Pole Position
Debt Financing in 2023
Pole Position is one of the region's leading motorsports consultancy firms. The CEO moved to the United Arab Emirates in 1981 and have been involved in regional motorsports as a competitor winning titles in karting, rallying and circuit racing since he was 11 years old. His business portfolio includes several automotive startups. He has been a circuit director and has the honour to be on the local ASN's committee for motorsports development and building grassroots motorsports. He brings a wealth of background and experience to motorsports destination development, circuit operational and commercial management, creating bespoke events in addition to sourcing funding for large scale automotive or motorsports projects. Pole Position also establishes itself as a leading automotive events agency with many top car brands as their clients. Providing operational management for events (on and off-road), along with race circuit experiences and car launches with a team of professional driving talent. It offers bespoke corporate track day`s around the Middle East with its circuit partners including luxury VIP trips to some of the world most amazing racing circuits and driving tours. Through covid19 lockdown, Pole Position has invested in Esports racing and created Virtual Motorsports Ltd, partnering with RaceRoom GmbH to become the region's leading online and onsite Esports solutions provider. The professionalism and expertise in production and operations management on delivering turnkey Esports has resulted in thousands of competitors around the region with the ability to reach millions worldwide.
Joyus
Venture Round in 2019
Joyus is a startup that offers an innovative online shopping experience centered around short-form videos. The company focuses on helping users discover and purchase products, primarily in the apparel, beauty, and lifestyle sectors, through engaging video content. Each week, Joyus features curated selections of items, showcasing how to utilize them effectively. This exclusive video sales platform allows customers to buy products for a limited time, making the shopping experience both dynamic and accessible. Joyus also emphasizes community engagement, enabling users to share their favorite videos easily on social media. By combining editorial content with direct-response video, the company provides a unique way for consumers to stay informed about the latest trends and gain expert advice, ultimately transforming the traditional shopping experience.
SelfDrive.ae
Funding Round in 2019
SelfDrive.ae is a rapidly expanding transportation network company specializing in smart mobility solutions through its innovative car subscription platform. The company seamlessly connects car manufacturers and dealer networks, offering flexible leasing options that range from one-day rentals to 36-month leases, appealing to individual, business, and government customers. With over 6,000 clients from 90 different nationalities and more than 200,000 confirmed reservation days, SelfDrive.ae has established itself as a leader in the car rental and leasing market in the region. Its diverse fleet of vehicles includes economy cars, mid-size saloons, compact SUVs, MUVs, and 4x4s, catering to various customer needs. The platform also provides options for on-demand car ownership without liabilities and features services such as doorstep delivery and flexible pickup locations. Currently operating with a fleet of 600 vehicles, the company has ambitions to expand significantly, aiming to grow its fleet to 1,000 cars and launch a micro lease platform with an additional 3,000 vehicles, positioning itself as one of the fastest growing car subscription companies in the GCC.
Bellabeat
Venture Round in 2017
Bellabeat, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing technology-driven wellness products specifically designed for women. Founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, Bellabeat offers a range of products that include wearables like the Leaf and Ivy, which facilitate tracking of health metrics such as sleep, activity, and reproductive health. These devices empower women to monitor their overall well-being throughout various stages of life, thereby promoting a holistic approach to health. In addition to its product offerings, Bellabeat operates a research platform that enables users to assess wellness techniques and products, share encrypted data, and receive personalized insights. The company has gained recognition for its stylish designs and has successfully expanded into international markets, positioning itself as a leading brand in the wellness sector focused on women's health. Bellabeat's commitment to innovation has sparked industry conversations about the importance of tailored health solutions for women.
Monthly Gift
Seed Round in 2015
Monthly Gift Inc. is a New York-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in feminine care products and services. It manufactures a range of items, including tampons, pads, and liners, and offers women's apparel such as gym wear, inner wear, and dance wear. The company operates a subscription service that delivers customized packages of these products directly to customers' doors, ensuring they receive their essentials before their period begins. Additionally, Monthly Gift provides a mobile application that helps women track their menstrual cycles, empowering them to take control of their health. The company aims to change the conversation around women's health and enhance the convenience of accessing feminine care products and information.
Rave Social
Angel Round in 2015
Rave Social is a private company based in San Francisco, established in 2013, with additional offices in Portland and Los Angeles. The company specializes in developing a cross-platform toolkit aimed at enhancing mobile gaming experiences. This toolkit is utilized by mobile application developers to build their user social graphs, enabling them to implement social features that foster player engagement and discovery. By facilitating tools for invites, gifting, sharing, leaderboards, and achievements, Rave Social helps mobile publishers create compelling social interactions within their games. Its solutions are employed by a significant portion of top-grossing mobile games, underscoring the company's impact in the gaming industry.
VIDA & Co. is an e-commerce platform based in San Francisco, California, that connects manufacturers and artists for the design and production of clothing and accessories. Founded in 2014, the company utilizes direct-to-fabric technology to enable the rapid production of unique apparel from designers worldwide, allowing designs to move from sketch to completion in just one week. By carefully selecting its partnerships, VIDA bridges the gap between artists and consumers, while also promoting socially responsible fashion practices. Since July 2018, VIDA has operated as a subsidiary of Cimpress plc.
Replenish
Seed Round in 2014
Replenish is a manufacturer specializing in self-cleaning blenders designed for the quick preparation of healthy smoothies and snacks. The company offers conveniently pre-packaged cups filled with a variety of hyper-fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. These ingredients are flash-frozen at peak ripeness to ensure they maintain their optimal vitamins and nutrients, providing users with all-natural produce at its best. By combining modern technology with a focus on health and convenience, Replenish aims to simplify the process of enjoying nutritious snacks in both home and office settings.
DWNLD, Inc. is a New York-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in converting websites and blogs into native applications for iOS devices. The company provides a user-friendly platform that enables web publishers to transfer their content into an app format without requiring any coding skills. This service caters to media companies, brands, and individuals looking to enhance their digital presence through mobile applications. By facilitating the transition from mobile websites to native apps, DWNLD aims to capitalize on the increasing trend among publishers to adopt app-based solutions. As of November 30, 2017, DWNLD operates as a subsidiary of Dropbox Inc.
Butterfly Health
Venture Round in 2014
Butterfly Health manufactures incontinence solutions and personal hygiene products, with a focus on discreet protection against accidental bowel leakage. The company offers body liners designed to manage this condition, which is common in various health situations. Butterfly Health provides products tailored for both women and men. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Los Gatos, California, the company was previously known as Mature Women's Health Solutions, Inc., changing its name in August 2012. As of June 27, 2016, Butterfly Health operates as a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation.
Petnet, Inc. is a company that specializes in intelligent pet care devices, focusing on innovative solutions to enhance pet well-being. Its flagship product, the SmartFeeder, is an advanced feeding system that allows users to remotely manage their pets' feeding schedules, portion sizes, and food dispensing through smartphones, tablets, or laptops. The device provides notifications regarding feeding times, meal confirmations, food inventory, and battery life, ensuring that pets receive appropriate nutrition. In addition to the SmartFeeder, Petnet offers a pet analytics platform designed to help caregivers monitor and understand their pets' eating habits. Founded in December 2012 and based in Los Angeles, California, Petnet operates as a subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. as of June 2015.
Allocadia
Seed Round in 2013
Allocadia is a leading provider of a cloud-based marketing management platform that empowers marketers to effectively manage their investments and enhance their operational efficiency. The platform allows users to plan, budget, analyze, and optimize their marketing return on investment by integrating with various systems such as customer relationship management, finance, social media, resource management, and marketing automation. This integration enables marketers to strategically plan their activities, invest purposefully, and measure performance, ultimately maximizing the impact of marketing on business outcomes. With a customer base exceeding 150 organizations and thousands of users globally, Allocadia manages billions in marketing expenditures for prominent companies including Microsoft and VMware.
Livestar
Seed Round in 2012
Livestar is a mobile application designed to provide users with quick and easy recommendations from critics, friends, and individuals with similar tastes. The platform currently focuses on recommendations for restaurants, movies, music, and apps, with plans to expand into additional categories in the future. Founded by Fritz Lanman, a former Microsoft executive and investor, Livestar's engineering team consists mainly of former Amazon engineers. The company has garnered support from a range of prominent investors across Silicon Valley, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York, reflecting its appeal in the technology and entertainment sectors. Through its user-friendly interface, Livestar facilitates the discovery of content and experiences tailored to individual preferences, enhancing the decision-making process for its users.
Ruby Ribbon
Seed Round in 2012
Ruby Ribbon is a women's apparel company based in Burlingame, California, founded in 2011. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a variety of products including shapewear, fashion layers, swimwear, accessories, and wardrobe staples such as T-shirts, leggings, and skirts. Ruby Ribbon operates through a network of independent personal stylists who conduct pop-up events in various venues like living rooms, offices, and salons, as well as online sales to customers across the United States. The company's products are known for their cutting-edge fabrics and forward-thinking designs, catering to women of all body types with a focus on comfort and confidence.
Amour Vert
Angel Round in 2012
Amour Vert, Inc. is a sustainable clothing brand based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2010. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing ready-to-wear products for women, including dresses, tops, bottoms, and accessories. Amour Vert focuses on using eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, recycled polyester, silk, Tencel, modal, organic cotton, and linen. Their apparel is characterized by proprietary textiles crafted to be soft, flattering, and durable, utilizing non-toxic dyes. The company is committed to sustainability, utilizing deadstock fabrics and engaging in environmentally responsible practices, such as planting trees through forest initiatives. Amour Vert sells its products online and also operates a resale marketplace for customers, promoting the idea of environmentally friendly fast fashion.