Latest news with #StrideVentures
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Gully Labs raises Rs 8.7 crore in seed funding round
Gully Labs, a New Delhi-based sneaker brand has raised Rs 8.7 crore ($1 million) in seed funding round comprising of Rs 7.6 crore in equity and Rs 1.1 crore in venture debt. The funding round was led by Zeropearl VC, with participation from Stride Ventures and angel investors such as Vivekananda Hallekere, Suhasini Sampath, Nishchay AG, Ashutosh Valani among others. Gully Labs will use the funding to diversify its product mix, boost production, scale up its sales channels, and establish physical retail stores. Commenting on the funding, Arjun Singh and Animesh Mishra, founders of Gully Labs in a statement said, 'This round is a big step forward for us. We believe Indian stories deserve a global stage — not just in film and art, but in what people wear every day. With this support, we'll bring more culturally rooted, design-led sneakers to India and beyond.' Bipin Shah, founder at Zeropearl VC added, 'Gully Labs is exactly the kind of brand our Indi luxe thesis champions — proudly Indian, product-obsessed, and globally aspirational. We're excited to help them take Indian craftsmanship to the world.' Founded in 2023, Gully Labs currently retails through its website and select retail partners. With this investment, the brand Gully plans to go omnichannel with exclusive branded outlets.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Stride Ventures eyes business in Saudi Arabia to fuel regional expansion plans
Riyadh – Stride Ventures, a global venture debt firm, has unveiled plans to launch a business in Saudi Arabia in line with its growth strategy in the GCC region. Stride Ventures currently boasts an active investment pipeline of up to $110 million across the region, with an average cheque size of $10 million per transaction, according to a press release. It aims to triple its GCC assets under management (AUM) by 2026, targeting $500 million in commitments over the next three or five years. This robust pipeline signals both the scale of opportunity and the growing appetite among Middle Eastern founders for strategic, founder-friendly debt capital. Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures, commented: 'Saudi Arabia is shaping the future of venture capital and private credit with intention and scale.' 'We are seeing a new generation of founders who understand the value of non-dilutive capital to scale responsibly and an equally ambitious set of investors in the region ready to fuel their growth,' Javed added.
Fintech News ME
3 days ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Stride Ventures Expands in Saudi as Venture Debt Surges in GCC
Stride Ventures, a India-based player in venture debt, has announced a significant expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with Saudi Arabia at the centre of its regional strategy. This includes doubling its local team and opening a second regional office, signalling a growing focus on alternative financing models in the region. The announcement aligns with the release of the inaugural Global Venture Debt Report 2025, published by Stride Ventures in collaboration with consultancy firm Kearney. According to the report, while the global venture debt market has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% over the past five years, the GCC market has expanded at 54% CAGR, reaching US$500 million in 2024 from $60 million in 2020. Saudi Arabia has been a key driver of this growth. This development is largely attributed to Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's initiative to diversify its economy beyond oil. State-backed efforts such as the Jada Fund of Funds, which manages US$1.07 billion in assets, and collaborations with international asset managers including Goldman Sachs and Franklin Templeton, have helped bolster private credit markets. Regulatory bodies and innovation hubs in Abu Dhabi, such as the ADGM and Hub71, have also contributed to creating a supportive environment for venture debt and private capital. Historically, traditional banks in the GCC have been hesitant to lend to early-stage, asset-light startups. Venture debt, which offers non-dilutive and flexible financing, has emerged as a viable alternative. Companies like Tabby and Tamara in the fintech sector have secured over US$100 million each in venture debt deals, setting precedents for other sectors such as logistics, healthtech, and climate tech. Stride Ventures has grown its team in the GCC by more than 60% over the past year and aims to triple its regional assets under management by 2026. The firm is targeting a US$500 million commitment in the region over the next three to five years. Its most recent fund is reportedly close to being oversubscribed. Currently, Stride Ventures has an active investment pipeline of approximately US$110 million in the region, with average deal sizes around US$10 million. This points to increasing demand among startups for debt financing that avoids equity dilution. Stride's model of providing substantial, flexible funding is intended to support startups aiming for rapid but sustainable growth. There is also a noticeable shift in talent flows, with senior professionals from established financial centres such as Silicon Valley, London, and Singapore relocating to Riyadh. 'Saudi Arabia is shaping the future of venture capital and private credit with intention and scale,' said Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures. 'We are seeing a new generation of founders who understand the value of non-dilutive capital to scale responsibly and an equally ambitious set of investors in the region ready to fuel their growth.' This signals a broader shift in the region's financial role. Traditionally viewed as a source of capital, the Middle East is now positioning itself as a centre for innovation financing. As Javed noted, 'Saudi Arabia is moving from being a capital source to becoming a capital magnet. Stride is proud to be part of this next chapter.' The key question now is not whether venture debt will take hold in the GCC, but how quickly it will scale, and whether regional institutions can evolve to meet the needs of a changing investment landscape.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Venture debt finds a new home in the Middle East: Stride Ventures doubles down on Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh - In a striking signal of the Middle East's rapid financial maturation, Stride Ventures, a leading player in the global venture debt market, has announced significant expansion of its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council- with Saudi Arabia at the epicentre of its ambitions. The move, which includes doubling its local team and opening a second regional office, is emblematic of a broader shift: the Kingdom is not just attracting capital, but fundamentally redefining the region's approach to startup financing. Stride Ventures' announcement coincides with the publication of the inaugural Global Venture Debt Report 2025, produced by team Stride in partnership with global consultancy Kearney. The report paints a compelling picture: while the global venture debt market has grown at a robust 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years, the GCC—led by Saudi Arabia—has outpaced this by a factor of nearly four, clocking an extraordinary 54% CAGR. The regional venture debt market reached $500 million in 2024, up from a mere $60 million in 2020, underscoring both the scale and speed of change. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a sweeping reform agenda aimed at diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons, is at the heart of this transformation. The government's proactive stance is evident in initiatives such as the Jada Fund of Funds (with $1.07 billion in assets under management), and strategic partnerships with global asset managers including Goldman Sachs and Franklin Templeton. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's ADGM and Abu Dhabi's Hub71 are providing the regulatory and infrastructural backbone for private credit and venture activity across the region. Traditional banks in the GCC have long been risk-averse, often shying away from lending to early-stage, asset-light startups. Venture debt- a non-dilutive, flexible, and tailored to the needs of high-growth companies- has stepped into this void. The region's fintech and e-commerce champions, such as Tabby and Tamara, have already closed venture debt deals exceeding $100 million each, providing a template for other sectors including logistics, healthtech, and climate tech. Stride's expansion is timed to capture this momentum. The firm has increased its GCC team by over 60% in the past year, with a stated goal of tripling its regional assets under management by 2026. Stride is targeting a half a billion dollar commitment in the region over the next three to five years, while its latest fund has already attracted strong investor interest- on track to be oversubscribed within just a few months. Stride Ventures now boasts an active investment pipeline of up to $110 million across the region, with an average cheque size of $10 million per transaction. This robust pipeline signals both the scale of opportunity and the growing appetite among Middle Eastern founders for strategic, founder-friendly debt capital. Stride's approach- offering sizable and flexible financing to ambitious startups- positions it as a critical enabler of the region's next wave of unicorns. Perhaps most telling is the influx of global talent. Senior executives from Silicon Valley, London, and Singapore are relocating to Riyadh, lured by the region's capital abundance and policy stability. 'Saudi Arabia is shaping the future of venture capital and private credit with intention and scale,' says Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures. 'We are seeing a new generation of founders who understand the value of non-dilutive capital to scale responsibly and an equally ambitious set of investors in the region ready to fuel their growth' The implications are profound. The Middle East, long seen as a passive capital provider, is repositioning itself as an active hub for innovation finance. As Fariha puts it: 'Saudi Arabia is moving from being a capital source to becoming a capital magnet. Stride is proud to be part of this next chapter.' The question now is not whether venture debt will take root in the GCC, but rather how quickly it will scale- and how the region's regulatory and institutional frameworks can keep pace with the ambitions of its entrepreneurs and financiers. About Stride Ventures Founded in 2019, Stride Ventures has deployed over $1Billion in venture debt across 180+ companies globally (17 of which are unicorns). With its latest expansion, the firm cements its status as a pioneer in the Middle East's rapidly evolving financial and entrepreneurial landscape. Know more:
Business Wire
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
UK Leads Europe's Venture Debt Surge: Stride Ventures and Kearney Unveil Global Venture Debt Report
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stride Ventures, a leading growth credit firm with a global footprint, in partnership with global management consultancy Kearney, today launched the Global Venture Debt Report 2025 at a London event co-hosted by both firms. The report presents the most comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the global Venture Debt (VD) and Growth Lending (GL) landscape across India, the GCC, Southeast Asia, and Europe. As venture capital funding becomes selective, alternative financing is gaining ground. The report reveals Europe's VD and GL market reached $19.78 billion in 2024, growing at a 21% CAGR since 2018. While deal volumes declined due to macroeconomic pressures, adoption of structured debt continues to deepen across the continent. 'The European growth lending ecosystem is at an inflection point—scaling fast, maturing steadily, and moving beyond traditional equity-first mindsets,' said Ravneet Mann, Partner (UK), Stride Ventures. 'The UK, in particular, is cementing its status as Europe's most active venture debt hub, underpinned by progressive reforms, late-stage startup activity, and strong institutional participation. This report aims to offer clarity, benchmarks, and foresight for founders, investors, and regulators navigating this evolving capital landscape.' Europe's VD landscape is transforming, with the UK emerging as the most active market, accounting for ~18% of all VD/GL deals in 2024. Late-stage companies drew 82% of total VD/GL value. In a survey of 200+ founders, VCs, and investors, 82% cited growth financing as the top use case for venture and growth lending. Fintech remained the leading sector for VD/GL deployment in FY26. The survey predicts fintech will attract the highest VD (47%) in FY26, followed by healthtech (28%) and cleantech (25%) - reflecting a shift toward mission-driven, regulation-resilient sectors. Despite macroeconomic headwinds that cut European deal volume from 967 in 2023 to 589 in 2024, the venture debt-to-VC ratio rose from 16% in 2018 to 30% in 2024—highlighting momentum. Europe has a fragmented regulatory landscape, with no unified definition of venture debt. Although 'growth lending' is more commonly used to capture non-dilutive debt financing tailored for venture-backed and high-growth companies, typically at late stages of their scale-up journey, it includes the broader scope of structured debt instruments—ranging from term loans to asset-backed and warehouse financing. In the UK, reforms through Mansion House and FCA regulations aim to unlock initiatives like £1B+ in pension fund capital and foster a transparent, innovation-friendly funding environment. 'Venture debt is increasingly establishing itself as a crucial financing tool in the global venture ecosystem. As this asset class expands, it plays a vital role in helping founders scale efficiently while preserving equity. Yet, it remains underutilized in many markets—offering untapped potential,' said Sebastian Drescher, Partner, Kearney. 'As a former founder, I understand the need for diverse financing avenues. The next phase of growth will depend on how well global ecosystems integrate venture debt as a mainstream instrument.' While Europe's market shows maturity and depth, it faces uneven adoption. By contrast, in the GCC VD surged at a 54% CAGR from 2018-2024. In India, the venture debt market reached $1.23 billion in 2024—just 10% of total VC flow—indicating significant room for growth. Europe's strengths lie in deal value and institutional appetite. The absence of harmonised frameworks limits innovation and seamless cross-border capital flows. To unlock its full potential, the region can diversify its lender base—currently ~30 active VD players compared to 250+ in the US—and expand beyond the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The Report Link:
