made notable strides in supporting high-growth technology ventures across borders. Its prestigious local partnerships with Sidra Medicine and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) underscore its deep-rooted commitment to empowering Qatar’s tech ecosystem, reflecting the nation’s broader ambition to emerge as a hub for global innovation and collaboration. The signing ceremony was attended by Mrs. Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures and Mr. Hui Ka Oscar, CEO of NEXX Group; and the event was honored by the presence of Her Excellency Ms. Sheikha Noora Khalifa Al-Thani, Consul General of the State of Qatar to Hong Kong as well as Mr. Nicholas Ho, Commissioner of the Belt and Road Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Mrs. Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, stated: " We believe the cross-regional connection between China’s leading tech entrepreneurs and the GCC can unlock tremendous growth and value on both sides, and we are positioned to enable the building of this bridge. NEXX stood out as an impressive example that embodies this vision." Mr. Hui Ka Oscar, CEO of NEXX Group, added: "These developments demonstrate our commitment to building a world-class organization that can effectively bridge Chinese technological innovation with Middle Eastern market opportunities." As part of its regional growth, NEXX has appointed Mr. Ibrahim Al-Derbasti, Executive Vice President of Offshore & Marine at Milaha, as Co-founder of NEXX Middle East—reinforcing its vision of combining global experience with deep local insight.   -END-   About Rasmal: Rasmal Ventures is Qatar’s first independent venture capital fund, with a regional presence across the MENA region. The firm invests in high-potential technology startups and supports top entrepreneurs, including international companies expanding into the MENA market. Focused primarily on Series A and Series B stage startups, Rasmal Ventures also selectively invests in Pre-Series A and later-stage ventures. While sector-agnostic, the firm has expertise in healthtech, fintech, B2B SaaS, supply chain logistics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Rasmal Ventures thrives on embracing the fast pace of technological evolution and is committed to learning and exploring new sectors alongside visionary entrepreneurs. For more information, visit our website at https://www.rasmalventures.com/en   About NEXX: NEXX is an AI-driven logistics company bridging China and the MENA region. Through its Agentic AI platform and logistics technology, NEXX enhances supply chain performance, optimizes warehouse operations across the MENA market, and enables intelligent, cross-border logistics coordination. For more information, visit www.nexx-global.com

TeamSec, a next-generation fintech and regtech company that provides AI-powered solutions in the fields of capital optimization and working capital liquidity, has been selected for the T.C. Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı | Republic Of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology -powered Turcorn100 program. This achievement once again highlights your position as the first global fintech to transform the securitization market. As TeamSec, we are proud to have been selected for the Turcorn 100 program. In our growth journey, we will continue to be the architect of the financial world of the future. ** TeamSec, a next-generation fintech and regtech company offering AI-powered solutions in capital optimization and working capital liquidity, has been selected for the Turcorn100 program supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. This achievement further underscores our position as the world's first fintech aiming to transform the securitization market. At TeamSec, we are proud to be chosen for the Turcorn 100 program. We will continue, on our growth journey, to shape the future of finance.

Asset securitisation, a $14 trillion business in the United States, seems to be finally gaining ground in the Gulf.     Last week the UAE lender Deem Finance sealed a $400 million asset securitisation deal with JP Morgan. Emirates NBD of Dubai and Rasmal Ventures in Qatar have also co-invested $7.6 million in the Turkish startup TeamSec, whose technology makes it potentially less costly and quicker for companies to securitise their assets. Securitising assets frees up capital for so-called originators, usually banks and other financial services companies, enabling them to expand more rapidly and support the region’s economic diversification efforts, while also offering regional institutional and wealthy investors another asset to trade. However securitisation is still “in its infancy” in the Gulf, said Chris Taylor, CEO of Deem Finance, with just “a handful” of deals completed so far. Any company with regular receivables, such as loans, leases or payments owed, can securitise their assets. To do so the company establishes a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which legally takes ownership of the assets. The company then sells securities, often in the form of notes or bonds, which represent a claim on the cash flows generated by the SPV assets. Immediate payment As a result, the company receives an immediate payment, typically at a discount to the receivables’ face value. Investors, in turn, earn returns as the underlying receivables are paid, with the SPV distributing these payments to them. UAE and Saudi market regulators see asset securitisation as an important step forward, according to Taylor. Their governments’ ambitions to expand their economies outstrips the ability of local banks to absorb such growth into their capital and balance sheets, he said. In mid-2023, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority issued asset securitisation regulations. These clarified that securitisation was the “true sale” of the securitised assets, not a financing transaction, according to a note by the law firm Baker McKenzie in Dubai. Another important specification is that securitised assets are separate from the originator and so would be unaffected were the originator to go bankrupt or insolvent. These rules give prospective buyers much greater confidence to invest, said Mazen Boustany, a partner at Baker McKenzie. UAE capital markets are well placed for a stellar year PIF to anchor Goldman Sach’s new GCC-focused funds  Saudi Arabia embraces mortgage-backed securities However, Saudi Arabia still lacks regulations on securitisation, the law firm White & Case, which has an office in the Dubai International Finance Centre, has written in a note, although the Riyadh-based buy-now-pay-later company Tamara raised $400 million in debt last year that used some of the company’s receivables as collateral. The growing presence of international hedge funds in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai financial free zones augurs well for asset securitisation, said Taylor. “Those guys have got firepower and they’re going to want to deploy into assets, so it’s unimaginable to me that this won’t now take off,” he said. The assets that Deem Finance sold to JP Morgan consisted of approximately two thirds consumer debt – credit cards and loans – and one third loans to small and medium-sized businesses. JP Morgan may re-sell the securitised assets.  ​​“What we’re keen to do is to bring some of this debt into the local market,” Taylor said.   The securitisation does not change the terms and conditions for the original borrowers, with Deem managing its customers as before. Importantly, Deem retains ownership of a portion of each receivable.  “We’re not getting rid of the risk,” Taylor said.

Sidra Medicine and Rasmal Ventures Partner to Drive Digital Health Innovation in Qatar Advancing Healthcare Through E-health Innovation and Startup Integration 25 February 2025, Doha, Qatar - Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rasmal Ventures, Qatar’s first venture capital firm. The strategic partnership, announced at the Web Summit Qatar 2025, marks a significant step in the hospital’s role in supporting and advancing digital health innovation in Qatar and beyond. Rasmal Ventures, with its extensive portfolio of global technology companies, will introduce Sidra Medicine to high-potential e-health startups and provide strategic support to incorporate innovative solutions into Sidra Medicine’s operations. In return, Sidra Medicine will contribute its clinical and research expertise to evaluate and refine the startups’ healthcare technologies, ensuring they are effective, scalable, and patient-focused. Moreover, the two organizations will develop entrepreneurship programs that encourage the development and growth of a Health-Tech sector for Qatar. Prof. Khalid Fakhro, Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine said: “This partnership highlights our commitment to establishing Sidra Medicine as a leading healthcare innovation hub in Qatar, in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030. By collaborating with Rasmal Ventures, we are building upon our current strengths in clinical care, genomics and cell and gene therapy, and taking a proactive approach to adopting innovative technologies and transforming Sidra Medicine into a living lab for entrepreneurial ventures from across Qatar and the world.” The MOU establishes a collaborative framework between the two entities to facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices in e-health innovations. Through this partnership, Sidra Medicine and Rasmal Ventures aim to drive advancements in innovation, focusing on digital healthcare solutions such as patient-centric artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, telemedicine platforms, and wearable devices. Alexander Wiedmer, Co-Managing Partner at Rasmal Ventures said: “At Rasmal Ventures, we believe that innovation is key to transforming healthcare. Our partnership with Sidra Medicine represents a unique opportunity to bring the latest digital health technologies to the forefront, empowering Qatar’s healthcare system to deliver smarter, more efficient, and patient-centered care.” As part of the agreement, the two entities will host joint workshops, pilot studies, and discussions to validate the efficacy of emerging technologies and foster an open environment for innovation. This partnership positions Sidra Medicine as a driving force in healthcare innovation, creating valuable opportunities for biotech and healthtech leaders. It also underscores Sidra Medicine’s role as a premier destination for medical education and research, attracting innovators and nurturing the development of next-generation healthcare solutions. -Ends-   About Sidra Medicine Innovating Care. Transforming Lives From the heart of Qatar, Sidra Medicine, is a private, not-for-profit academic healthcare and research institution for women, children, and young people. Established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, Sidra Medicine is committed to delivering exceptional patient and family-focused care, conducting innovative biomedical and clinical research, and providing a personalized journey of care and cure and precision medicine specifically for rare and genetic diseases. To access our specialized healthcare or international patient services, including pediatric care, women's health, and rare disease treatment or to book a consultation at one of our private clinics, please call +974 40033333 or visit our website at http://www.sidra.org. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn   About Rasmal Ventures Rasmal Ventures is Qatar’s first independent venture capital fund, with a regional presence across the MENA region. The firm invests in high-potential technology startups and supports top entrepreneurs, including international companies expanding into the MENA market. Focused primarily on Series A and Series B stage startups, Rasmal Ventures also selectively invests in Pre-Series A and later-stage ventures. While sector-agnostic, the firm has particular expertise in healthtech, fintech, B2B SaaS, supply chain logistics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Rasmal Ventures thrives on embracing the fast pace of technological evolution and is committed to learning and exploring new sectors alongside visionary entrepreneurs. For more information, visit our website at https://www.rasmalventures.com/en

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has signed a co-operation agreement with Rasmal Ventures on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2025 to bolster Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, attracting global talent, and fostering local and regional growth opportunities for startups. Through the collaboration, both parties seek to strengthen Qatar’s position as a global entrepreneurship hub, which will contribute to attracting top talent and empowering startups to access new regional and global markets. The partnership focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in Qatar by leveraging QDB’s Talent Community Programme with Rasmal Ventures joining as an official partner of the programme, which was designed to nurture a dynamic and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem. The partnership will enhance Qatar’s ability to attract global talent and innovators, offering a supportive environment for the growth of high-growth companies. The two organisations will also collaborate to exchange information on promising investment opportunities and foster cooperation in joint investment initiatives to enable startups to access the necessary resources and networks for their global expansion, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region. The two parties will also work to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Startup Qatar investment initiative by exploring joint investment opportunities and boosting the contribution of Rasmal Ventures to the programme, as well as expanding the scope of beneficiaries. QDB VP Enterprise Development Khalid Abdulla al-Mana said the partnership reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to developing an advanced investment landscape in line with the highest global standards to empower startups and contribute to their sustainable growth. “Through our collaboration with Rasmal Ventures, we aim to enhance investment flows and help entrepreneurs build extensive networks, enabling them to connect with regional and global investors.” Dr Shaikha al-Jabir and Alexander Wiedmer, co-managing partners at Rasmal Ventures, emphasised that the work QDB and Startup Qatar are doing is immensely important for the economy and the innovation ecosystem. They added: “It is an enabler for VC funds as we are. We are delighted to partner with QDB to support the startups in the programme as they seek to grow.” QDB’s latest partnership reflects its vision to foster an environment that supports the growth of entrepreneurial ventures, contributing to the development of the business ecosystem and boosting the competitiveness of startups both regionally and internationally. It also equips startups with the necessary tools to succeed, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a regional hub for innovation and investment in the region. This aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to achieve economic diversification by empowering entrepreneurs and startups to thrive and grow.

Doha, February 5, 2025 – We at Rasmal Ventures, Qatar’s first independent VC firm, are proud to announce that we have secured strategic funding from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) as part of its $1 billion Fund of Funds program. This investment strengthens our ambition to drive technological innovation and economic diversification across the MENA region. A Transformational Milestone in MENA’s Venture Capital Scene Our flagship Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC, launched in June 2024, is at the forefront of investing in high-growth startups across fintech, B2B SaaS, HealthTech, supply chain logistics, and artificial intelligence (AI). As the first fund to join QIA’s $1 billion program, we have already secured commitments from institutional investors, corporates, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, with the goal of reaching $100 million in total investment commitments. “This funding marks a pivotal moment for Qatar’s venture capital ecosystem,” said Alexander Wiedmer, Co-Managing Partner at Rasmal Ventures. “As the first private VC fund based in Doha, we are leveraging our deep-rooted partnerships with leading Qatari institutions to nurture disruptive startups that can redefine industries. We are still in the early stages of capital deployment, but our first investments in proprietary technology startups are already demonstrating high potential.” Backing the Next Generation of Tech Titans At Rasmal Ventures, we are proud to have a seasoned team of VC experts with a track record of over 100 venture capital deals and successful exits. Our fund is designed to support pre-Series A, Series A, and Series B companies, ensuring that the most promising startups get the funding and strategic guidance needed to scale globally. Beyond financial investment, we are deeply committed to hands-on engagement with our portfolio companies, providing operational expertise, market access, and business development support to help them scale rapidly. Strategic Alignment with Qatar’s Vision for Innovation The launch of Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC aligns seamlessly with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), which emphasizes economic diversification and the creation of a robust technology ecosystem. Our Fund aims to foster an innovation-driven environment where entrepreneurs can access capital, mentorship, and international networks. QIA’s Fund of Funds: A Catalyst for Regional Growth The QIA Fund of Funds program, launched in February 2024, is a game-changer for the startup and venture capital ecosystem in Qatar and beyond. With a dual mandate to generate strong financial returns while accelerating regional entrepreneurship, the program prioritizes technology and healthcare investments. By securing QIA’s backing, we are further cementing our position as a leading player in MENA’s venture capital scene, poised to scale innovative startups that can redefine industries on a global scale. Looking Ahead: A New Era for MENA’s Startup Ecosystem With a clear investment thesis focused on high-potential technology sectors, we are set to play a critical role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Qatar and the MENA region. As we continue to raise additional commitments, we remain steadfast in our mission to identify, support, and scale the next generation of transformative startups. With a selective investment approach and deep industry expertise, we are not just deploying capital—we are building the foundation for a thriving innovation ecosystem in MENA.