The alliance expands access to non-dilutive, Shariah-compliant financing for startups and SMEs
SAB Invest, a leading Saudi-based investment firm, has announced a strategic partnership with Stride Ventures, an India-based growth debt and private credit platform, to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s venture capital ecosystem by introducing international expertise and innovative financing models into the local market.
The collaboration marks SAB Invest’s expansion into startup-focused investments and private credit for SMEs, reinforcing its role as a key institutional player in the Kingdom’s evolving financial landscape.
Through this alliance, Stride Ventures will gain the opportunity to work alongside one of Saudi Arabia’s largest institutional investors in the sector, boosting capital inflows and knowledge exchange to accelerate the growth of the Saudi startup ecosystem.
As of the second quarter of 2025, SAB Invest managed over SAR 36 billion in assets. The partnership aims to leverage this strong investment base to improve access to non-dilutive, Shariah-compliant financing for startups and SMEs across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC.
The initiative targets high-growth sectors such as fintech, B2B SaaS, health tech, logistics, and consumer brands, offering growth financing solutions that enable companies to scale without giving up equity.
Ali Almansour, Managing Director and CEO of SAB Invest, said:
“This strategic partnership with Stride Ventures is a step in realising our commitment to Saudi Vision 2030’s core pillars of economic diversification and financial sector development. In addition to deploying capital, we are actively expanding the investable universe for our clients and localising global financial expertise.”
Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, Founder and Managing Partner of Stride Ventures, added:
“SAB Invest brings institutional depth and local insight, making them an ideal partner to shape a new era of entrepreneurial transformation.”
Stride Ventures plans to deploy around US$500 million over the next three to five years through bespoke credit solutions, reinforcing its commitment to supporting innovation-driven growth across the region.
