- What
- Saudi defense VC fund (Sentinel Shield Fund I), CMA-regulated since June 2026.
- Who
- Defense and advanced-manufacturing tech built in Saudi Arabia, incl. U.S./allied firms.
- From abroad
- Open to companies from abroad — Technology manufactured in Saudi Arabia All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · masnavc.com · How we check ↗
See MASNA Ventures on the map next to the other 115 programmes in Saudi Arabia — and filter the whole Gulf by type, deadline and equity.
Open the map →In detail
MASNA Ventures is a venture capital — defense sector (sentinel shield fund i) in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's first defense-sector venture capital fund (Sentinel Shield Fund I), CMA-regulated since June 2026, with offices in Riyadh and the United States. It backs Saudi startups that manufacture advanced defense technologies and systems in the Kingdom and provides private-sector capital to scale proven U.S. and allied defense technologies into local manufacturing — defense, uncrewed aerial systems, supply chains and advanced industry.
- Amount
- Fund size not published
- Eligibility
- Saudi defense startups; proven U.S. and allied defense technologies to be manufactured in Saudi Arabia
- Sectors
- Defense
- uncrewed aerial systems
- supply chains
- advanced industry
- Benefits
- Private capital · access to new companies created by SR2 Defense Systems
- Status
- Active — founders reach out through the contact page ("show us what you're building"); fund launched 8 February 2026, CMA approval June 2026 (checked October 2026)
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what MASNA Ventures publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“providing the private-sector capital to scale proven U.S. and allied defense technologies into local manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.”
“MASNA backs Saudi startups that manufacture world-class advanced defense technologies and systems in the Kingdom, supporting the Kingdom's goal of reaching 50% localization in the sector by 2030.”
“MASNA Ventures is a Saudi CMA-regulated private sector investment fund catalyzing growth in Saudi Arabia's defense sector, the first of its kind.”
“MASNA Ventures Fund I launched on the opening day of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, providing the private-sector capital to scale proven U.S. and allied defense technologies into local manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.”
“MASNA invests to scale enduring capability across defense, supply chains, and advanced industry for Saudi Arabia, the United States, and our allies.”
“MASNA's capital with Sentinel Shield Fund I and its privileged access to new companies created by pioneering defense manufacturing company SR2 Defense Systems positions MASNA as the spark for a capital ecosystem that was previously missing in Saudi Arabia”
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| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MASNA VenturesSaudi defense VC fund (Sentinel Shield Fund I), CMA-regulated since June 2026. | not published | Equity | Active |
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| HALA CapitalEquity investment at early and growth stages. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Joa CapitalVC ticket not published. | not published | Equity or debt | Active |
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| Nour Nouf VenturesEarly-stage impact investment. | not published | Equity | Open |
| RAED VenturesEquity investment from pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
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| Rua Growth FundEquity investment. | not published | Equity | Active |
| RZM InvestmentInvestment from a portfolio of 50+ active deals across 10+ sectors. | not published | Equity | Active |
| s60 VenturesEquity investment from pre-seed to Series A, selective from Series B. | not published | Equity | Open |
| Sadu CapitalEquity investment from pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
| SEEDRA VenturesEquity investment from pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Sharaka CapitalEquity investment from seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
| STVEquity from a $100M AI fund, plus NICE non-dilutive funding. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Suhail VenturesEquity investment pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Sukna VenturesEquity investment from Pre-Seed to Series B. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Tech Invest ComEquity from Series A to B (seed opportunistically); SAR 1B committed. | not published | Equity | Open |
| Vision VenturesEquity or convertible-note investment, pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity or convertible note | Active |
| Wadi JeddahBacks university-linked startups. | not published | Equity | Active |
| anb Seed Fund (anb capital)CMA-regulated fintech venture fund of Arab National Bank, pre-seed to Series A. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Artal CapitalRiyadh investment manager whose growth fund backs Saudi tech companies. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Derayah VenturesEquity from a closed-ended sharia-compliant fund. | not published | Equity | Dormant |
| Hevolution FoundationRiyadh foundation investing in early-stage healthy-aging therapeutics companies. | not published | Not published | Active |
| Impact46Equity from a SAR 500M Fund III (plus a SAR 150M gaming fund). | not published | Equity | Active |
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| King Saud University Venture Fund (SparkLabs KSU Fund I)Accelerator funding up to $300K. | up to $300K | Not published | Closed |
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| Merak CapitalUp to $150K cash plus $150K in-kind (Exel programme), from a 3B+ AUM manager. | up to $150K | Equity | Active |
| Outliers Venture CapitalEquity investment. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Palm VenturesEarly-stage equity investment. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Pinnacle CapitalVenture capital for tech startups and strategic stakes in listed companies. | not published | Not published | Active |
| PropellerSeed and pre-Series A equity. | not published | Equity | Active |
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| Riyad Taqnia Fund (RTF)Venture capital from a SAR 450MM close-ended fund, seed through Series B. | not published | Equity | Dormant |
| SAB Invest X-Tech FundVenture capital for early- and growth-stage tech start-ups, focused on financial innovation. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Sanabil InvestmentsEquity across venture, growth and small buyouts; accelerator route via 500 Global Saudi. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Ula CapitalRiyadh deeptech VC investing in climate, healthcare and AI startups. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Ventures by Startups HouseEquity investment from an accelerator-backed fund. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Waad InvestmentEquity, Pre-Series A to Series B, from a firm with a $200M targeted value. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Watheeq PropTech Venture Fund (Watheeq Capital)CMA-licensed PropTech venture fund of Riyadh-based Watheeq Capital. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Wyld VCAI venture capital firm investing from early stage to pre-IPO. | not published | Equity | Active |
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
All VC funds & investors in Saudi Arabia → · Across the Gulf →
Questions founders ask
What does MASNA Ventures offer?
Saudi defense VC fund (Sentinel Shield Fund I), CMA-regulated since June 2026.
Does MASNA Ventures take equity?
Equity.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Open to companies from abroad — Technology manufactured in Saudi Arabia.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · masnavc.com · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/masna-ventures · Checked October 2026