Abu Dhabi · Pre-Series A venture capital

Fuelling growth and success by

Investing in people.

Access Bridge Ventures is a $35M pre-Series A fund backing exceptional founders across the Middle East and North Africa — often as their first institutional investor, leading the round and staying for the journey.

Submit your deck ↗ Meet Issa Aghabi →

$35M fund Pre-Series A stage MENA focus Round lead first cheque

01 / The record

Institutional pedigree. Early-stage conviction.

Eighteen-plus years of MENA venture — from the region's first funds to heading IFC's venture investments — behind every cheque the fund writes today.

$35MCurrent fund · pre-Series A

$150M+MENA venture funds managed

65+Direct & indirect deals · $100K–$25M

5Named MENA exits

2IPOs supported

18+Years in MENA venture

Exits include Jawaker Intaj Mumzworld Souq Vezeeta

Track record of founder Issa Aghabi ahead of launching Access Bridge Ventures. The fund launched at $25M and stands at $35M today.

02 / The founder

Issa Aghabi, Founder and Managing Director of Access Bridge Ventures

Issa Aghabi Founder & Managing Director

From the Arab world's first venture funds to the IFC — and back to the earliest cheque.

Issa's career has focused on finance and investments since 2004, with a focus on venture capital. Before founding Access Bridge Ventures, he headed IFC's venture investments across the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Europe — both direct and fund-of-funds — and along the way invested in 65+ deals, managed over $150M in MENA venture funds, launched the UAE's first accelerator and exited MENA companies including Souq, Mumzworld and Vezeeta.

2004Investment banking
Starts in finance and investments.
2006Founding member, Accelerator Technologies
One of the first venture funds in the Arab world.
ThenM&A consultant, Yahoo!
ThenHead of Investment, N2V
MENA's first venture builder.
ThenHead of Investments & Venture Capital, twofour54
Abu Dhabi's media and technology hub.
IFCHead of venture investments — MENA, Pakistan & Europe
Direct and indirect (accelerators, fund-of-funds), for the World Bank Group's IFC.
TodayFounder & Managing Director, Access Bridge Ventures
An early-stage fund in Abu Dhabi, over 21 investments to date and growing.

MBA — Strategy, Entrepreneurship, M&A & Corporate Finance, Cass Business School (City, University of London) · BComm, Concordia University.

Read the full bio & meet the team →

03 / The approach

WHO WE ARE

A pre-Series A, $35M venture capital fund

Investing in entrepreneurs across the Middle East and North Africa — and on a case-by-case basis outside these regions, if it is within our core sectors.

WHAT WE DO

The first institutional investor

We look for exceptional leaders and support their journey from as early as the first institutional cheque. When we invest, we like to lead the round and support our partners throughout their journey.

HOW WE DO IT

Networks, experience, governance

We provide value by leveraging exceptional networks across the region, our collective investment and operational experience, strong governance and overall discipline.

What we look for

MENA focus
Superstar team
Traction & validation
Capital efficiency
Scalability
Defensibility
Sector leaders & innovators
Unfair advantage
Clear exit path

04 / Sector focus

A generalist tech investor, with preference for six sectors.

HealthTech

Enterprise Tech & SaaS

EduTech

Ecommerce & Enablers

Fintech

Marketplaces

05 / Portfolio

24 companies. 2 exits. Growing.

View full portfolio → As of July 2026

Partnering with Access Bridge Ventures has been a game-changer for us. Their team is top-notch, always there to dive deep into the details and offer hands-on guidance, really adding value. They're founder-friendly and genuinely care about our success, consistently advocating for our benefit and ensuring our rights are protected during fundraising and exit negotiations.

Hossam TaherPortfolio founder

Beyond being a significant financial investor, Access Bridge Ventures plays a crucial role in assisting us with capital raising, offering strategic insights, and facilitating key introductions to potential clients.

Omar Abu InnabPortfolio founder

Working with Access Bridge Ventures has been transformative for BMP. Not only did [ABV] lead our funding round, their strategic guidance and network have been invaluable. Their commitment to our success goes beyond financial backing; it's a partnership built on trust and mutual respect.

Amer AqqadBMP

06 / The team