Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaBeltone Venture Capital exits BirdNest investment with 3.5x returnEgypt-based Beltone Venture Capital has completed a partial exit from Egyptian proptech BirdNest, generating a 3.5x return on invested capital and an 80% internal rate of return (IRR) over a two-year investment period. The transaction covered both Beltone Venture Capital's direct investment and its indirect stake through its joint fund with UAE-based Citadel International Holdings, while the firm retained a strategic stake in BirdNest. According to Ali Mokhtar, CEO and Managing Partner of Belton (opens original source in a new tab)
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaSaudi startup RIME raises over $2 million Seed roundSaudi AI startup RIME has raised more than $2 million in a Seed funding round led by SEEDRA Ventures, with participation from Athla Investment, Unity Invest Partners, and angel investors. Founded in 2024 by Mohammed Almarshidi and Arif Alotaibi, RIME develops a platform that enables enterprises to deploy AI Agents powered by Edge Computing and AIoT to make real-time decisions at operational sites. The company will use the new funding to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia, accelerate platfor (opens original source in a new tab)8 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaUAE-based Syrians launch My Syria, the country's first tourism super appUAE-based startup 121 Living, founded by Syrian entrepreneurs Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi, has launched My Syria, described as Syria's first integrated super app for tourism, lifestyle services, and digital payments. The initiative was launched with strategic support from Syria's Ministry of Tourism. The platform currently integrates eight services, including hotel bookings, restaurants, transportation, tourist attractions, experiences, and food delivery, with plans t (opens original source in a new tab)8 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaMoove hits $2.1 billion valuation with $250 million Series CUAE-headquartered mobility startup Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C round at a $2.1 billion valuation, led by Mubadala Investment Company and co-led by Woven Capital (Toyota's growth fund) and Ion Pacific, with participation from BlueCrest Capital Management and Sona Capital. Founded in 2020 in Nigeria by Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove builds the operating infrastructure for autonomous mobility, providing fleet ownership, management, charging, maintenance, and robotics-first depot (opens original source in a new tab)8 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaShaffra expands beyond the GCC with Azerbaijan launchGCC-based enterprise AI startup Shaffra has expanded beyond the GCC for the first time by opening a regional headquarters in Azerbaijan, marking its entry into the Caspian region. The company provides an Enterprise AI Workforce Platform that enables organisations to deploy Autonomous AI Teams. Its first offerings in the new market include AI Call Center, AI Sales Center, and AI Project Manager solutions. Founded in the UAE in 2023 by Alharith Alatawi, Marc Wehbi and Alfred Manasseh, Shaffra said (opens original source in a new tab)8 August 2026
Clean Energy (opens original source in a new tab)CleanTechnicaSupercritical CO₂ Is Useful. The System Claims Are The Problem.Supercritical carbon dioxide is genuinely useful stuff. Above roughly 31° Celsius and 73.8 bar, CO₂ enters a state that combines gas-like flow behavior with densities that can become much closer to liquids. Engineers have found good uses for that combination. It can extract caffeine from coffee, separate valuable compounds from ... [continued] The post Supercritical CO₂ Is Useful. The System Claims Are The Problem. appeared first on CleanTechnica. (opens original source in a new tab)Michael Barnard·8 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaIndia Sets Priorities for Responsible AI Adoption in MedTechIndia has outlined a set of priorities to accelerate the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and medical technology, following the release of a new knowledge paper by the Department of Pharmaceuticals. The report, launched by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda at the India Medical […] (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·8 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailySunlight creates quantum entanglement once thought to require lasersScientists have generated quantum entanglement directly from sunlight, potentially offering a lower-energy alternative to the lasers normally used in quantum technology. Their outdoor experiment produced entangled photons with about 94% similarity to an ideal state. The result could pave the way for simpler quantum satellites, secure communications, and more energy-efficient quantum computing. (opens original source in a new tab)8 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)CoinDeskNew XRP Ledger amendments target $530 million in tokenized Wall Street assetsA new XRPL amendment proposal would let institutions encrypt token balances and transfer amounts while still giving issuers, auditors and regulators selective access. (opens original source in a new tab)Shaurya Malwa·8 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaIndia Expands Startup Support Through Strategic Industry PartnershipsThe Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a series of strategic agreements aimed at strengthening support for startups across digital payments, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, mobility and investment readiness. According to the official government announcement, the partnerships are intended to improve access to […] (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·8 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaIndia Launches E-Samudra Platform for Digital Maritime GovernanceIndia has launched the e-Samudra platform to consolidate maritime services into a single digital system for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and related stakeholders. The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways during a national maritime stakeholder dialogue in Mumbai, is intended to improve service delivery, transparency and regulatory efficiency across the sector. […] (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·8 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaIndia Reaffirms Free UPI Access for Consumers Amid PSS Act ChangesIndia’s Ministry of Finance has clarified that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services will remain free for consumers, following public concern over proposed amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The government said person-to-person transactions will continue without charges, while any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would apply only to a limited category of […] (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·8 August 2026
