Startup Grind Qatar to Spotlight QIA's $1bn Fund of Funds Initiative

Top venture capital (VC) firms backed by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) will take the stage at Startup Grind Qatar to unpack the impact of QIA’s $1bn Fund of Funds programme on the country’s startup ecosystem.

The event, happening on April 16 at Workinton Alfardan Centre, will feature a panel of VCs already involved in deploying capital through the fund. The session will be moderated by Marcel Dridje, a board member of the European Business Angels Network.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Alina Truhina, founding & managing partner at A-Typical Ventures

• Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, partner at Rasmal Ventures

• Dr. Mussaad al-Razouki, operating partner at Deerfield Management

• Rishabh Aggarwal, principal at B Capital

• Pradeep Desu, operating partner at Human Capital

According to Startup Grind Qatar, the discussion will cover how these firms plan to support Qatari startups and how entrepreneurs can engage with them to attract funding and resources.

The $1bn Fund of Funds was launched by QIA during the first Web Summit Qatar in February 2024. It’s aimed at building a robust VC ecosystem in Qatar, driving innovation and attracting global expertise. The programme also seeks to bridge the early-stage funding gap and enable international-standard investment support for local startups.

The fund targets:

• Indirect investments via established VC funds

• Targeted co-investments

• Partnerships with fund managers committed to Qatari growth

During Web Summit Qatar 2025, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani confirmed that QIA had selected six global investment firms to help channel capital across local, regional, and international markets.

QIA has already announced investments in B Capital and Deerfield, both of which plan to open regional HQs in Doha this year. They join Rasmal Ventures, Utopia Capital Management, Builders VC, and Human Capital as early participants in the fund.

Also during the summit, Utopia, in collaboration with QIA and Qatar Development Bank (QDB), announced the launch of A-Typical Ventures, a venture studio focused on scaling innovations across fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, mobility, and climatetech.