The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, has announced plans to invest in five new venture capital funds as part of a significant expansion of its “Fund of Funds” initiative, now valued at $3 billion. This strategic move aims to accelerate the development of Qatar as a premier venture capital hub in the region.
The newly selected funds include Greycroft, Ion Pacific, Liberty City Ventures, Shorooq, and Speedinvest. A key component of the partnership requires each of these VCs to establish offices in Doha, further integrating them into the local startup ecosystem and contributing to its growth.
From Momentum to Scale
The “Fund of Funds” program, first launched in 2024, was designed to attract top-tier venture capital firms to Qatar, foster a dynamic environment for entrepreneurs, and advance the country’s economic diversification away from fossil fuels.
The recent expansion signals a new phase of this strategy. During the opening of the Web Summit Qatar conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani highlighted the country’s intensified commitment.
“This year, we move from momentum to scale,” he stated, underlining the ambition behind the program’s increased capital.
Expanding Investment Horizons
Initially focused on Series A and B funding rounds, the expanded program will now broaden its scope to include later-stage investments. This adjustment will allow the QIA to engage with a wider range of fund managers and support startups through more advanced growth phases.
“We are now expanding the scope to do later rounds, so that may open up conversations with a different set of managers,” said Mohsin Pirzada, Head of Funds at QIA.
Pirzada clarified that the initiative will maintain its flexibility. “We will continue to be quite flexible and support earlier stages as well, but there are sufficient pools of capital within the country to go after those types of opportunities,” he added, pointing to existing credit lending facilities.
A Differentiated Offering
To further enhance its appeal, Qatar has introduced a pilot computing credit program. This initiative provides free computing resources to startups based in Doha, offering a tangible advantage for tech-intensive companies. Managers participating in the Fund of Funds program can also leverage this offering for their portfolio companies.
According to Pirzada, this program is set to be “a big differentiator in terms of what our program is offering vis-a-vis our peers in the region.”
About The Qatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. Established in 2005, its mission is to invest, manage, and grow the country’s reserves to create long-term value for future generations. With an estimated $580 billion in assets under management, QIA invests across a diverse range of asset classes and regions globally, playing a critical role in Qatar’s economic diversification strategy.
Source: Zawya
