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- SVC Deepens Private Equity Market with Investment in “Growth Catalyst Fund”
- New SVC backing to support the expansion of national companies and advance Vision 2030 goals
Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) has announced its investment in the “Growth Catalyst Fund,” in a move that reflects the market’s transition to a more mature stage.
The focus is no longer limited to early-stage startups, but has expanded to include companies that have reached the growth phase and are seeking to scale.
Focus on the Growth Stage
The “Growth Catalyst Fund,” managed by Growth Catalyst Investment Company, targets companies that have moved beyond the startup phase and are seeking capital and expertise to scale more efficiently.
Rather than funding new ideas, the fund focuses on established businesses with proven models that require a strategic investment partner to help them reach higher levels of performance and operations. This shift reflects a broader change in investment priorities toward creating sustainable value.
An Integrated Investment Model
The fund adopts a model that combines capital deployment with operational support, highlighting an evolution in investment philosophy within the Saudi market.
Instead of solely injecting capital, the focus is on improving operational efficiency, strengthening competitiveness, and building more sustainable organizational structures—factors that are critical during the growth stage.
Target Sectors
The fund focuses on key sectors including healthcare, education, consumer sectors, as well as defense industries, renewable energy, and food and beverage.
This approach underscores a focus on sectors tied to long-term economic growth, rather than fast-changing technology segments alone, supporting the development of companies capable of delivering real and sustainable market impact.
SVC Commentary
Nora Alsarhan, Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer at SVC, stated that the investment in the “Growth Catalyst Fund” aligns with the company’s efforts to deepen the private equity market in Saudi Arabia.
She added that the growth stage is witnessing increasing demand from scalable companies, and that empowering fund managers to target this segment contributes to accelerating the growth of national companies and enhancing their competitiveness at both regional and global levels, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Growth Catalyst’s Perspective
Turki Al-Dayel ,Founder and CEO of Growth Catalyst Investment Company, emphasized that mid-sized companies represent a key driver of the Saudi economy, particularly during the transition toward institutional maturity.
He noted that the fund was specifically designed to support these companies through long-term capital and an active investment approach focused on value creation within promising sectors, enabling businesses to achieve sustainable growth.
Fund Size
The “Growth Catalyst Fund” is targeting a size between $150 million and $200 million, focusing on mid-to-large investment opportunities across the Saudi and GCC markets, reflecting an ambition to build a portfolio capable of delivering tangible impact.
SVC’s Role in the Investment Ecosystem
This move aligns with SVC’s broader role as a key driver of the investment ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
Established in 2018 under the umbrella of the SME Bank, SVC not only invests directly but also supports investment funds and stimulates financing across company lifecycles—from early-stage ventures to pre-IPO—contributing to the development of a comprehensive and sustainable investment environment.
