Industries We Invest In — Where We Build Ventures at Valu.vc
The industries we invest in span more than fifteen verticals across the GCC, from banking and telecoms to healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Valu.vc operates at the intersection of venture capital, venture studio, and corporate innovation, building and funding companies that solve sector-specific challenges. Whether you are a founder validating a business case, a corporate seeking innovation partnerships, or an investor evaluating sector exposure, our industry playbooks provide the detail you need. Explore each vertical below, then apply for funding or contact our team to start a conversation.
Is this you?
- A founder building a startup in banking, telecoms, healthcare, logistics, or any of the sectors listed below
- A corporate innovation lead scouting startups within your industry vertical
- An investor seeking to understand which GCC sectors Valu.vc backs and at what stage
- A policy maker or industry body mapping the venture landscape across key economic sectors
- A professional services firm advising clients on venture opportunities within specific industries
The industries we invest in
Each of the industries we invest in has a dedicated playbook page with tailored guidance on venture building, funding criteria, and corporate partnership models. Select your vertical to explore further.
Banking and Finance — Digital banking, SME lending, open banking, regtech, and payment infrastructure across CBB, SAMA, and ADGM-regulated markets.
Telecoms — 5G-enabled services, IoT platforms, edge computing, and digital identity solutions in partnership with GCC telecom operators.
Insurance — Insurtech covering digital distribution, AI-driven underwriting, claims automation, and embedded insurance products.
Healthcare — Telemedicine, health data interoperability, AI diagnostics, and digital therapeutics addressing regional public health priorities.
Energy and Utilities — Clean energy, smart grid, carbon tracking, and sustainability technology aligned with GCC net-zero commitments.
Logistics — Last-mile delivery, fleet optimisation, warehouse automation, and trade facilitation across the Middle East logistics corridor.
Retail and E-commerce — Direct-to-consumer platforms, omnichannel retail tech, personalised commerce, and last-mile fulfilment innovation.
Real Estate — PropTech including smart building management, fractional ownership, real estate tokenisation, and construction technology.
Education — EdTech for K-12, higher education, vocational training, and corporate learning across Arabic and English-language markets.
Agriculture and Food — AgriTech and FoodTech including precision farming, vertical agriculture, food supply chain traceability, and alternative proteins.
Government Services — GovTech spanning digital identity, smart city infrastructure, e-government platforms, and public sector procurement innovation.
Manufacturing — Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, digital twin technology, and supply chain resilience tools for GCC industrial bases.
Media and Entertainment — Content streaming, gaming, creator economy platforms, and immersive media across the Arabic-speaking world.
Travel and Hospitality — Smart tourism, booking platform innovation, guest experience technology, and destination management solutions.
Professional Services — LegalTech, HRTech, accounting automation, and consulting platforms transforming how professional services firms operate.
Why we back these industries we invest in
Our selection of the industries we invest in is grounded in three strategic considerations. First, each vertical represents a significant share of GCC GDP and is explicitly prioritised in national transformation agendas including Saudi Vision 2030, Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, and the UAE Centennial Plan. By aligning our venture activity with national priorities, we position portfolio companies for regulatory support, government procurement, and sovereign investment.
Second, we concentrate on industries where our venture studio model can build defensible intellectual property. Sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and logistics produce rich datasets and recurring revenue models that generate venture-scale returns. Our studio has produced ventures across multiple of the industries we invest in, leveraging the UK-GCC bridge and our London licence to access talent and capital on both sides.
Third, we prioritise industries with high corporate innovation demand. The GCC is home to large, well-capitalised incumbents in banking, telecoms, energy, and government services that actively seek startup partnerships. This creates a dual exit pathway for our portfolio: traditional venture returns through acquisition or IPO, plus corporate venture client revenues that extend runway and validate product-market fit. Our 25 portfolio companies, 5 exits, and 2 pre-IPO positions demonstrate this thesis in practice.
How we build ventures across the industries we invest in
Valu.vc deploys a three-layered approach across the industries we invest in, reflecting the different maturity stages and capital requirements of each vertical.
- Venture studio (build): For sectors where we identify unmet demand and no existing startup meets the brief, we originate ventures in-house. This is common in regulated industries such as banking, insurance, and government services, where domain expertise and compliance navigation are prerequisites. A studio build typically moves from concept to MVP in twelve to sixteen weeks.
- Accelerator (grow): For existing startups within the industries we invest in, our accelerator programme provides mentorship, operational support, and access to our 1,000+ mentor network. Cohorts run quarterly with a focus on product-market fit, go-to-market execution, and enterprise sales readiness. Cheques of $50K to $150K are standard at this stage.
- Innovation hub (scale): For later-stage ventures and corporate partnerships, our innovation hub labs provide physical and virtual infrastructure for co-development, pilot deployment, and market expansion. This layer is particularly active in capital-intensive industries such as energy, telecoms, and logistics, where startups benefit from corporate testbeds and procurement pathways.
Across all three layers, our investment committee evaluates opportunities using a consistent framework: market size within the GCC, regulatory viability, founding team capability, defensibility of the technology or business model, and alignment with at least one of the industries we invest in. We respond to all applications within five working days and aim to complete initial screening within three weeks.
What you get
Founders, corporates, and investors engaging with Valu.vc across the industries we invest in gain access to a full-stack venture platform rather than a single-point solution.
| Audience | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Founders | Pre-seed and seed funding ($50K–$150K), venture studio resources, accelerator programme access, mentorship from 1,000+ experts, UK-GCC bridge for market expansion, and corporate introduction pathways |
| Corporates | Venture client and CVC model deployment, curated startup sourcing within your industry, pilot design and governance, innovation capability building, and co-investment opportunities |
| Investors | Co-investment in pre-vetted startups across 15+ verticals, portfolio diversification through a 25-company portfolio with 5 exits and 2 pre-IPO positions, and deal flow originating from our venture studio and accelerator |
What we expect from you
We look for founders who combine deep domain expertise in one of the industries we invest in with the resilience to navigate regulated, complex markets. A clear understanding of the GCC regulatory landscape is a strong advantage, as is a tested hypothesis or early traction in your target vertical. For corporates, we expect a genuine commitment to innovation beyond PR; this means assigning budget, personnel, and executive sponsorship to partnership initiatives. For co-investors, we expect alignment on our thesis-driven, sector-concentrated approach rather than a generalist mandate.
Commercials
Our commercial model varies by engagement type. For founders, we invest $50K to $150K at pre-seed and seed stage in exchange for equity of 5% to 15%, with the exact terms reflecting the stage, sector, and capital intensity of the venture. Corporates engaging through our venture client or CVC models receive a tailored commercial proposal during scoping; partnership fees depend on the scope of startup sourcing, pilot management, and capability building required. Investors co-investing alongside Valu.vc participate on the same commercial terms as our principal fund, with no additional carry or management fee beyond the standard fund structure. For detailed commercial terms across the industries we invest in, contact our team.
Frequently asked questions
Which industries does Valu.vc invest in?
We invest across more than 15 verticals including banking and finance, telecoms, insurance, healthcare, energy and utilities, logistics, retail and e-commerce, real estate, education, agriculture and food, government services, manufacturing, media and entertainment, travel and hospitality, and professional services. Each vertical has dedicated venture-building programmes and sector-specific expertise.
Do you invest in pre-revenue companies across all industries?
We invest at pre-seed and seed stage across most of the industries we invest in, with cheques ranging from $50K to $150K. Certain capital-intensive sectors such as energy and manufacturing may require a higher readiness threshold. We assess each opportunity on its merits, the founding team, and the market potential within the specific vertical.
Can corporates outside your core industries partner with Valu.vc?
Yes. While our primary focus spans 15 verticals, we regularly engage with corporates in adjacent sectors through our innovation hub and venture studio models. If your organisation sits outside the industries we invest in but shares a complementary value chain, we are open to exploring a bespoke partnership.
How do you select which industries we invest in?
We evaluate industries based on market size, regulatory evolution, digital readiness, and alignment with GCC national visions. We prioritise sectors where our venture studio, accelerator, and innovation hub models can generate the greatest impact for founders, corporates, and the regional economy. Our industry focus evolves as market conditions and technology trends shift.
Related playbooks: Valu.vc Venture Studio, Startup Accelerator, Innovation Hub.
External resources: Saudi Vision 2030, Tamkeen Bahrain, UK Department for Business and Trade.