Wyld VC Launches $50 Million Fund for Investment in Native AI
Wyld VC, a new early-stage venture capital firm founded by Saudi investor Tala Hasan Al-Jabri, has announced the launch of its inaugural $50 million fund.
This fund represents the first venture capital fund specializing in native AI to emerge from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
This launch coincided with the prominent visit of US President Donald Trump to Riyadh from May 13-16, a trip that focused on strengthening bilateral ties in key sectors including defense, technology, and artificial intelligence.
Al-Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC, stated: "The GCC countries are leading the charge in catalyzing an AI revolution – through massive investments in infrastructure, advanced research and model deployment, and transparent, innovation-forward regulation." She added, "However, the region's greatest gap is AI talent. Wyld VC is here to fill that gap."
The firm is backed by the family office of Lawrence E. Golub, representing the office’s first investment in the region.
Golub commented: "Tala is a highly accomplished and talented investor, with a strong track record of success investing in innovative, early-stage technology companies."
He added, "Her considerable investment acumen, combined with her unparalleled and comprehensive ties and network in the Gulf and the US, offer a unique investment opportunity.
I am excited to be supporting Tala and Wyld VC in this compelling new venture, and I look forward to working with her and her team."
Wyld VC aims to support what it calls "Wyld minds" – founders who are advancing the frontiers of AI and shaping the next wave of human experience. The fund will focus on AI middleware and applications, the layers seen as offering the most transformative potential across industries.
Artificial intelligence has become a strategic priority across the Gulf region, with governments and institutions investing heavily in research, infrastructure, and regulatory innovation. Against this backdrop, Wyld VC seeks to bridge a critical gap: nurturing the next generation of AI talent in the region.
Al-Jabri is one of the MENA region's earliest and most respected tech investors, with a portfolio that includes regional successes like Tabby and international ventures such as the fast-growing U.S. startup Starcloud.
She is also a trailblazer for women in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first woman to serve as a partner at a venture capital firm in the Kingdom – a milestone that earned her the title of "Woman of the Year 2022 in Finance" by Arabian Business.
Al-Jabri concluded: "Founders in AI need a partner that caters to their unique needs. That’s what Wyld VC is here to provide, and we have the best partners to carry forward this mission."
With its deep ties across the MENA region and the US, Wyld VC enters the market at a time of heightened global interest in AI and regional momentum for tech-led transformation.
