الأنباط -
Investment marks the launch of ISSF's Fund II
In a strategic move to strengthen the flow of venture capital into the Kingdom, and in the presence of the Minster of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Eng. Sami Smeirat and host of founders, investors and entrepreneurs, the Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) announced a USD 7 million investment in Endeavor Catalyst – Fund V, a USD 300+ million fund investing in high-impact entrepreneurs in over 60 countries around the world. The deal forms a strategic partnership between both parties aiming at integrating Jordanian startups into the international investment ecosystem.
The investment marks ISSF's first commitment as part of Fund II in the local market, following the successful delivery of Fund I, which began in 2017 and successfully concluded in 2025 and earned the highest performance rating from the World Bank, the Fund's lead contributor.
The partnership was signed in Amman by ISSF Chief Executive Officer Eng. Mohammed Al Muhtaseb and, on behalf of Endeavor Catalyst, Managing Partner, Allen Taylor, with both teams in attendance. The two sides underscored the partnership as a strategic step to connect local startups with international sources of venture capital — securing a direct flow of funding to promising entrepreneurial ventures in the Kingdom and closing the financing gaps that startups face in their growth stages as they pursue regional and global expansion.
Endeavor Catalyst - Fund V, a sector agnostic fund, targets promising opportunities across emerging markets globally. The strength of this approach is reflected to date in its strategic investment in the world’s leading tech companies, with its latest investment in Replit, the AI and software development company founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, now valued at USD 9 billion — a testament to the fund's ability to identify and back high-impact, fast-growing entrepreneurial innovation. Endeavor Catalyst serves as the global investment arm of Endeavor, the leading international network supporting entrepreneurs, with a track record that includes 74 unicorn companies.
ISSF CEO Mohammed Al Muhtaseb stressed the significance of the partnership as the opening of ISSF's Fund II in Jordan, following the successful completion of Fund I — continuing the Fund's work to strengthen Jordan's entrepreneurship ecosystem and develop the Kingdom's venture capital environment. He noted that the Fund is committed to building on the gains of the Fund I, which delivered tangible economic returns, and to sustaining its strategic partnerships with international and local partners to strengthen Jordan's standing in this field.
Al Muhtaseb said ISSF looks forward to this partnership, particularly as Endeavor Catalyst – Fund V will allocate a portion of its investments to support the local ecosystem. He noted that the collaboration is a pivotal step that will help drive Jordanian startups and innovators toward growth and expansion in international markets, and toward competing on the global stage.
For his part, Endeavor Catalyst Managing Partner, Allen Taylor highlighted the importance of ISSF's contribution to Endeavor.
"ISSF’s investment in Endeavor Catalyst – Fund V is a true reflection of our shared vision to empower high-impact companies in Jordan,” Taylor said. "Long-term commitment to markets where you have conviction matters more than timing market cycles. Since Endeavor entered Jordan in 2009, the first MENA market in which we operated, we have remained committed through multiple cycles, reinforcing our belief that enduring presence creates the strongest investment insights and opportunities.”
Endeavor Catalyst has previously invested in leading Jordanian startups including Tamatem Games, Altibbi, EON Dental, Tarjama&, and ZenHR — reflecting the fund's commitment to empowering fast-growing startups in the Jordanian market and helping them expand globally.
النشامى في طريق المونديال: مشروع وطني يتجاوز حدود كرة القدم
