3 min read
UAE-based venture builder Disrupt.com has announced a $100 million investment commitment aimed at supporting early-stage technology startups globally. The initiative targets ventures in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation, with a particular focus on underserved markets such as the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and Pakistan.
Three Pakistani entrepreneurs, Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit, formed Disrupt.com following the successful acquisition of Cloudways, which they co-founded. In 2022, Cloudways was acquired for $350 million by DigitalOcean Holdings, which is publicly traded in the United States. This fund was founded to provide financial resources, as well as strategic and operational support, to technology-related entrepreneurs.
Investment Strategy and Market Focus
The company’s approach includes three investment categories: build, co-build, and invest. Disrupt.com has three investment tactics that allow it to directly develop new enterprises, accelerate founders’ ventures, and give funds to emerging early-stage businesses. According to a corporate spokeswoman, the firm has already invested more than $40 million in firms operating in the AI, cybersecurity, and Web 3.0 areas.
This announcement comes at a time when global venture capital investments have slowed. Venture capital funding in the MENA region fell 29% in 2024, while the number of early-stage investments in the UAE fell by 8%.
Addressing this trend, Disrupt.com co-founder and CEO Aaqib Gadit stated, “We are doubling down on building the next wave of startups that will define the future of the world. Web 3.0 is in its early stages, and AI is revolutionizing industries. The opportunity to solve real-world problems and create businesses that align with how people live and work is vast, and we believe MENA and Pakistan will play an integral role in this transformation.”
Disrupt.com’s network of over 650 professionals provides start-ups with mentoring sessions as well as strategic business support. Disrupt.com creates a global network of people with skills in business strategy, technology development, and marketing to help startups scale up.
Co-founder Uzair Gadit highlighted the firm’s approach, saying, “Our network brings the experience of all the mistakes we’ve made ourselves in the past. We are here to help entrepreneurs avoid these pitfalls and accelerate their growth.”
Following the move of its headquarters to Dubai, Disrupt.com now conducts business in Pakistan as well as other emerging regions. The group is now interested in supporting business owners working in specific regions because they believe they have the potential for innovative ideas and business success.
Co-founder Aaqib Gadit emphasized this focus, stating, “There are incredible entrepreneurs in this region, but they often lack the resources to bring their ideas to life. We are here to bridge that gap and help them build world-class businesses.”
Disrupt.com’s $100 million pledge illustrates its attempt to support emerging-stage entrepreneurs operating in industries that have traditionally received less venture capital investment. The company has stated that its mission is to foster innovation and contribute to the development of technology-driven enterprises worldwide.
