A consortium of leading MENA venture capital firms, including Saudi Arabia’s STV, Sukna Ventures, Oraseya Capital, Phaze Ventures, and the UAE’s Wamda Capital, has participated in a $12 million funding round for Clarity, an AI-powered customer experience platform. The investment in the London-based startup, which also has an office in Riyadh, signals a strategic move by regional investors to back high-growth, compliant AI technologies with global potential.
A Strategic Bet On Safe AI
The participation of top-tier MENA funds underscores a growing regional focus on “safe, regulated agentic AI.” Clarity’s platform is designed specifically for highly regulated industries like banking and government, where accuracy and compliance are critical. This focus addresses a key challenge for businesses struggling to balance the benefits of AI with its risks. The investment enables Clarity to expand its applied-AI teams in key hubs, including Riyadh. In a statement, STV called Clarity a “category-defining company” and expressed excitement in backing their global journey.
The “Careem Mafia” Connection
Clarity’s founders, CEO Abed Kasaji and CTO Pavel Kochetkov, are both alumni of Careem, placing them within the influential “Careem mafia” network of founders. This deep connection to the MENA startup ecosystem provides a strong foundation for the company’s regional operations and aligns with the VCs’ strategy of backing proven local and diaspora talent. The company’s existing partnerships with regional giants like Careem and STC further solidify its relevance and traction in the Middle East.
Impressive Growth And Global Reach
Formerly known as Anecdote, Clarity has demonstrated significant market traction, reporting a 5.4x year-on-year revenue surge and average monthly growth of over 20% in 2025. The funding round was led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from other global investors and angels from OpenAI and Google. Clarity’s platform combines voice-of-customer intelligence, AI agents, and support automation to help companies securely understand and serve their customers.
About STV
Saudi Technology Ventures (STV) is a leading venture capital fund in the Middle East. It backs and scales the region’s most ambitious and disruptive technology companies, focusing on creating regional champions and supporting their growth into global markets.
About Wamda Capital
Wamda Capital is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm in the MENA region. It invests in and supports high-growth technology startups, leveraging its deep regional expertise and extensive network to help founders build lasting enterprises.
About Clarity
Clarity is an enterprise platform that helps global companies better understand and serve their customers securely. Based in London, with offices in New York and Riyadh, Clarity provides a 3-in-1 platform combining voice-of-customer intelligence, AI agents, and support automation, with a focus on safety and compliance for regulated industries.
Source: Zawya
