Shorooq backs Yann LeCun’s AI startup AMI Labs in $1.03B seed round
The UAE-based investment firm joined a global investor group backing the Paris-headquartered artificial intelligence startup founded by former Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun.
Asiya Nayab
Senior News Editor at LAFFAZ, Asiya Nayab reports on startups, technology, and business ecosystems across India, MENA, and the United States. Her work translates complex topics in finance, digital marketing, and consulting into data-driven, actionable insights, empowering founders and early-stage entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.
Pentagon labels Anthropic a supply-chain risk; CEO vows legal fight amid OpenAI CEO criticism
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei apologizes for an internal memo but maintains plans to challenge the Pentagon's supply-chain risk designation, as OpenAI's Sam Altman publicly criticizes the AI rival.
UAE Healthtech TruDoc Raises $15M From Al Nahyan and Al-Ketbi Families
The funding round, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan family and the Al-Ketbi family, will help TruDoc expand its virtual-first healthcare and hospital-at-home services across the GCC.
Iran-Linked Drone Strikes Disrupt Amazon AWS Data Centers in UAE and Bahrain
Middle East cloud infrastructure damaged amid ongoing conflict; services disrupted as recovery efforts continue
The First 12 Months of My Startup Were a Disaster – Here’s What Actually Saved It
A founder’s honest confession about the mistakes, wrong priorities, and hidden realities that nearly slowed his startup journey — and what every first‑time entrepreneur should understand before launching.
HomeEssentials raises ₹70 crore in pre-Series B round led by 360 ONE Asset
The D2C home and kitchen brand plans to scale omnichannel presence, expand offline stores, and target ₹500 crore revenue in the next 2–3 years.
The Middle East’s Startup Funding Signals from February 2026: AI, IPOs, and Institutional Capital Are Reshaping the Market
Early 2026 funding rounds in the Middle East reveal new trends in AI investment, IPO readiness, and the rise of institutional-backed capital shaping the startup ecosystem.
Moroccan fintech WafR raises $4 million seed to scale last-mile financial services network
Oversubscribed round led by LoftyInc Capital with Attijariwafa Ventures and Almada Ventures will support expansion of WafR’s nationwide merchant-based fintech distribution.
Galgotias University apologises after robodog display controversy at India AI Impact Summit 2026
The university vacated its stall at the Delhi summit after a viral video triggered questions over the origin of a robotic dog shown at its pavilion; officials warned exhibitors against misrepresentation.
The Bezos Effect: How Billionaire Ownership Transformed The Washington Post
How Jeff Bezos reshaped The Washington Post from a struggling legacy newsroom into a digital media powerhouse — and why the shift still sparks debate.
Kumulus Water and CMA CGM roll out safe drinking water project for Saudi schools
Partnership targets decentralized drinking water access for schools, with 30 atmospheric water systems to be deployed over two years.
TaskUs launches large-scale EV commute programme for employees in India
EV rollout begins in Gurugram with plans to electrify nearly half of the company’s Indian transportation fleet by end-2026