Dubai-Based Disrupt.com Unleashes $100M Fund to Supercharge AI Startups

Reinvesting Post-Exit Capital

Disrupt.com was founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit, three entrepreneurs who previously co-founded Cloudways, a cloud hosting platform. In 2022, Cloudways was acquired by DigitalOcean Holdings for $350 million, marking one of the biggest tech exits in Pakistan’s history. Now, the trio is reinvesting their experience and capital through Disrupt.com, headquartered in the UAE.

A Unique Venture-Building Approach

Unlike traditional venture capital firms, Disrupt.com follows a three-pronged strategy:

• Building startups from scratch by identifying market gaps.
• Co-building with external founders in a collaborative approach.
• Strategic investments in early-stage startups and venture capital funds.

Through their ‘CoBuild’ model, Disrupt.com acts as a fractional co-founder, offering engineering, go-to-market, and operations support to help startups scale efficiently.

Targeting High-Growth Sectors

The $100 million fund will focus on five key sectors:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) – A core theme across all investments.
• Cybersecurity – Strengthening digital defenses.
• Web3.0 – Advancing decentralized applications.
• Automotive Technology – Innovating in transportation.
• Retail Innovation – Transforming consumer experiences.

Disrupt.com is particularly interested in pre-seed to Series A startups that show strong organic growth and clear paths to profitability, rather than chasing unsustainable growth.

A Boost Amidst a Funding Slowdown

This investment comes at a time when venture funding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has declined. In 2024, total VC investment in MENA fell by 29%, with Saudi Arabia’s funding dropping 44% and the UAE seeing an 8% decline. Despite the challenging climate, Disrupt.com is betting big on AI innovation.

Successful Portfolio Startups

Disrupt.com has already seen success with its portfolio companies, including:

• ZigChain– A Web3.0 platform with 500,000+ users, managing hundreds of millions in assets.
• PureSquare – A cybersecurity company tackling modern digital threats.
• Squatwolf – A UAE-based fitness apparel brand with a growing global presence.

Additionally, Disrupt.com has invested in AI startups such as Agentnoon, an organizational transformation platform, and Ahya, which focuses on scaling climate action.

Founder-Friendly Partnerships

Startups working with Disrupt.com highlight its hands-on investment approach. Bartolome R. Bordallo, CEO of ZigChain, stated:

"Some investors write checks. Disrupt.com builds with you."

Similarly, Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, co-founders of Squatwolf, emphasized:

"With Disrupt.com, you get founder-friendly partners who truly understand the entrepreneurial journey."

Looking Ahead

Disrupt.com plans to allocate the $100 million toward ventures with a strong product-market fit, validated business models, and sustainable growth potential.

As Aaqib Gadit, founding partner of Disrupt.com, stated:

"Now is the time to double down on our experience, financial investment, and commitment to building the next wave of startups that will shape the future."

With AI reshaping industries globally, Disrupt.com’s investment in emerging technologies positions the UAE as a key hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.