UAE-based diversified business Crescent Enterprises has announced a significant $68 million (AED 250 million) investment programme to scale its venture-building platform, CE-Creates. The new capital injection is designed to expand the platform’s mission of building and scaling high-growth, impact-driven startups from the UAE to compete on the global stage.
A New Chapter for Venture Building
The investment marks a major expansion for CE-Creates and is complemented by a key leadership appointment. Rakhil Fernando will take the helm as the new Head of CE-Creates, bringing extensive entrepreneurial and operational experience from his time as a founder and venture studio leader. His background includes roles as CEO of AI-driven fintech Yabi, founder and CEO of BNPL platform Koko, and Managing Director at Daraz (Alibaba Group).
“Having built and scaled companies from the ground up, I know the hurdles founders face. At CE-Creates, entrepreneurs can build with confidence – backed by capital, operating tools, and partnerships that unlock regional and global potential,” said Fernando.
The Venture Studio Model
CE-Creates operates as a sector-agnostic venture studio, deploying patient capital and providing deep, hands-on operational support to transform early-stage concepts into scalable international businesses. This model goes beyond traditional venture funding by offering a structured, stage-gated methodology that guides ventures from idea validation and MVP to go-to-market and scale-up. Each stage is benchmarked against clear performance metrics to enhance product-market fit, mitigate risk, and accelerate growth.
“Our model blends disciplined capital deployment with on-the-ground operating support in ways traditional venture funding often does not—creating the conditions for sustainable growth and international scale,” commented Tushar Singhvi, Deputy CEO and Head of Investments at Crescent Enterprises.
Proven Incubation Success
The platform has already demonstrated its ability to catalyse successful ventures across various sectors. Its portfolio includes Kava & Chai, a brand celebrating the region’s coffee and tea heritage; ION, a company developing sustainable mobility solutions; and BreakBread, a community-focused digital platform for unique food experiences and supper clubs. These ventures exemplify the platform’s capacity to nurture diverse ideas into viable businesses.
Bolstering the UAE’s Startup Ecosystem
This initiative strongly aligns with the UAE’s strategic ambition to position itself as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship. It supports the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ campaign, reinforcing the nation’s reputation as an ideal launchpad for innovative businesses. The UAE recently secured the top ranking in the 2024-2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for the fourth consecutive year.
Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises, stated, “The UAE has become a launchpad for serious builders, and our collective vision is for the country to be known as the start-up capital of the world. With CE-Creates, our venture-building platform, we’re helping entrepreneurs convert purpose into performance – locally proven, globally competitive.”
About CE-Creates
CE-Creates is the internal venture-building platform of Crescent Enterprises. It functions as a sector-agnostic venture studio dedicated to turning early-stage concepts into globally competitive businesses. By deploying patient capital, deep operational expertise, and ecosystem access, CE-Creates builds and scales high-growth, impact-driven startups capable of expanding from the MENA region to international markets.
Source: Wamda
