Egyptian AI startup Widebot has raised $3 million in a pre-Series A funding round to accelerate the development of AQL Mind, a large language model (LLM) tailored for the Arabic language.
Originally founded in Cairo and now headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Widebot is building AQL Mind to enhance AI-driven interactions by understanding a wide range of Arabic dialects and accents. The model aims to provide accurate, secure, and personalised AI experiences for Saudi government entities and businesses.
“AQL Mind will enable us to deliver advanced AI solutions tailored to the Arabic-speaking world, ensuring businesses and governments have access to high-quality, localised AI experiences,” said Mohammed Nabil, CEO and co-founder of Widebot.
The funding round was led by Keheilan Asset Management II, backed by Saudi investment firm Wafra, with additional participation from Enza Capital, DisrupTech Ventures, LoftyInc Capital, Den VC, and SparkLabs Ventures.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelhamid, CEO of Keheilan Asset Management, emphasised the importance of investing in deep technology for regional economic development.
“We firmly believe that the future of economic growth in the region depends on supporting innovative technology companies. By aligning technical expertise with financial investment, we can strengthen national sovereignty over critical technological infrastructure,” he stated.
With this investment, Widebot is set to advance Arabic AI capabilities, reinforcing its position as a key player in the region’s emerging AI ecosystem.
