CE-Ventures, the corporate venture capital (VC) platform of UAE-based Crescent Enterprises, has vowed to double its VC investments in startups to reach $272 million by 2022. Since launching in 2017, CE-Ventures has invested over $136 million in 32 startups and VC funds across the MENA region, the U.S, India, and Southeast Asia.

With its headquarters in the UAE, Crescent Enterprises is multinational company operating under four platforms - CE-Operates, CE-Invests, CE-Ventures and CE-Creates - spanning across multiple sectors including food and beverage, ports and logistics, and green transport and verticals such as private equity, business incubation, and venture capitalism.

Remarking on the new commitment, CEO Badr Jafar (pictured in main image) said, “when we launched CE-Ventures a few years ago, we outlined our vision to invest in transformational, purpose-driven entrepreneurs and their businesses. Our commitment to double down on new funds available for venture investment is testament to our conviction in the major social and economic impact of certain high-growth, tech-enabled businesses.”

CE-Ventures has invested in multiple sectors like fintech, energy-tech, foodtech, and enterprise SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies, leveraging their high-growth potential as part of its market-driven investment strategy. Over the past few months, it has been funding global firms including Tarabut Gateway, Hippo Insurance, China Union Pay, Nerdwallet, and Turtlemint.

Unlike other institutional VC vehicles, CE-Ventures does not raise external financing to make investments. Instead, it invests its own capital across different states of growth, while acting as a long-term partner for startups and entrepreneurs across the globe. The VC platform goes beyond merely funding and aids international startups in their growth and expansion into the MENA region and globally. Companies in CE-Ventures portfolio have already raised more than $1 billion of follow-on funding from leading venture funds across the world.