Cairo-based artificial intelligence startup Nanovate has raised US$1 million in a pre-seed funding round backed by several angel investors, marking a major milestone as the young company prepares to expand its footprint beyond Egypt and into global markets.
Nanovate was founded in January by Nancy Madbouly and Ahmed Gamal with a mission to build advanced Arabic-first AI technologies. The company specializes in fully integrated AI solutions tailored for the MENA region, including intelligent voice assistants, conversational chat agents, automation systems, and enterprise-level AI tools capable of operating across 22 distinct Arabic dialects. These solutions help businesses streamline operations, improve customer interactions, and adopt AI systems built specifically around the nuances of the Arabic language.
Madbouly shared the inspiration behind the venture, saying, “I’ve always wanted to create an AI solution designed for the Arab world. This funding validates our vision and motivates us to scale it from Egypt to the entire MENA region.”
Participation in MINT Incubator and Raya FutureTECH Accelerator played a key role in Nanovate’s early growth, with the startup recognized as one of the standout graduates for its localized approach to AI innovation.
With the newly raised capital, Nanovate plans to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company also intends to broaden its product ecosystem to serve more industries, enhance integration capabilities with CRM, ERP, and other enterprise software, invest heavily in additional R&D, and expand its technical and operational teams.
Co-founder Ahmed Gamal emphasized the company’s broader mission:
“This is more than just building another AI company — it’s about ensuring Arabic sits at the heart of global technological progress. We’re developing tools that understand our language, reflect our identity, and solve regional challenges. This funding is the push we need to elevate Arabic AI to global standards.
