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Venture Context
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90% of all registered businesses in the GCC and contribute between 20% and 30% of most countries’ GDP. However, many SMEs still struggle to access financing, whether for business setup, expansion, or managing cashflow gaps.
Market Opportunity
67% of SMEs globally have been unable to secure sufficient, or any, funding on at least one or more occasions. The SME financing gap in the MENA region is estimated to be between $210B and $240B, with 52% of SME loan applications in the UAE rejected by banks.
Despite the rise of platforms facilitating equity and lending models for both startups and established businesses, SMEs continue to face challenges in finding investors who understand their industry dynamics and contribute beyond financial capital. On the other hand, investors often lack visibility into suitable opportunities that match their interests and have difficulty finding transparent and accountable SMEs, leading them to rely mostly on personal networks.
Venture Idea
To address the above opportunity, Mindsets Ventures has decided to build InvestBridge: InvestBridge is an AI-powered marketplace that matches investors with SME founders, creating smarter capital connections that blend financing, expertise, and long-term partnership.
Investor Benefits:
Curated Matches: Build a personalized investment profile and get matched with SMEs that align with your portfolio strategy, risk appetite, and sector interests.
Hands-On Value Creation: Go beyond passive returns by partnering with founders, where your expertise, network, or operating experience can drive business growth.
Diversified Low Risk Portfolio: Access a pipeline of vetted founders and businesses ensuring accountability and transparency while being shariah compliant.
SME Benefits:
Profile-Driven Credibility: Showcase your founder/team profile credibility and business vision to build trust and validation, making it easier to attract investors.
Smart Capital: Connect with investors who bring operational know-how, mentorship, and networks tailored to your business model.
De-Risked Fundraising: Reduce reliance on cold outreach or unfavorable financing by being matched with investors already pre-qualified and aligned with your sector and stage.
Investbridge is currently in the validation phase and requires founders to lead its development, supported by Mindsets Ventures’ resources and team.
Founder Job Description
Location: Flexible / Remote
As a Founding Partner, you will lead the development and growth of InvestBridge. You will work closely with Mindsets Ventures team to validate, build, commercialize and scale the venture.
Key Responsibilities
Conduct comprehensive validation to ensure there is a problem solution fit.
Build the MVP, experiment with early users and iterate on the solution.
Commercialize the solution to find product market fit before scaling.
Attend, exhibit and present at local, regional and global events.
Raise required funding for the startup at multiple stages.
Build relationships with investors, SMEs, and other ecosystem partners.
Any other founder responsibility required to build the startup.
Founder Profile
The ideal profile combines business acumen, financial literacy, and a founder mindset.
Has strong understanding of SME financing, private investment and fintech in the GCC.
Experienced as an ex-founder in raising capital and leading the strategic and operational execution of a new venture from early validation to scale.
Thrives in uncertain, fast-paced environments and able to operate lean and pivot quickly based on new insights or market feedback.
Able to lead product development, either by driving the process directly or by onboarding a capable technical co-founder.
Demonstrates strong communication and interview skills, with connections to SME business owners and investors and understands how to build trust and relationships with both investors and SME founders.
Is comfortable navigating regulatory, compliance, and Shariah-compliant frameworks within financial services.
Founder Benefits
The selected co-founder will join InvestBridge as an equity partner alongside Mindsets Ventures, with the potential for a salary or stipend. The specific deal structure will be customized based on each founder’s contribution, expertise, and level of commitment, and will include milestone-based incentives to reward progress and impact.