Merak Capital

Merak Capital is a Riyadh-based technology investment firm backing early-stage ventures in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC, with $1M-$5M cheques at Seed and Series A and explicit interest in digital health and AI/ML applications. The firm operates inside a Saudi capital ecosystem increasingly aligned with Vision 2030 health transformation goals, including the Health Sector Transformation Programme and digital health priorities under MOH. For founders, Merak is best positioned as a domestic anchor for rounds syndicated with regional players (STV, Raed, Sanabil) and international partners. The right founder profile is a regional operator building digital health, AI clinical decision support, or care coordination platforms with a clear path to MOH or Saudi private hospital procurement. Founders without GCC operating presence, pure consumer wellness brands, or research-stage therapeutics should look elsewhere. Entry path is via Riyadh-based ecosystem connectors, the King Saud University and KAUST networks, or warm introductions from co-investing funds. In the pitch, lead with regulatory navigation through SFDA and NPHIES, partnerships with MOH or Cluster operators, Arabic-language localisation, and a credible plan to deploy in Saudi tertiary hospitals. Caveats: Saudi healthcare procurement cycles are long and relationship-driven, so founders should be realistic about sales cycles and provide multi-year forecasts that account for procurement gestation. Merak is not branded as an AI-first specialist, so AI-heavy founders should bring external technical validators. Founders should confirm reserves and the fund’s current vintage, since cheque sizes and pacing have evolved across vehicles. Public deal disclosures are uneven, so request a portfolio sheet during diligence to confirm healthcare exposure and recent pacing.