ISLAMABAD: FAST Ventures, the Dubai-based marketing holding company, has formally announced the launch of FAST Foundry, a $3 million venture studio aimed at supporting early-stage startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The announcement was made in an official company press release stating that FAST Foundry will back founders building new adtech, retail, creator economy, AI, and marketing products with the potential to scale globally.

The company combines the $3 million fund with access to FAST Ventures’ in-house teams across AI-native marketing agents, retail and commerce-media infrastructure, creator and influencer-commerce tools, and emerging consumer verticals, offering what the company calls a 'structured path' from idea to early traction.

"FAST Foundry is the next chapter," said Waseem Afzal, CEO of FAST Ventures, in the official announcement.

"We’re backing founders who want to create tools, platforms, and products that redefine how marketing and growth work, built in MENA, for the world."

FAST Ventures says the initiative is aimed at a recurring challenge in the region: early-stage ventures often stall before achieving revenue stability. The firm highlights regional data showing that nearly 90% of MENA startups fail within a few years, and 43% struggle to build repeatable demand, even when the underlying product is strong.

What it means for Pakistani's

Although the fund is based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan falls within the broader MENA investment footprint. Many Pakistani startups set up in Dubai or Riyadh for access to capital, and the studio’s focus on adtech, AI, creator platforms, and digital commerce aligns with sectors where Pakistani founders are increasingly active.

Selected startups will receive investment and workspace at FAST Ventures’ Dubai Internet City headquarters or its offices in Riyadh, along with engineering and go-to-market assistance through FAST’s affiliated units: Platformance, Lion, and Calibrate.

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Dubai startup launches $3m venture fund, opens doors to Pakistani founders