London to host 35+ late-staged MENA founders, led by Key Capital and regional partners

London, September 16, 2026 - More than 30 technology founders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will head to London in September to meet global venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices and strategic partners with the objective of connecting with international capital to fuel further growth, during Key Trek 2026, organized by VC secondaries asset manager Key Capital.

While geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, MENA's technology ecosystem has continued to mature, producing companies that are increasingly attracting international capital and expanding into global markets.

“Periods of uncertainty do not stop great companies from being built - they simply make capital more selective,” said Basil Moftah, managing partner at Key Capital. “The MENA founder ecosystem continues to thrive despite the challenging situation. The quality of entrepreneurs emerging from the MENA region has never been stronger and these founders are committed to drive growth and innovation, all while generating wealth and creating jobs and legacy. Key Capital's role is to ensure international investors continue to meet these founders and incorporate them into their global portfolios. Long-term investment decisions should be driven by exceptional businesses rather than short-term headlines.”

Key Trek 2026 - this year in its fourth edition - is a week-long programme that brings together many of the region's most promising late-staged founders attracting strong participation from leading global investors. It includes a series of curated meetings, sector-focused discussion panels and sessions, as well as private dinners. Key Trek serves as a platform, facilitating strategic introductions that can lead to long-term business relationships and partnerships, introducing a pool of companies valued at over $150bn to international investors. Just last year, the programme encompassed 270 targeted meetings, 35 international investors and 32 MENA companies.

The fourth edition will seek to highlight the depth and breadth of the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem, and will include companies from a broad range of technology sectors: AI and data, fintech and financial infrastructure, enterprise software, cybersecurity, deep technology, logistics and mobility, proptech and vertical SaaS. Participating companies will include market-proven firms such as real estate platform PRYPCO, unified AI infrastructure firm ThinkAI, healthtech BioSapien, logistics and digital trade document provider CargoX, financial infrastructure for B2B commerce SILQ, and SME digital banking/business solutions Hala (full list here).

“These highly curated and personalised opportunities to engage with the international investor community are invaluable. New capital will accelerate our mission to simplify real estate transactions through tools and knowledge, injecting efficiency via technology to the mortgage and property business,” explained Amira Sajwani, PRYPCO founder and CEO. While CargoX CEO, Tomaso Rodríguez, explained: “ongoing funding at different stages of a company's journey is fundamental to achieve critical mass and deliver value to investors, customers and employees. For us it's about thriving with the right partners to disrupt the logistics market.”

Key Trek 2026 is supported by strategic ecosystem partners, including RAED Ventures, VentureSouq and Hub71.

“As we think about moving the MENA entrepreneurial ecosystem forward, programmes like Key Trek and Key Capital with its secondary capital offering, facilitating founder and early investors' exits while providing liquidity, are a critical part of the puzzle. The talent in the region is extraordinary and supporting high growth businesses with growth capital is the next step in their global ambitions,” explained Omar Majdouie, founding partner at RAED Ventures.

Ahmad Ali Alwan, Hub71 CEO, said: “Capital and talent increasingly move in both directions between the UK and the UAE, and Key Trek is one of the few programmes built deliberately around that. Global connectivity is central to how we create value for founders that increasingly face questions about international markets, later-staged capital and liquidity. Joining Key Trek for a second year further confirms our commitment to enable high-growth companies with the connections to keep building, improving and disrupting.”

Key Trek 2026 will run from September 30 to October 7 in London, UK.