Venture Capital

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Sukna Ventures

Sukna Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund founded in 2012 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It primarily invests in technology companies driving digital...

Sukna Ventures logo

Sukna Ventures

Sukna Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund founded in 2012 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It primarily invests in technology companies driving digital transformation. Sukna Ventures has made 43 investments, including Clarity in Series A on September 15, 2025.

General information

Firm type

Venture Capital

Year founded

2012

Location

Region

Middle East

Country

Saudi Arabia

City

Riyadh

Corporate office

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Principals

Waleed Alballaa

Managing Partner

Fares Bardeesi

Founding Partner

Mazin Alshanbari

General Partner

Marvin Liao

Investment Advisor

Omar Hamdalla

Principal

Sector focus

Enterprise SoftwareFinTechEdTechDigital Assets

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Sukna Ventures?

Managing Partner Waleed Alballaa, Founding Partner Fares Bardeesi, and General Partner Mazin Alshanbari form the core GP team listed on Sukna's website. The firm also draws on Investment Advisor Marvin Liao and a group of Venture Partners assigned to SV Fund I for sourcing and diligence. Final investment committee composition is not publicly disclosed.

How does Sukna Ventures source proprietary deal flow?

Sukna highlights a global network cultivated alongside its investors — whom it describes as exceptional leaders and decision-makers — as a source of exclusive access to new opportunities. The partnership model combines Saudi-rooted relationships with the networks of advisors like Marvin Liao, who brings ties from the Silicon Valley accelerator ecosystem.

Does Sukna Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Sukna's stated activity is building, partnering, and investing directly in ventures. The firm's website names specific portfolio companies rather than fund investments, indicating a direct-deal orientation. No fund-of-funds activity is mentioned.

What investment stages does Sukna Ventures typically target?

Sukna describes itself as an early-stage VC fund focused on startups from inception through growth, with an emphasis on value creation at all stages of building and scaling companies. The firm's portfolio includes companies at varying stages of commercialization across the MENA region.

Which sectors does Sukna Ventures avoid?

Sukna does not publish an explicit exclusion list. The firm's stated focus on digital transformation businesses and its portfolio composition suggest it concentrates on tech-enabled sectors — enterprise software, fintech, edtech, and digital assets — and likely deprioritizes traditional industries, heavy infrastructure, and non-digital consumer plays.

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