In a bold move defying the global venture capital slowdown, UAE-based venture builder Disrupt.com has announced a a $100 million commitment to fuel the next wave of AI-first startups.
Disrupt.com is the brainchild of three Pakistani founders: Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit. The two brothers and a cousin, who grew up together, have built several businesses, including the cloud hosting platform Cloudways. In 2022, Digital Ocean acquired Cloudways for $350 million—the largest tech exit in Pakistan’s history.
Now, the Karachi-born trio is reinvesting their success into building and backing early-stage startups in AI, cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. With $40 million already deployed across 11 companies, including growth-stage ventures and strategic investments, Disrupt.com is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of tech—even as MENA’s VC funding dropped 29% in 2024 to just under $2 billion in 2024, according to Magnitt.
While headquartered in the UAE, Disrupt.com (formerly Gaditek), which was founded in 2008 in Karachi, continues to draw on Pakistan’s tech talent pool. With a global team of 650+ professionals, many from Karachi, the firm is bridging the gap between emerging markets and global innovation hubs.
Key Takeaways
- Disrupt.com commits $100 million to AI-first startups, focusing on cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation with AI as a cross-cutting theme.
- The firm has already deployed $40 million across several companies, including growth-stage ventures and strategic investments.
- Founded by the Gadit brothers, Disrupt.com leverages its $350 million exit from Cloudways to fuel its venture-building model.
- The firm’s unique “CoBuild” approach provides startups with engineering, go-to-market, and operational support alongside capital.
Why it matters
Disrupt.com’s $100 million commitment comes at a critical time for the global tech ecosystem. With venture capital funding contracting worldwide and MENA’s VC investments down 29% in 2024, the firm’s contrarian approach signals confidence in the transformative potential of AI and Web 3.0 technologies. By focusing on startups with clear paths to profitability and leveraging its founder-first, hands-on model, Disrupt.com is not only addressing the funding gap but also providing the technical and operational expertise needed to scale innovative ventures.
Disrupt.com Model: More than just capital
While global venture capital funding has faced headwinds, the Gadit brothers are doubling down on their belief in the region’s potential to lead in AI and Web 3.0 innovation.
Aaqib Gadit, founding partner, emphasized the timing of this move: “Now is the time to be doubling down on our experience, financial investment, and commitment required to help build the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world as we know it.” Aaqib added “With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem-solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking. Our region can not only keep up but also lead the way. We are excited to see where this journey will take us.”
Disrupt.com has already made several investments in firms including ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform that has more than 500,000 users, cybersecurity venture PureSquare, and UAE-based fitness apparel brand Squatwolf as well as AI-focused startups such as including organizational transformation platform Agentnoon and climate action scaling tool Ahya.
Disrupt.com’s founder-first approach sets it apart from traditional investors. As former founders themselves, the Gadit brothers understand the challenges and opportunities startups face.
“With Disrupt, you get founder-friendly partners because they’re founders themselves. They understand our challenges and opportunities in a way traditional investors simply cannot,” according to Anam Khalid and Wajdan Gul, co-founders of Squatwolf.
Unlike traditional VC firms, Disrupt.com employs a three-pronged approach: build, co-build, and invest. This means the firms can build startups from scratch, co-build ventures with external founders, and make strategic investments. Their “CoBuild” model functions as a fractional co-founder, providing startups with dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams.
What’s next?
Disrupt.com’s $100 million investment is set to target high-potential ventures with strong product-market fit, robust unit economics, and a focus on emerging markets, particularly in MENA.
With venture capital funding in the region plummeting in 2024, Disrupt.com’s strategic move could offer crucial support to startups in areas like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Its hands-on “CoBuild” approach, paired with a focus on AI and emerging technologies, will likely drive innovation in underserved markets and help bridge the funding gap as the global AI race heats up.
