CE-Ventures, the UAE-based venture capital platform of Crescent Enterprises, has announced its participation in two major investment rounds for Plaid and Mesh, two leading companies building the critical infrastructure for the global financial sector. The combined value of the funding rounds totals over $650 million.
By the Numbers
- $657 Million: The combined total value of the two funding rounds.
- $575 Million: The size of Plaid’s major funding round.
- $82 Million: The size of Mesh’s Series B funding round.
A Strategic Push into Open and Digital Finance
This pair of investments highlights CE-Ventures’ strategic vision to support the global shift towards open, programmable financial systems powered by digital assets. The UAE-based firm is focused on backing the foundational platforms that provide the essential connectivity and technical infrastructure for the future of fintech and digital currencies.
The Portfolio Companies: Building the Future of Fintech
CE-Ventures has invested in two of the most significant infrastructure players in the financial technology space:
- Plaid: A leader in open banking, Plaid’s technology allows users to securely connect their bank accounts to financial apps and services, enabling a wide range of functions from lending and payments to budgeting.
- Mesh: A developer of blockchain-based infrastructure that enables the seamless transfer of digital assets, including stablecoins, between different digital wallets, trading platforms, and applications.
Investing Alongside Global Powerhouses
The deals place CE-Ventures alongside some of the world’s most prominent investors. The $575 million round in Plaid was led by Franklin Templeton and included giants like Fidelity and BlackRock. The $82 million Series B in Mesh was led by the leading crypto-native fund, Paradigm, with participation from Consensys.
About CE-Ventures
CE-Ventures is the corporate venture capital platform of Crescent Enterprises, a major diversified conglomerate based in the UAE. The firm makes strategic investments in early and growth-stage technology-enabled companies globally, with a focus on high-growth sectors.
Looking Ahead
These investments showcase the strategy of major UAE-based VCs to not only cultivate the local ecosystem but also to take significant stakes in the global companies that will define the future of technology. By backing the “plumbing” of the new financial system, CE-Ventures is cementing the UAE’s role as a key player in the global fintech landscape.
Source: Jawlah
