Abu Dhabi Investment Office spurs on growth of innovation-focused companies

Investors’ confidence in the country’s investment landscape is going north. A recent 2019 Foreign Direct Investment Transparency Index in Abu Dhabi registered 73.8 points in a 100-point scale.

The score highlights the efficiency of government policies in Abu Dhabi to attract and bolster FDIs, the federal and local governments’ role in managing policies, and the incentives provided to foreign investors.

Against the backdrop of such a rosy investment scenario, The Abu Dhabi Investment Office, ADIO, has expanded the scope of its Ventures Fund to increase support for the growth and expansion of innovation-focused companies in the emirate.

The Fund will now participate in Series B and beyond financing rounds, invest in established regional and global funds and collaborate with global accelerators.

The Ventures Fund, established in 2019, is an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Government’s Ghadan 21 accelerator programme designed to support the emirate’s startup and venture capital ecosystem. The Dhs535 million fund works to increase access to capital for startups and to date has deployed capital through matching programmes for new fund managers and early-stage startups.

To support later-stage companies that are in expansion mode and ready to scale, ADIO has expanded the parameters of the fund to include investment in later-stage companies. ADIO will also assess opportunities to act as the lead investor. In addition to funding, it will create bespoke incentive packages, underpinned by its Investor Care services, to support the continued growth of these companies in Abu Dhabi.

The Ventures Fund is also expanding its support for funds beyond new fund managers. ADIO will now invest as a limited partner through established global funds that are investing in innovation-focused companies in the MENA region and through collaboration with global accelerators.