EnterVentures, a leading Palestinian consulting firm specializing in startup ecosystem development, has announced the launch of the Athar Fund. This new initiative, powered by the Fadi Kassis Family Office, aims to provide critical private capital to Palestinian tech founders residing in the West Bank.
Direct Equity Investment For Seed-Stage Founders
Unlike traditional donor-funded programs prevalent in the region, the Athar Fund operates as a private investment vehicle with incentives aligned directly with founder success. For this initial round, the fund plans to invest in 4 to 5 startups, offering $50,000–$60,000 in exchange for 7–8% equity.
The fund is specifically targeting seed-stage tech-enabled solutions that are built for local, regional, or global markets. Beyond capital, selected startups will receive:
- Board-level strategic advisory to guide long-term growth.
- Fundraising support and introductions to a broader network of international investors.
- Mentorship from experienced professionals who have successfully scaled businesses.
Target Profile And Eligibility
The Athar Fund seeks to partner with disciplined founding teams who have moved beyond the ideation phase. Eligibility criteria for applicants include:
- Residence: Founders must be residents of the West Bank.
- Product Maturity: Startups must have a functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or be on its second version.
- Team Composition: A minimum of 2–3 co-founders is required; solo founders or teams without technical leadership will not be considered at this stage.
- Performance: Companies should be generating $50,000–$100,000 in revenue or possess strong, documented user validation.
Streamlined Application Process
To maintain a focus on business building rather than administrative reporting, the fund has established a straightforward rolling review process. Interested founders are required to submit a pitch deck (maximum 20 slides), a five-minute video, a financial model, and a cap table. The selection process includes an initial review, followed by interviews, due diligence, and a final decision by the investment committee.
About EnterVentures
EnterVentures is a boutique consulting firm founded in 2010 by Laith Kassis, a veteran ecosystem expert with over two decades of experience in innovation-driven development. The firm has a proven track record of mobilizing over $25 million for the Palestinian ecosystem and has supported more than 90 startups. EnterVentures has spearheaded numerous transformative initiatives, including the Paltel Group Innovation Hub (Fikra) and the realization of the Palestine-India Techno Park.
Source: Laith Kassis (LinkedIn)
