Zest Equity Secures $4.3 Million Pre-Series A Funding to Expand Across UAE and KSA 

UAE-based fintech startup Zest Equity has announced the closing of a $4.3 million pre-Series A funding round, led by Prosus Ventures with additional participation from Morgan Stanley Inclusive and Sustainable Ventures (MSISV). The funding signals strong investor confidence in Zest’s mission to simplify and digitise private market transactions in emerging economies.

Building the Infrastructure for Private Markets

Founded in 2021 by Rawan Baddour and Zuhair Shamma, Zest Equity is addressing a critical gap in the private markets ecosystem by providing a digital platform that enables founders, investors, and venture capitalists to execute secondary share sales online. The company focuses on transactions under the $100 million threshold—deals that often fall outside the focus of major investment banks.

Since its launch, Zest Equity has facilitated the digital execution of over $155 million in transaction value across more than 115 pre-agreed deals, positioning itself as a trusted partner for smaller, often overlooked private market deals. “Our vision is to build the go-to trusted platform where clients can design and select the tools they need to execute complex transactions with ease," said Zuhair Shamma, Co-founder and CEO of Zest Equity.

Strategic Growth and Deployment of Capital

The newly raised funds will be strategically deployed to:

• Expand Zest Equity’s presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

• Acquire specialised talent to strengthen the team

• Develop new product offerings to meet broader private market needs

• Scale technology infrastructure to support increasing transaction volumes and asset types

Co-founder Rawan Baddour emphasized the importance of their investors' expertise, stating, "Prosus Ventures' deep understanding of emerging markets makes them the ideal partner to accelerate our expansion, while MSISV's support will help ensure we scale sustainably and compliantly."

Backing from Global Leaders

Investor sentiment around Zest Equity’s mission is strong. “Zest Equity is building the connective fabric for private markets in emerging economies,” said Robin Voogd, Head of Middle East Investments at Prosus Ventures. “Their approach fits perfectly with our commitment to supporting innovative financial infrastructure in high-growth regions.”

The pre-Series A round follows Zest’s successful $3.8 million seed funding in October 2023, which was led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), along with participation from Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) and DASH Ventures.

As private markets across the MENA region continue to evolve, Zest Equity is well-positioned to become a key enabler of seamless, digital-first transaction execution.