1957 Ventures

A SAR 1bn fund devoted to fintech alone — the largest of its kind in the region — managed by Riyad Capital and backed by Riyad Bank. Invests at Series A and B, and builds regulated fintechs in-house before launching them under independent boards.

5 ACTIVITIESSCOPE

2024SINCE

INVESTMENT THESIS

Series A and Series B for fintech across the region with Saudi emphasis — precisely the rung this market is missing. A dual model: it invests in existing companies and builds regulated fintechs in-house before launching them under independent boards. Backed by the balance sheet and regulatory experience of Riyad Bank.

FINTECH RECORD

No publicly disclosed portfolio as of August 2026 — we record that rather than fill the gapPartnership signed with NTDP at LEAP 2025Runs Foundry, an annual AI and fintech incubation programme with up to SAR 1m for winners

PORTFOLIO SAMPLE

The most specialised door in the entire market if you are pure fintech at Series A. Its first portfolio reveal is one of five indicators that will decide the next chapter of this ecosystem.

WHAT IT DOES

ACTIVITIES CLEARED FOR

Payments & acquiringBuy now, pay laterOpen banking servicesDebt crowdfundingSpend management & corporate cards

WHY THERE IS NO ACTIVITY LIST

HOW TO ENGAGE

1 ROUTE

Warm introductions materially outperform cold outreach here. The local ecosystem is small enough that a referral is almost always available.

FUNDING

Investment conversation

Equity or growth capital. Fintech took 29% of all Saudi startup funding in 2025, so the category has attention — but regulatory readiness is diligenced hard.

WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED FOR

Licence status stated plainly, including what you do not hold
Unit economics with the cost of compliance in them
A regulatory timeline the fund can underwrite

VIA A WARM INTRODUCTION WHERE POSSIBLE · TYPICAL TIMEFRAME 2–6 MONTHS TO CLOSE