Latest news with #Cloudways
Time Business News
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Cloudways Carves Out Strategic Niche In Evolving Cloud Hosting Industry
The cloud hosting industry continues its rapid expansion, with overall expenditure on cloud computing services expected to exceed $723 billion in 2025, up from $156.4 billion in 2020. Within this massive market, managed cloud hosting providers like Cloudways are establishing themselves as essential intermediaries between enterprise-grade infrastructure and small-to-medium businesses seeking simplified solutions. The broader cloud infrastructure market remains dominated by tech giants, with Amazon commanding 30% of the cloud hosting market in 2025, followed by Microsoft Azure at 21% and Google Cloud Platform at approximately 12%. However, these statistics reflect the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) segment rather than the specialized managed hosting niche where Cloudways operates. Cloudways has positioned itself distinctly within the managed cloud hosting segment, earning recognition as the '#1 SMB Hosting Provider on G2' and serving over 100,000 businesses. The achievement is particularly significant given the fragmented nature of the managed hosting market, where customer satisfaction and ease of use often outweigh raw market share metrics. The company's strategic focus on performance optimization and customer success has yielded measurable results. In 2024, clients utilizing Cloudways Autonomous achieved notable improvements, with one case study showing a 20% reduction in downtime, zero downtime achievement, and a 100%+ revenue increase. The platform's technical infrastructure reflects industry-leading standards, with 99.99% uptime guarantees and ultrafast servers designed for business growth. Such commitments are particularly crucial as businesses increasingly depend on consistent online performance for revenue generation. Cloudways' business model leverages partnerships with established cloud providers, partnering with top cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability. The approach allows the company to offer enterprise-grade infrastructure while maintaining the simplified management interface that appeals to its target market. The acquisition by DigitalOcean has influenced the company's strategic direction, with the range of cloud hosting providers being trimmed down to focus on DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud. This consolidation appears designed to streamline operations while maintaining access to premium infrastructure options. Cloudways has invested significantly in automation and scalability solutions, including the development of Cloudways Autonomous, which represents a shift toward hands-off auto-scaling capabilities. The company's focus on emerging technologies and performance optimization positions it well within the managed hosting segment, even as it operates in a market dominated by infrastructure giants. While Cloudways has established itself as a notable player in the managed WordPress hosting space, the current data shows they occupy a specific niche rather than dominating the entire industry. According to W3Techs usage statistics, Cloudways is used by 0.6% of all websites as of July 2025, positioning them as a specialized managed hosting provider rather than a market leader. The managed WordPress hosting market operates within the broader web hosting services sector, which was valued at $126.41 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from $149.30 billion in 2025 to $527.07 billion by 2032. WordPress itself powers 43.4% of all websites globally, creating a substantial market for specialized WordPress hosting services. Cloudways has carved out a distinctive position in the managed hosting landscape by focusing on cloud infrastructure partnerships. The company collaborates with major cloud providers including: DigitalOcean Google Cloud Platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) Vultr Linode This multi-cloud approach differentiates Cloudways from traditional managed WordPress hosts and has contributed to their reported 99.99% uptime performance. Recent 2025 testing data reveals impressive performance metrics: Uptime : 99.99% average uptime : 99.99% average uptime Loading speeds : 400-600 milliseconds average : 400-600 milliseconds average Server response times : As low as 94ms in load testing : As low as 94ms in load testing Customer satisfaction: 94% satisfaction rate according to G2 reviews Independent testing in 2025 showed: Google PageSpeed Insights scores of 100/100 for both mobile and desktop Pingdom ratings of A grade with 96/100 speed scores Successful handling of 116,000+ requests at 195 requests/second with no performance spikes The keyword 'cloudways hosting review 2025' returns results from numerous authoritative hosting review websites, indicating significant industry attention and coverage. Major review sites covering Cloudways include: Established Tech Review Sites: Kripesh Adwani (tech reviewer) CatsWhoCode WPKube Website Planet Bloggers Passion Blogging Wizard Specialized Hosting Review Platforms: (80.8% rating) (customer reviews and ratings) WP Swings Design Bombs TutNest Industry Publications: Multiple WordPress-focused publications Web development blogs Technical review sites The consensus across review sites for 2025 indicates: Positive aspects : Superior performance, scalability, uptime reliability, user-friendly interface : Superior performance, scalability, uptime reliability, user-friendly interface Areas of concern : Pricing for resource scaling, complexity for non-technical users : Pricing for resource scaling, complexity for non-technical users Overall verdict: Consistently rated as 'one of the best' managed hosting options While Cloudways holds a solid position, other significant players in the managed WordPress hosting space include: WP Engine : Used by 2.1% of all websites, making it a larger player than Cloudways : Used by 2.1% of all websites, making it a larger player than Cloudways Kinsta : Another major managed WordPress host : Another major managed WordPress host SiteGround : Popular among WordPress users : Popular among WordPress users Bluehost: recommended host Multi-cloud infrastructure: Unique positioning with multiple cloud provider options Pay-as-you-go pricing: Flexible cost structure Developer-friendly features: Git integration, staging environments Performance optimization: Built-in caching and CDN options A significant development affecting Cloudways' market position was its acquisition by DigitalOcean. This strategic move: Provided additional resources and infrastructure support Raised some customer concerns about service changes Potentially strengthened their cloud hosting capabilities Recent improvements include: Enhanced malware scanning ($4/month for up to 5 apps) Cloudways Safe Updates for automated WordPress maintenance ($3/month per application) DNS Made Easy integration ($0.50/month per domain) The shift toward cloud-based hosting solutions has benefited Cloudways significantly. As more websites require: Scalable resources High availability Performance optimization Developer tools Cloudways' positioning becomes increasingly valuable in the market. With WordPress continuing to power over 43% of websites globally, the managed WordPress hosting market remains robust. This provides a stable foundation for Cloudways' continued growth. WooCommerce has established itself as a dominant force in the e-commerce platform landscape, with significant market share across different metrics. In 2025, WooCommerce established itself as the leading ecommerce software platform, making up 33% of the total market share. Shopify and Wix came second and third, with 18.1% and 12.4%, respectively. However, when examining the top-tier websites, the competitive landscape shows more nuanced dynamics. The current 2025 market share for WooCommerce is 13% of the top 1 million sites using e-commerce technologies: This represents a decrease from its 16% market share in 2024 and also suggests that Shopify take over WooCommerce as the market leader between 2024 and 2025. The reach of WooCommerce extends across millions of websites globally. 3.5% of websites are powered by WooCommerce among 24 million websites across the globe. 5,106,506 live websites currently run on a CMS powered by WooCommerce, demonstrating its massive adoption in the WordPress ecosystem. The cloud hosting sector is experiencing remarkable growth, which directly benefits WooCommerce stores seeking scalable solutions. The fastest-growing type of web hosting is cloud hosting, which has a compound annual growth rate of 18.3% from 2019 to 2025. This growth trajectory creates significant opportunities for WooCommerce businesses to leverage cloud infrastructure. In the cloud hosting market, the Google Cloud platform is becoming increasingly popular. It is used by 38.6 million websites across the globe including Coca-Cola, Snapchat, positioning it as a major player in the cloud hosting ecosystem suitable for WooCommerce deployments. Amazon Web Services provides robust infrastructure options for WooCommerce stores. This plan provides 1GB of RAM, 1 Core processor, 25GB storage, and 1TB of bandwidth, making it a cost-effective choice for hosting your online store. For enterprise-level deployments, Aurora – MySQL-compatible database engine designed for performance. Up to 5X faster than standard MySQL on RDS. DynamoDB – NoSQL database service capable of handling large volumes of data and traffic. WooCommerce stores have specific resource requirements that cloud hosting platforms must address. WooCommerce suggests increasing it to 256MB, but it will depend on your site. WordPress databases have a tendency to get quite bloated over time with old versions of pages, so it's a good idea to regularly clean up your data. Cloud hosting providers are offering multi-cloud approaches to serve WooCommerce stores effectively. Cloudways offers the freedom to choose from five different cloud providers which include DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. Each cloud infrastructure provider offers a unique combination of pricing and data center locations. Modern cloud hosting solutions for WooCommerce focus on performance optimization. The WooCommerce VPS utilizes cloud technology and delivers consistent performance due to the guaranteed CPU power, RAM, and storage. Flexible Amazon cloud compute (EC2) with configurable storage/bandwidth across 28 datacenters. AWS supports dynamic vertical scaling with options to both upgrade and downgrade server resources. Select the perfect fit from their Standard and Compute Optimized server lineup. Google Compute Engine (GCE) is an extremely powerful cloud hosting infrastructure with the efficient performance that comes with Google's brand name. With 28 datacenters worldwide, it provides extensive global coverage for WooCommerce stores. Popular cloud emphasizing consistent performance across 25 datacenters. Choose Linode if you wish top quality performance at a pocket—friendly budget. While cloud hosting offers superior scalability, cost considerations remain important. For small businesses or personal blogs, the cost of hosting on AWS may not justify the benefits. Bluehost hosting offers more affordable and straightforward pricing plans that include essential features like email hosting, cloud hosting and customer support. Technical knowledge requirements can be a barrier for smaller WooCommerce store owners who may lack the expertise to manage complex cloud infrastructure configurations. The continued dominance of WordPress in the web development space supports WooCommerce's growth. WordPress market share is 43.4% across all websites as of April 2025. Among the websites with a known CMS (content management system), that percentage is 61.3%. The market is seeing the emergence of specialized hosting solutions. Powerful and reliable WooCommerce Optimized Managed Cloud Hosting with LiteSpeed Cache, Auto Installer, Staging Sites & WP-CLI support. Start with managed cloud hosting solutions that offer WooCommerce optimization Consider multi-cloud providers for flexibility and cost optimization Focus on performance-optimized hosting with built-in caching solutions Leverage AWS or Google Cloud for maximum scalability and performance Implement database optimization strategies using Aurora or similar high-performance databases Consider dedicated cloud resources with auto-scaling capabilities Choose cloud providers offering seamless scaling options Implement staging environments for testing and development Focus on global content delivery networks for international reach The intersection of WooCommerce and cloud hosting represents a significant opportunity in the e-commerce infrastructure market. With WooCommerce maintaining strong market share and cloud hosting experiencing 18.3% annual growth, the combination creates a powerful ecosystem for online businesses. PHP continues to maintain its position as the most dominant server-side programming language on the web. According to current statistics, 79.2% of all websites rely on PHP as their server-side technology, making it the undisputed leader in web development languages. A significant factor in PHP's dominance is the widespread adoption of WordPress, which is built on PHP. WordPress is used by 62.7% of all websites whose content management system we know, representing 43.4% of all websites globally. This means that nearly every other website on the internet runs on WordPress, directly contributing to PHP's massive market share. The interconnected nature of WordPress and PHP creates a symbiotic relationship where 1/3 of all online shops run on WordPress-powered WooCommerce, further solidifying PHP's position in the e-commerce hosting market. While PHP maintains its web dominance, developer adoption patterns show interesting trends. According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024, which collected insights from over 65,000 developers, only 18.2% of all respondents reported using PHP. Among professional developers, the number is nearly identical at 18.7%. More notably, only 15.2% of new programmers choose PHP as their primary language. This discrepancy between web usage (79.2%) and developer adoption (18.2%) suggests that PHP's dominance is driven more by legacy systems and established platforms like WordPress rather than new development projects. The e-commerce sector continues to drive PHP hosting demand. Data reflects steady growth of 2.9% to 11% annually, with an average of 2,162 new e-commerce sites launching daily between 2024 and 2025. The United States hosts approximately 50% of all e-commerce websites globally, with small businesses making up a significant portion of this market. The hosting industry has evolved significantly, with cloud-based solutions becoming increasingly popular for PHP applications. Leading providers now offer multiple cloud infrastructure options: Cloudways has positioned itself as a leader in managed PHP hosting by offering flexibility to choose from multiple cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and DigitalOcean. The platform is PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2 ready, allowing developers to test and deploy applications with the latest PHP versions. Modern PHP hosting providers offer managed hosting services that include choice between DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud, though typically at an additional cost. These managed solutions eliminate the need for users to worry about updates, initial server setup, or maintenance. Several traditional hosting providers continue to dominate the PHP hosting space: SiteGround : Consistently ranked among top PHP hosting providers : Consistently ranked among top PHP hosting providers BlueHost : recommended hosting with strong PHP support : recommended hosting with strong PHP support A2 Hosting : Known for performance optimization : Known for performance optimization HostGator : Provides comprehensive PHP hosting solutions : Provides comprehensive PHP hosting solutions InMotion Hosting: Offers developer-friendly PHP environments Hostinger : Offers inexpensive PHP hosting with impressive performance from superfast LiteSpeed servers : Offers IONOS : Supports all PHP versions and provides generous resources and strong security : FastComet: Recognized as best PHP hosting for global reach The free PHP hosting segment serves as an entry point for developers and small projects. AccuWeb Hosting stands out as the top recommended free PHP hosting provider, offering high-performance hosting with PHP 8.3 support, SSD storage, and an ad-free experience. Other notable free PHP hosting providers include: GoogieHost : A 100% free PHP host with plenty of features, including free subdomains : A Various other providers offering basic PHP hosting with limitations Modern PHP hosting providers are keeping pace with PHP development by supporting the latest versions: PHP 8.3 : Latest stable version with enhanced performance : Latest stable version with enhanced performance PHP 8.2 : Widely supported across major providers : Widely supported across major providers PHP 8.1 : Standard offering from most hosts : Standard offering from most hosts PHP 8.0 : Legacy support maintained : Legacy support maintained PHP 7.4: Still supported for compatibility Leading PHP hosting providers focus on performance through: LiteSpeed servers for enhanced speed for enhanced speed SSD storage for faster data access for faster data access Built-in caching solutions CDN integration for global performance for global performance Optimized server configurations for PHP applications The PHP hosting market operates within the broader web hosting industry context. At the start of 2025, there were around 1.5 billion live websites and over 5.5 billion internet users. The total number of domain name registrations across all TLDs reached over 368 million in early 2025. The hosting market shows diverse preferences: Shared hosting holds the largest slice of the market share, often cited around 35-38% Cloud hosting has steadily risen after the COVID-19 pandemic Dedicated servers remain the most reliable choice for businesses wanting security and control Over 330,000 web hosting companies operate globally as of 2025 While PHP maintains web dominance, the declining interest among new developers presents both challenges and opportunities: Legacy system maintenance creates ongoing demand creates ongoing demand WordPress ecosystem continues to drive PHP hosting needs continues to drive PHP hosting needs E-commerce growth supports sustained PHP hosting demand supports sustained PHP hosting demand New framework adoption may impact future growth The shift toward cloud-based hosting creates opportunities for PHP hosting providers: Multi-cloud strategies becoming standard becoming standard Managed hosting services gaining popularity gaining popularity Performance optimization becoming key differentiator becoming key differentiator Global reach requirements driving infrastructure expansion Despite changing developer preferences, PHP hosting demand is expected to remain strong due to: WordPress's continued dominance (43.4% of all websites) (43.4% of all websites) E-commerce growth with WooCommerce leading the market with WooCommerce leading the market Legacy system maintenance requirements requirements Small business adoption of PHP-based solutions The PHP hosting industry will likely evolve toward: Enhanced cloud integration across all provider tiers across all provider tiers Improved performance optimization through advanced caching and CDN through advanced caching and CDN Better developer tools and staging environments and staging environments Stronger security features to address growing cyber threats PHP hosting remains a cornerstone of the web hosting industry, driven by PHP's 79.2% market share among websites. While developer adoption rates show a decline, the massive installed base of WordPress sites and growing e-commerce sector ensure continued demand for PHP hosting services. While Cloudways cannot be characterized as leading the overall cloud hosting industry—a distinction that belongs to AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud—the company has established a strong position within the managed cloud hosting niche. Its combination of user-friendly interfaces, performance optimization, and strategic partnerships with major cloud providers creates a compelling value proposition for small and medium-sized businesses seeking enterprise-grade hosting without the complexity of direct cloud management. The company's success in serving over 100,000 businesses and maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings suggests that its approach addresses genuine market needs. However, claims of industry leadership should be contextualized within the managed hosting segment rather than the broader cloud infrastructure market, where established tech giants maintain dominant positions through comprehensive service offerings and massive infrastructure investments. As the cloud hosting market continues to evolve, Cloudways' focus on simplification, performance, and customer success positions it as a significant player in its chosen niche, even if it operates within the shadow of industry giants who define the broader market landscape. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Cloudways Review 2025:What's New in Cloudways Hosting? Full Review
If you've been dealing with hosting nightmares, endlessly juggling cPanel, getting lost in server configurations, or worrying about your site going down during traffic spikes, you're not alone. Hosting is supposed to be simple, reliable, and fast. That's where Cloudways steps in and honestly, it feels like it was built for people like us – service providers, freelancers, developers, agencies, and even non-tech-savvy entrepreneurs. This is not your usual tech-heavy review. No jargons, no complexity. Just an honest experience of what Cloudways offers in 2025 and why more and more people are switching to it. When you first log into Cloudways, it immediately feels different. The dashboard is modern, clean, and makes launching servers or applications feel like a walk in the park. You choose your cloud provider – DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, Google Cloud or Linode. Then you pick the server size that fits your project and boom, you're live. No need to go through complicated server commands or confusing panels. It's all visual, smooth, and just works. What makes Cloudways insanely fast? The secret lies in its custom-built ThunderStack. It combines powerful components like: NGINX + Apache : The two work together to serve dynamic and static content efficiently. : The two work together to serve dynamic and static content efficiently. Varnish Cache : Speeds up page loads up to 10 times for cloud-hosted websites. : Speeds up page loads up to 10 times for cloud-hosted websites. Memcached + Redis : For database-driven sites, these reduce server load and improve performance. : For database-driven sites, these reduce server load and improve performance. PHP-FPM and PHP 8 : These ensure smooth and fast PHP execution. And yes, you can switch between PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.2, and 8.3 with a click. : These ensure smooth and fast PHP execution. And yes, you can switch between PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.2, and 8.3 with a click. MySQL / MariaDB: You get the choice. Most users prefer MariaDB 10.6 for its stability and speed. All this makes your WordPress, WooCommerce, Laravel, or custom PHP apps load significantly faster than typical shared hosting platforms. This is where Cloudways really outshines most managed hosting services. With Cloudflare Enterprise integrated, you're getting the kind of protection and performance previously reserved for large-scale businesses. Here's what you get: Fastest CDN with over 200 global locations with over 200 global locations Image Optimization for faster load times for faster load times Mobile Optimization to serve content based on device to serve content based on device Edge Page Caching for lightning-fast delivery for lightning-fast delivery DDoS Protection and Managed WAF for rock-solid security And you don't have to set up anything manually. Just enable it, and you're done. Cloudways gives you full control over your stack. Want to switch between PHP versions? Do it with a dropdown. Need the latest MariaDB version? You got it. The flexibility is unmatched, especially for developers and agencies who manage multiple types of applications. Security is often made overly technical, but Cloudways makes it simple. With their built-in firewall controls, you can whitelist or block IPs, manage TTLs, and even monitor access history. This kind of control is rare in managed hosting, and it makes you feel like you're in charge without needing to be a cybersecurity expert. Cloudways has introduced some powerful updates that make it more practical and user-friendly than ever: Bulk Domain Management : Add multiple domains to an app in one go. : Add multiple domains to an app in one go. MyDumper Backup Utility : Back up large databases in a fraction of the time. : Back up large databases in a fraction of the time. SafeUpdates with Health Check : Updates are now smarter. They won't run if your app is in a broken state. : Updates are now smarter. They won't run if your app is in a broken state. Redesigned Migration Experience : Moving to Cloudways is now a breeze with their full-page migration interface. : Moving to Cloudways is now a breeze with their full-page migration interface. PHP 8.3 Availability : Get the latest performance benefits instantly. : Get the latest performance benefits instantly. Bandwidth Usage Insights: Especially useful for AWS and Google Cloud users to monitor and control costs. These are not just technical upgrades. They solve real user problems. Need help? The Cloudways Knowledgebase is loaded with step-by-step guides and video tutorials. From billing to advanced server tuning, it's all there. And if you get stuck, their 24/7 live chat support is actually helpful. Not just bot replies. Real humans who know the platform. You only pay for what you use. Plans start as low as $14/month for DigitalOcean servers, and you can scale up or down anytime. There's also a 3-day free trial to test things out before you commit. No credit card required. Absolutely. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur managing a portfolio site, an agency with dozens of client projects, or a SaaS builder, Cloudways meets you where you are and grows with you. It's fast, flexible, secure, and most importantly, human-friendly. If you're tired of traditional hosting panels and unreliable support, give Cloudways a shot. It's hosting without the headache. Try Cloudways for Free Visit and start your 3-day free trial. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From bootstrapped to scale: Venture builder Disrupt.com to invest $100M to fuel next generation of AI startups from the UAE
As global VC funding retreats, three serial entrepreneurs bet on MENA's 'golden moment' for AI, reinvesting their $350M exit to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Dubai, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While venture capital funding contracted globally in 2024, three founders who turned their bootstrapped startup into a $350M exit are taking a contrarian approach. Today, UAE-based venture builder announces a $100M commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally. Founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit - three university friends who grew up in the same household - represents the founders' reinvestment of capital following their successful 2022 exit of cloud hosting platform Cloudways to US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings. The $350M acquisition marked the largest exit in Pakistan's technology sector to date, with the founders now channeling their entrepreneurial expertise and capital back into the ecosystem through a unique venture building approach from their UAE founders: (L to R) Aaqib Gadit, Umair Gadit and Uzair Gadit. Having already deployed over $40M across their portfolio – including in four growth-stage companies built from idea stage, seven investments in early-stage companies, and an exit valued at $350 million – this new $100M commitment represents a significant expansion of their venture building activities. With a dedicated team of 650+ professionals, provides not just capital but also the technical and operational expertise startups need to scale. 'Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience, financial investment and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world as we know it. With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up, but lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us,' said founding partner Aaqib Gadit. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, employs a three-pronged approach to creating value: building their own startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups and VC funds. Through their unique 'CoBuild' model, they function as fractional co-founders, providing dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to drive early adoption in a capital-efficient way. The firm's $100M commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs. The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29% to just under $2B in 2024, according to Magnitt. Saudi startups saw a 44% funding drop to $750M, while UAE funding decreased 8% to $613M, creating a challenging environment for early-stage ventures. current portfolio showcases their model's effectiveness, including ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has scaled to 500,000+ users and hundreds of millions in managed assets; PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture; and UAE-homegrown fitness apparel brand Squatwolf. The firm has already deployed capital as a strategic investor in several AI-focused startups including organizational transformation platform Agentnoon and climate action scaling tool Ahya. Bartolome R. Bordallo, Co-Founder & CEO of ZigChain, highlighted the venture builder's distinctive approach: "Some investors write checks. builds with you. They've helped us scale from a few early adopters to managing hundreds of millions in assets and launching our own blockchain." Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, Co-founders of UAE-based fitness apparel brand Squatwolf, emphasize the founder-first approach: "With Disrupt, you get founder-friendly partners because they're founders themselves. They understand our challenges and opportunities in a way traditional investors simply cannot." Looking ahead, will direct its $100M commitment toward ventures with strong product-market fit, well-researched idea-market alignment, and robust unit economics pointing toward profitability. Ends Media images can be found here. About is a leading venture builder and investor that partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build, scale and invest in high-potential, globally focused technology startups. With a focus on transformative technologies and innovative business models that reshape industries - the firm is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs hands-on expertise and navigating the challenging path to scale. With a portfolio of 10+ companies, including notable exits such as the $350 million acquisition of Cloudways by DigitalOcean, the firm provides a combination of strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to a network of industry leaders. These resources enable startups to achieve the milestones necessary for long-term success. For more information please visit: CONTACT: For further information please contact the Disrupt press office: Bilal Mahmood on or +44 (0) 771 400 in to access your portfolio
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Venture builder Disrupt.com to invest $100mln to fuel next generation of AI startups from the UAE
Dubai, UAE; While venture capital funding contracted globally in 2024, three founders who turned their bootstrapped startup into a $350M exit are taking a contrarian approach. Today, UAE-based venture builder announces a $100M commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally. Founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit - three university friends who grew up in the same household - represents the founders' reinvestment of capital following their successful 2022 exit of cloud hosting platform Cloudways to US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings. The $350M acquisition marked the largest exit in Pakistan's technology sector to date, with the founders now channeling their entrepreneurial expertise and capital back into the ecosystem through a unique venture building approach from their UAE headquarters. Having already deployed over $40M across their portfolio – including in four growth-stage companies built from idea stage, seven investments in early-stage companies, and an exit valued at $350 million – this new $100M commitment represents a significant expansion of their venture building activities. With a dedicated team of 650+ professionals, provides not just capital but also the technical and operational expertise startups need to scale. 'Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience, financial investment and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world as we know it. With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up, but lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us,' said founding partner Aaqib Gadit. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, employs a three-pronged approach to creating value: building their own startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups and VC funds. Through their unique 'CoBuild' model, they function as fractional co-founders, providing dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to drive early adoption in a capital-efficient way. The firm's $100M commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs. The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29% to just under $2B in 2024, according to Magnitt. Saudi startups saw a 44% funding drop to $750M, while UAE funding decreased 8% to $613M, creating a challenging environment for early-stage ventures. current portfolio showcases their model's effectiveness, including ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has scaled to 500,000+ users and hundreds of millions in managed assets; PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture; and UAE-homegrown fitness apparel brand Squatwolf. The firm has already deployed capital as a strategic investor in several AI-focused startups including organizational transformation platform Agentnoon and climate action scaling tool Ahya. Bartolome R. Bordallo, Co-Founder & CEO of ZigChain, highlighted the venture builder's distinctive approach: "Some investors write checks. builds with you. They've helped us scale from a few early adopters to managing hundreds of millions in assets and launching our own blockchain." Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, Co-founders of UAE-based fitness apparel brand Squatwolf, emphasize the founder-first approach: "With Disrupt, you get founder-friendly partners because they're founders themselves. They understand our challenges and opportunities in a way traditional investors simply cannot." Looking ahead, will direct its $100M commitment toward ventures with strong product-market fit, well-researched idea-market alignment, and robust unit economics pointing toward profitability. About Disrupt is a leading venture builder and investor that partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build, scale and invest in high-potential, globally focused technology startups. With a focus on transformative technologies and innovative business models that reshape industries - the firm is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs hands-on expertise and navigating the challenging path to scale. With a portfolio of 10+ companies, including notable exits such as the $350 million acquisition of Cloudways by DigitalOcean, the firm provides a combination of strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to a network of industry leaders. These resources enable startups to achieve the milestones necessary for long-term success. For more information please visit:
Wamda
27-02-2025
- Business
- Wamda
Disrupt.com pledges $100 million investment in next-generation AI startups
UAE-based venture builder has pledged a $100 million commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally. Founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit, the firm's $100 million commitment targets five strategic sectors: AI, cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation in early-stage startups. has already deployed over $40 million across its portfolio, including in four growth-stage companies, seven investments in early-stage companies, and an exit valued at $350 million Press release: While venture capital funding contracted globally in 2024, three founders who turned their bootstrapped startup into a $350 million exit are taking a contrarian approach. Today, UAE-based venture builder announces a $100 million commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally. Founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit—three university friends who grew up in the same household— represents the founders' reinvestment of capital following their successful 2022 exit from cloud hosting platform Cloudways to US-listed Digital Ocean Holdings. The $350 million acquisition marked the largest exit in Pakistan's technology sector to date, with the founders now channelling their entrepreneurial expertise and capital back into the ecosystem through a unique venture-building approach from their UAE headquarters. Having already deployed over $40 million across their portfolio—including in four growth-stage companies built from the idea stage, seven investments in early-stage companies, and an exit valued at $350 million—this new $100 million commitment represents a significant expansion of their venture-building activities. With a dedicated team of 650+ professionals, provides not just capital but also the technical and operational expertise startups need to scale. 'Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience, financial investment and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world as we know it. With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem-solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up but also lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us,' said founding partner Aaqib Gadit. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, employs a three-pronged approach to creating value: building their own startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic investments in early-stage startups and VC funds. Through their unique 'CoBuild' model, they function as fractional co-founders, providing dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to drive early adoption in a capital-efficient way. The firm's $100 million commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, rather than pursuing growth at all costs. The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29% to just under $2 billion in 2024, according to Magnitt. Saudi startups saw a 44% funding drop to $750 million, while UAE funding decreased 8% to $613 million, creating a challenging environment for early-stage ventures. current portfolio showcases their model's effectiveness, including ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has scaled to 500,000+ users and hundreds of millions in managed assets; PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture; and UAE-homegrown fitness apparel brand Squatwolf. The firm has already deployed capital as a strategic investor in several AI-focused startups, including the organisational transformation platform Agentnoon and the climate action scaling tool Ahya. Bartolome R. Bordallo, Co-Founder & CEO of ZigChain, highlighted the venture builder's distinctive approach: "Some investors write checks. builds with you. They've helped us scale from a few early adopters to managing hundreds of millions in assets and launching our own blockchain." Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, co-founders of UAE-based fitness apparel brand Squatwolf, emphasise the founder-first approach: "With Disrupt, you get founder-friendly partners because they're founders themselves. They understand our challenges and opportunities in a way traditional investors simply cannot."
