Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi-based Wyld VC, one of the first AI-focused funds to emerge from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, launched a $50 million fund to invest in early-stage AI startups across MENA and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The fund, backed by billionaire Lawrence Golub’s family office, will focus on early-stage companies, aiming to develop ties between GCC countries and the US and help accelerate AI development, a recent statement revealed.

The fund is expected to close its first deals after the visit of US President Donald Trump to the Middle East.

Tala Al Jabri, Founder of Wyld VC, said: “We are at a generational inflection point where the Bay Area’s technical breakthroughs need allies and partners who can help them accelerate their growth, and the GCC is uniquely positioned to provide both. The Middle East sees AI as the next oil.”

She emphasized that the fund’s mission goes beyond just financial backing; it also aims to address the region’s biggest gap: AI talent.

Moreover, the fund aims to empower founders with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to thrive, providing them with access to the global tech talent pool and the best resources Silicon Valley has to offer.

It is worth mentioning that Wyld VC plans to establish offices in the UAE and Silicon Valley.