- ISSF Announces $7 Million Investment in Endeavor Catalyst V
- Aims to Enhance Jordanian Startups’ Access to Global Funding Networks
The Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) has announced a $7 million investment in Endeavor Catalyst V, a $300 million global venture capital fund, in a move aimed at strengthening Jordanian startups’ access to international funding networks and supporting their growth ambitions.
The investment marks the beginning of ISSF’s second phase of operations following the completion of its first phase in 2025, during which the fund received the highest performance rating from the World Bank, its principal stakeholder.
Through the partnership, ISSF seeks to connect Jordanian startups with global venture capital networks and international investors, enabling them to secure the funding needed to scale their businesses and expand into regional and international markets.
The fund stated that the investment is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Jordan’s venture capital ecosystem and create greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to access funding sources beyond the local market, supporting the growth of high-potential startups and enhancing their global competitiveness.
For its part, Endeavor Catalyst highlighted Jordan’s strategic importance within its Middle East and North Africa operations, noting that the country became the organization’s first market in the region in 2009. The firm reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and high-growth companies across the Kingdom.
Endeavor Catalyst V focuses on investing in high-growth startups across emerging markets in more than 60 countries, regardless of sector, with a particular emphasis on companies capable of achieving rapid expansion and significant market impact.
Among the fund’s notable investments is Replit, the software development platform founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, which has grown to an estimated valuation of nearly $9 billion, demonstrating the fund’s track record of backing globally scalable startups.
The new investment is expected to increase international capital flows into Jordanian startups, strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, and create new opportunities for successful exits while attracting additional global investors to the local market.
The move reflects a growing trend toward integrating local startup ecosystems into global investment networks, enabling entrepreneurs to access not only funding but also the expertise and connections needed to scale beyond their domestic markets and achieve sustainable international growth.
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