For Founders
Capital, diligence, and execution support for ambitious companies.
A bridge between the United States, UAE and MENA, and access to the strategic networks on both sides of it.
What founders receive
What comes with the investment.
Capital is the start. Each company also gets access to ITQAN's network, partners and operating resources, where the company needs them.
- Capital
- Milestone-based funding, with support that continues after the investment is made.
- Global relationships and market access
- Introductions across a network of family offices, institutional investors, government relationships and strategic partners in the United States, UAE and MENA.
- Technology and infrastructure assessment
- A review of the product, its infrastructure and the engineering plan behind it, before the check and after it.
- Engineering, talent, design, growth and marketing support
- Access to the people and partners who close an execution gap, from a key release to a senior hire.
- US or UAE establishment, where relevant
- Support establishing the company in the United States or the UAE when its market calls for it.
Value to startups
What ITQAN brings to a company.
- Global network in over 120 countries
- Family offices, institutional investors, multi-exited founders and heritage family offices
- Government connections both in the United States and the MENA region
- Partnerships with government authorities
- Engineering, marketing, talent, legal
- Establish your business either in the UAE or the United States
Transparent evaluation
From deck to funding, in five steps.
Being built
The sequence is set, and it is the same for every company. The process behind it is still being built out, so what follows describes how a company is assessed rather than a machine it passes through.
Submit your deck and initial information
The application covers the company, the opportunity and the founder, and closes with the pitch deck.
Initial screening and feedback
A first read of the deck and the information you send. The investment team reviews it and comes back to you with feedback.
Deep-dive diligence under NDA
The confidentiality agreement is signed first. Diligence then goes deep on the technology, the business and the team. Expert review carries it; AI-supported analysis is being built to work alongside.
Investment committee
The investment committee reviews the diligence and makes the decision.
Milestone-based funding and post-investment support
Capital is tied to agreed milestones, and support continues once the investment is made.
Not yet a fit
Founders who are not yet a fit receive structured feedback on gaps and next steps.
Technology diligence
Before, during and after the check.
The technology is assessed at three points. The focus moves from the claims in the deck, to the plan for the capital, to the milestones delivered with it.
Before the check
What is verified before a commitment is made.
- Claims
- Viability
- Infrastructure
- Scalability
- Security
- Foundational readiness
During the check
What is reviewed as the investment is made.
- Budget
- Development scope
- Team plan
- Burn realism
After the check
What is tracked once the capital is at work.
- Milestone reviews
- Progress tracking
- Spend verification
The rest of what comes with the investment is set out under Beyond Capital.
Portfolio engineering bench
Senior engineers, when the roadmap cannot wait.
An expanding capability
A bench of senior engineers that portfolio companies can draw on, growing as the portfolio grows.
On-demand senior engineers
Experienced engineers a company can call on when it needs them, without starting a hiring cycle first.
Flexible deployment
Brought in for an urgent gap or a key release.
IP protection and NDA coverage
Work is carried out under structured IP protection and NDA coverage.
Continuity when people leave
Reduces delays when a CTO or an engineer leaves.
Criteria
Stage, sector and structure.
- Stage
Series A and above, with a smaller allocation to seed.
- Sector
One of six focus areas: AI & Machine Learning, Defense & Dual-Use, Energy, Space Technology, Healthcare and Deep Tech.
The six focus areas- Entity and IP
Companies are expected to establish a US or UAE entity, with IP structured accordingly.
Confidentiality
What happens to what you send.
Submitting your company does not create a confidential relationship.
Material sent through the application form or by email is received on a non-confidential basis. It is handled with discretion and circulated only to the people assessing it, but it is not confidential unless a confidentiality agreement is signed.
That agreement, an NDA, is signed before deep-dive diligence begins. Until it is in place, do not send anything that needs protection.
The full position is set out in the terms of use.
Next
Send the company, or start with a conversation.
Submitting your company begins the evaluation. If you would rather speak with the investment team first, ask for a conversation.