Masna Ventures, a Saudi-based venture capital firm, has announced the launch of MASNA Ventures Fund I, a USD 100 million (SAR 375M) fund dedicated to investing in the Kingdom’s burgeoning defense sector. The fund aims to accelerate local manufacturing capabilities and the deployment of advanced defense systems within Saudi Arabia.
A Strategic Focus on Localization and US Technology
The fund’s primary strategy is to invest in newly established private Saudi companies that are adapting and harnessing proven technologies from the United States for local manufacturing. This approach is designed to enable in-demand systems to move more rapidly from initial deployment to full-scale operation within the Kingdom.
By focusing on this technology transfer and localization model, Masna Ventures aims to build a robust domestic defense ecosystem capable of supporting the nation’s strategic objectives.
Aligning with Vision 2030
This initiative is in direct alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a comprehensive national strategy for economic diversification. A key pillar of the vision is to localize 50% of the country’s defense spending.
Masna Ventures Fund I is positioned to be a significant catalyst in achieving this goal, providing critical capital to private sector firms that are contributing to a self-sufficient and technologically advanced domestic defense industry.
Investing Across the Defense Ecosystem
Beyond its core focus, the fund will also pursue investment opportunities across the broader defense and industrial landscape. This includes emerging ventures in adjacent categories such as supply chain management, procurement, and logistics.
The fund’s scope also extends to defense and aerospace Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, applications of Artificial Intelligence, and equity investments in the wider manufacturing ecosystem.
About Masna Ventures
Co-founded and led by Lucien Zeigler and Nehal Farooqui, Masna Ventures is a Saudi-based venture capital firm with a specialized focus on the defense sector. The firm seeks to accelerate the deployment and sale of proven, in-demand systems and local manufacturing capabilities to strengthen the Kingdom’s domestic defense ecosystem.
Source: Waya
