This week and the new year open with strong momentum as investors double down on cybersecurity, retail infrastructure, fintech inclusion, blockchain systems, and agritech innovation across the region.
Leading the week is DSShield, which secured a massive $54 million investment from Merak Capital, marking one of the largest recent cybersecurity deals in Saudi Arabia. The funding comes as cloud adoption, industrial automation, and digital transformation accelerate across the Kingdom, pushing demand for more advanced cyber defense solutions. With this capital, DSShield plans to develop a national cybersecurity platform, scale its operations, and strengthen its position ahead of future public listing ambitions.
Next is Rewaa, the Saudi-based retail technology company that closed a $45 million Series B round, co-led by Wa’ed Ventures, Idrisi Ventures, and Unity Ventures. The funding signals strong confidence in Rewaa’s mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises with AI-driven operational tools. The capital will be used to advance its cloud-based retail management platform and expand its reach among merchants across Saudi Arabia.
In fintech infrastructure, KaliSpot raised $4 million in a mix of equity and debt to expand its 1Net financial ATM network across African markets. Founded by Mika Diol and backed by 500 Global, KaliSpot is building a continent-wide network of agnostic financial ATMs that integrate banks, mobile money operators, and fintechs for seamless cash-in and cash-out services. Already active in West and Central Africa, the startup plans to expand into Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Guinea in 2026, strengthening its mission to bridge cash and digital financial services for underserved communities.
Further down the list is Saudi startup Oumla, which extended its seed round with new backing from Wa’ed Ventures and Sanabil 500. The company is focused on building secure digital asset infrastructure within the Kingdom while expanding blockchain applications across finance and real estate, positioning itself at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s emerging digital economy.
Rounding out the week is Croptimus, the Egypt-based agritech company that secured an undisclosed investment from Venture X. The new funding will help the startup scale its technology and expand both regionally and internationally as it continues its work transforming agricultural waste into high-value bio-products.
Taken together, Week 1 of 2026 paints a clear picture: capital is flowing toward foundational infrastructure from cybersecurity and retail systems to financial inclusion and sustainable agritech, setting a confident tone for the year ahead.
