Latest news with #DigitalDigest
Morocco World
11 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Climbs to Fourth Place in MENA Startup Funding Rankings
Rabat — Morocco quietly but firmly established itself as a rising tech hub in the Middle East and North Africa startup scene in July 2025. The North African country jumped to fourth place in regional entrepreneurial funding, surpassing Egypt and proving its potential as an emerging technology center. Morocco's strategic advance came through a $7.5 million funding round raised by Ora Technologies. While modest in absolute terms, this deal pushed Morocco into the MENA top five rankings compiled by the Wamda platform and Digital Digest magazine The country now sits ahead of Egypt, which dropped in rankings due to macroeconomic tensions and currency instability. This performance shows Morocco's growing appeal to regional and international investors, particularly in high-potential technology sectors. The funding round signals a shift in perception: Morocco no longer sits on the periphery but actively attracts significant investment in innovative fields. Record month for MENA Startups July 2025 proved exceptional for startup funding across the MENA region. Fifty-seven startups raised a combined $783 million, marking a 1,411% increase from the previous month and more than double the amount recorded in July 2024. Two mega-deals drove this surge: e-commerce company Ninja and deeptech firm XPANCEO together accounted for 56% of the monthly total. In the ranking, Saudi Arabia maintained its regional leadership position with $396.5 million raised across 16 deals. The UAE followed with $359 million spread among 22 startups. Iraq surprised observers by claiming third place through a single $15 million deal for InstaBank. Morocco secured fourth position, while Egypt fell to fifth place with only $4 million raised across seven startups. Seven months into 2025, MENA startup funding has already exceeded the entire 2024 total. This momentum confirms the regional ecosystem's maturation and shows investment diversification beyond traditional hubs. The emergence of markets like Iraq and Morocco in the rankings reflects investors' evolving priorities as they balance immediate scalability with long-term potential. Morocco's top-five positioning demonstrates its ability to integrate into this dynamic ecosystem — one that is rapidly expanding, making its way to the top 10 African startup ecosystems according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025. Tags: Moroccan startupsMoroccoStartups ecosystemStartups in Morocco
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Digital Digest Unveils AI Insights Hub for Australian Businesses
SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA / ACCESS Newswire / June 6, 2025 / Digital Digest, Australia's leading online publication for digital marketing insights, today announced the launch of its new AI Insights Hub. This is a dedicated resource designed to empower Australian businesses and professionals with expert, human-first guidance to navigate through the extensive range of AI tools becoming readily available to the market. The introduction of this comprehensive 'Australian Tailored' hub comes at a pivotal moment, as AI continues to fundamentally reshape every aspect digital marketing and how businesses alike can leverage AI platforms within business in Australia. Recent advancements, including Google's expanded AI Overviews and the integration of AI-powered tools across major platforms like Snapchat and YouTube, underscore the urgent need for clear, actionable intelligence and better understanding for business owners and professionals. The AI Hub will feature a collection of resources, including in-depth research reports on AI comparisions, trends specific to Australia, practical guides and case studies on how to best utilised AI across different industries. Along with this, upcoming exclusive interviews some of Australia's leading digital marketing professionals utilising AI and will provide exclusive insights into their tips and tricks for the best possible outcome. 'AI and Digital Marketing is undergoing an unprecedented transformation in 2025 and the majority driven by AI, and Australian businesses need a trusted partner to navigate these changes effectively,' stated Benjamin Paine, Founder at Digital Digest & Managing Director at Digital Nomads HQ. 'Our new AI Hub is a testament to our commitment to providing experienced insight and that we are dedicated to empowering marketers and business owners with the knowledge and tools necessary to leverage AI's immense potential.' The strategic importance of AI in digital marketing is further highlighted by its ability to enable faster decision-making, improve ROI, and enhance customer relationships through predictive analytics and intelligent automation. Digital Digest's new hub is poised to be an indispensable resource, offering the critical insights needed to capitalise on these opportunities. To explore the new AI Digital Marketing Insights Hub and access its comprehensive resources, please visit Media Contact Organization: Digital Nomads HQ PTY LTD Contact Person Name: Benjamin Paine Website: Email: [email protected] Contact Number: +1300633100 Address: 208/45 Brisbane Road Address 2: Mooloolaba City: Sunshine Coast State: Queensland Country: Australia SOURCE: Digital Nomads HQ PTY LTD press release
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
MENA start-up funding surged threefold to $228mln in April
Venture capital investment in start-ups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) reached $228.4 million across 26 deals in April 2025, posting a threefold increase from a year earlier, according to Wamda and Digital Digest. The capital raised during the month represents a 105% increase from the $111.4 million secured a month ago and up from the $55 million invested 12 months earlier. April did not record any debt-financed deals, indicating a growing preference for equity-based funding among investors, a trend suggesting a sound capital environment. Saudi Arabia led the start-up funding in the region, with $158.5 million raised across eight deals. The UAE followed, with nine start-ups attracting a total of $62 million in funding. In other parts of the MENA region, Morocco posted a significant increase, with two start-ups securing $4 million, placing the country third in the region for April. (Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)
CairoScene
16-04-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
MENA Startups Raised $1.5 Billion in Q1 2025 Despite March Slowdown
MENA startups posted a strong first quarter in 2025, raising $1.5 billion, while March saw a steep decline in funding activity. Apr 16, 2025 Startups across the Middle East and North Africa raised a total of $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to new reports by Wamda and Digital Digest. The figure reflects a strong start to the year, driven largely by fintech investments and UAE-based activity. However, momentum slowed sharply in March, when funding dipped to $127.5 million—down 75% from the $530 million raised in February. The United Arab Emirates continued to dominate regional fundraising, accounting for $104.4 million across 14 deals in March. Egypt followed with $11.6 million, while Saudi Arabia saw $8 million in total investment. Startups in Kuwait and Tunisia each raised just under $2 million. Fintech remained the region's top-funded sector, attracting $82.5 million across 10 transactions in March. This brings total Q1 fintech investments to more than $1 billion, underscoring sustained investor interest in financial innovation despite signs of market volatility. Healthtech startups pulled in $16 million, while AI-focused ventures secured $14 million. While Q1's total funding outpaced the second half of 2024, the March pullback signals ongoing uncertainty in the investment landscape. Analysts note that global macroeconomic pressures and shifting investor priorities are influencing deal flow, with a tilt toward capital-efficient and impact-focused ventures. Despite the monthly dip, the quarter's overall figures reflect MENA's maturing startup ecosystem and its ability to weather fluctuating investment cycles. Early-stage activity continues to gain traction, and several countries—including Saudi Arabia and Egypt—are seeing growing interest from both regional and international venture firms.
TECHx
27-03-2025
- Business
- TECHx
AWS GenAI Loft Dubai to Drive AI Innovation at DIFC
AWS GenAI Loft Dubai to Drive AI Innovation at DIFC The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is set to accelerate AI innovation in the UAE, reinforcing the country's position as the largest hub for startup funding and tech investment in the Middle East and North Africa. Taking place from April 7-11, 2025, at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation One, this event will showcase the latest in AI-powered transformation. This five-day event will showcase cutting-edge AI technologies and their applications across industries. It kicks off with a keynote, followed by panel discussions, live AWS demonstrations, and a networking reception. Attendees will have the chance to engage with AI experts, business leaders, and developers, making this a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and insights. The event aligns perfectly with the UAE's vision for AI leadership. By focusing on real-world AI applications, it provides a platform for startups and developers to learn, collaborate, and innovate. This effort supports the UAE's ongoing push for digital transformation and AI advancements. Startups are central to the AI revolution, and generative AI is set to transform industries. AWS, the world's most comprehensive cloud provider, has committed $230 million to help startups create generative AI applications. The company also launched the second-annual AWS Generative AI Accelerator to support innovation. In 2024, the UAE's startup ecosystem secured 44% of MENA's $2 billion in funding across 542 deals, according to Digital Digest. This growing investment reflects the region's increasing focus on AI-driven startups and innovation. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is part of a global tour that brings AI experiences to innovation hubs around the world. The event will feature expert-led workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and one-on-one consultations with AWS AI/ML specialists. Developers will gain insights into advanced techniques, such as building workflows and tuning AI models. Visitors will also connect with industry leaders, investors, and AI experts. They'll have the chance to attend exclusive sessions and engage in meaningful discussions about generative AI's potential. Yasser Hassan, Director of MENA and Turkey at AWS, said, 'The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai demonstrates our commitment to helping developers of all skill levels build and scale generative AI applications. By collaborating with Nvidia, Dubai AI Campus, and DIFC, we've created a one-stop destination for startups to engage with generative AI technology and stay updated on the latest trends.' The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai promises to be a game-changer, driving innovation and fostering new partnerships in the UAE's tech ecosystem.
