Jordan’s Innovative Startups And SMEs Fund Invests US$7 Million In Endeavor Catalyst V Fund
Through the partnership, the two parties aim to strengthen links between Jordanian startups and international venture capital networks, while helping address funding gaps often faced by companies at later stages of growth.
Jordan’s Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) has committed US$7 million to Endeavor Catalyst V, a $300 million co-investment fund focused on supporting companies across emerging markets.
Endeavor Catalyst, the investment arm of Endeavor, is a sector-agnostic fund manager that invests in high-growth companies across emerging markets. Operating in more than 60 countries, it has built a global portfolio that includes investments in several technology companies, while Endeavor’s broader network has supported the growth of 74 unicorn companies worldwide. One of Endeavor Catalyst’s most successful case studies is its investment in Replit, an artificial intelligence (AI) and software development company founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, which reached a market valuation of $9 billion.
Meanwhile, the ISSF, which was established as a private shareholding company in Jordan in 2017, is a $98 million fund. It was established through a partnership between the Central Bank of Jordan and the World Bank, which have committed $48 million and $50 million, respectively, to the fund. ISSF's new investment in Endeavor Catalyst V follows the completion of its Fund I, which operated between 2017 and 2025, and received the highest performance rating from the World Bank, ISSF’s lead contributor. Through this new partnership, ISSF and Endeavor Catalyst aim to strengthen links between Jordanian startups and international venture capital networks, while helping address funding gaps often faced by companies at later stages of growth. The collaboration is also expected to support startups pursuing expansion beyond the local market.
In a statement, Mohammad Al-Muhtasib, CEO of ISSF, said the partnership will contribute to advancing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jordan and further developing the Kingdom’s venture capital landscape. Allen Taylor, Managing Partner of Endeavor Catalyst, added that the investment reflects a shared commitment to supporting companies in Jordan and expanding their access to capital and growth opportunities. "Long-term partnerships in markets where we have a strong investment conviction are more important than the timing of market cycles," he said. "Since Endeavor entered Jordan in 2009 as its first market in the MENA region, we have been committed across several investment cycles, reinforcing our belief that a sustained presence creates the strongest investment opportunities and insights."
Pictured in the lead image are Mohammad Al-Muhtasib, CEO of ISSF, and Allen Taylor, Managing Partner of Endeavor Catalyst. Photo courtesy ISSF.
