Abdulrahman (AIT) Tarabzouni

Abdulrahman Tarabzouni is the Founder and CEO of Saudi Technology Ventures (STV), the largest technology venture capital firm in the Middle East with over $1.4 billion in assets under management. He is a fourth-generation Saudi entrepreneur and investor who has played a pivotal role in shaping the technology venture capital ecosystem in the MENA region.

Tarabzouni holds a BSc and MEng in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with a concentration in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also served as a Teaching Assistant from 2007-2009. His academic background provided a strong foundation at the intersection of technology and finance that would define his career trajectory.

His professional journey began with early career stints at Saudi Aramco, followed by technology consulting, banking, and design engagements at prestigious firms including Oracle, Morgan Stanley, and Blueprint, where he co-founded several technology ventures in the United States. In 2009, Tarabzouni joined Google to establish and lead the company's emerging business operations in the Middle East, directing regional product and business strategies, growth initiatives, and strategic partnerships. During his seven-year tenure at Google's headquarters in California, he headed the company's global efforts to build new businesses and partnerships for Android, Mobile, and Wireless Communications, and was instrumental in building and scaling Google's Android and Play business across Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

In 2016, Tarabzouni returned to Saudi Arabia to found STV with backing from Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the region's largest telecommunications operator. Since its establishment in 2018, STV has become the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's venture capital ecosystem, aligning with the nation's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Tarabzouni is also the Founding Chairman of the Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association and serves as a Kauffman Fellow. He holds board positions at Riyad Bank (Independent Director since 2022), Jarir Marketing Company, stc Bank, and King Fahad National Library. Previously, he served as a Director at Careem Networks FZ LLC (2016-2020), MiSK Foundation (2019-2020), and as an Investment Committee Member at Middle East Venture Partners (2014-2017).

STV's investment philosophy centers on backing "digital champions" and the most disruptive technology companies across the Middle East and North Africa. The firm identifies "white spaces" where digital supply has yet to meet regional demand and invests in companies it believes will become category leaders and future market champions. Tarabzouni describes STV's approach as seeking "moonshots with 10x type of moonshot goals," betting on founders who want to tackle significant regional problems with non-incremental solutions.

Sector Focus:

Investment Approach:

Geographic Focus:

What They Look For:

• Fintech and Digital Payments
• E-commerce and SaaS Platforms
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Enterprise Applications and B2B Software
• Consumer Technology
• Food and Agriculture Tech
• Logistics and Supply Chain
• Healthcare Technology
• Primarily invests in Seed and Series A stages, with selective pre-seed and growth investments
• Typical portfolio construction includes 30+ tech companies with a mix of B2C and B2B focus
• Strong preference for startups with significant operations in Saudi Arabia (19 out of 29 portfolio companies have Saudi presence)
• Provides portfolio companies with capital, strategic advice, and extensive network access across government and private sectors
• Active value creation through over 1,000 annual investor introductions for portfolio companies
• Primary: Saudi Arabia and GCC countries
• Secondary: Broader MENA region
• Founders addressing large, underserved markets in the region
• Technology-first solutions with potential for regional scale
• Companies aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives
• Strong execution capabilities and regional market understanding