This report, in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), presents the state and progress of the venture capital and startup ecosystems in Qatar as it stood in 2021. It tracks the evolution of venture investments and transactions over the past five years and closes in on 2021’s top deals and investors in the country.
Despite the pandemic in 2020, the Qatari VC ecosystem remained resilient and continued to grow. This momentum was carried into 2021 as the year saw record levels of venture funding with QR69M deployed in local startups- 92% more than the capital deployed in 2020.
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However, the number of deals in 2021, 24, were 23% less than that in 2020. Even then, the year saw more late-stage rounds than ever before.
Fintech’s region-wide popularity was evident in Qatar too. As was the case across MENA, the majority of VC transactions in Qatar in 2021 (33%) were registered by startups operating within Fintech. Led by two big rounds closed by Snoonu and Else Labs, the Food & Beverage sector accounted for 43% of capital raised in Qatar in the year.
Some more high-level takeaways below.
2021 Qatar Venture Investment Report - Key Highlights
- Venture funding in Qatar hit a record high of QR69M in 2021, having grown by 92% when compared to 2020
- The largest three deals closed in Qatar in 2021 raised 52% of the total capital deployed in the country
- Fintech led funding activity in Qatar (33%) as it accounted for one-third of the total deals closed in the country in 2021
- Accelerator programs were responsible for 46% of all transactions closed in Qatar in 2021
- One Qatar-based Healthcare startup announced its acquisition in 2021
This report was created with data from MAGNiTT, which is a comprehensive directory of emerging tech and new business strategies through tools like:
• Investment directories, a comprehensive list of all startup venture funding across the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Turkey
• Market sizing tools to visualize investment growth and trends across industries, geographies and stage
• Startup resources including a deal flow tool for applications to leading Venture Capitalists for investment
• Exit comparisons, looking at Mergers & Acquisitions from across the region
Keep the region's latest venture data on your fingertips. Get in touch with our sales team to access our interactive data charts on Emerging Venture Markets
About the Sponsor
Qatar Development Bank was established in 1997 under the name Qatar Industrial Development Bank, and it is a development entity 100% owned by the government, established to support investment in and develop local industries, and to drive economic developm