Zeytoon Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm, has officially announced the first close of its debut fund, Zeytoon Ventures Fund I. Launched through the VC Lab program, the fund is specifically designed to identify and support Palestinian founders globally who are building high-growth companies in the healthcare, fintech, and energy sectors.
The firm aims to bridge the gap between world-class talent and the capital necessary to scale on a global stage, drawing inspiration from the historical success of Palestinian-led ventures such as Maktoob, Souq, and Replit.
Strategic Focus On Resilient Innovation
The fund’s investment thesis is rooted in the concept of “resilient innovation,” targeting founders from underrepresented and conflict-affected communities within the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region and its diaspora. By focusing on US-registered companies at the pre-seed and seed stages, Zeytoon Ventures provides a structured pathway for these entrepreneurs to access Silicon Valley networks and global markets. The inaugural fund focuses heavily on three critical pillars: healthcare innovation and medical devices, financial technology, and clean energy solutions.
A Partnership Built On Shared Heritage
Founded by Sharareh Noorbaloochi, an Iranian-American Stanford PhD with experience at Goldman Sachs and C3 AI, and Wissam Balshe, a Palestinian-American with extensive experience in scaling clean energy, the firm represents a cross-cultural collaboration. The name “Zeytoon”—the word for olive tree in both Arabic and Farsi—symbolizes the endurance and strength of the communities the fund serves. While the initial focus remains on Palestinian founders where the team possesses its deepest networks, the long-term vision for Zeytoon Ventures involves expanding support to resilient founders across other MENA regions facing profound uncertainty, including Syria and Lebanon.
Technical And Operational Edge
Beyond providing capital, Zeytoon Ventures leverages a specialized “edge” to support its portfolio companies. This includes deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence applied to healthcare and fintech, alongside two decades of experience in scaling energy infrastructure. By connecting founders to a robust ecosystem of mentors and resources through the VC Lab community, the firm seeks to translate raw talent into globally competitive enterprises that contribute to regional prosperity and dignity.
About Zeytoon Ventures
Zeytoon Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm that partners with resilient founders from underrepresented MENA communities and their diaspora. The firm focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments in US-registered companies, particularly those led by Palestinian founders in the healthcare, fintech, and clean energy sectors. Zeytoon Ventures is dedicated to fostering innovation as a pathway to economic peace and prosperity for conflict-affected regions.
Source: LinkedIn
