UAE-Based Presight Forms Global Advisory Board To Guide AI Fund, Startup Accelerator

Presight, the Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics company, has established an international advisory board for its investment vehicle, the Presight–Shorooq Fund I, as well as the Presight AI Startup Accelerator Program. 

The board will be chaired by HE Mansoor Al Mansoori, Vice Chairman of Presight, and will include two technology investors: Jack Selby, Managing Director at Thiel Capital, and Meng Xiong Kuok, founder and Managing Partner of Singapore’s K3 Ventures. 

The advisory board will guide Presight’s global venture strategy by strengthening its positioning, expanding deal flow, and developing new partnerships. By using the members’ international networks across major technology markets, the initiative will help startups access commercial opportunities in the Middle East, North America, and Asia. 

It will also provide strategic input to support long-term value creation and sustainable growth for portfolio companies, enhancing Presight’s role in advancing AI innovation globally. 

In a statement, HE Al Mansoori commented, “This advisory board marks another step in realizing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to be a global capital for AI innovation. By bringing together visionary investors and builders from three continents, we’re creating more than just a fund. We’re building a multiplier for the next generation of AI companies. With sovereign infrastructure, smart capital, and proven entrepreneurial depth, Presight is turning ambition into a platform where innovation from Abu Dhabi can shape the world.”  

Selby said, “What excites me most about this advisory board is that it creates a powerful support system for breakthrough ideas wherever they originate. The UAE has rapidly become a hub for cutting-edge AI innovation, and by connecting that momentum with deep expertise and global networks, we are building a bridge for founders to access truly worldwide resources. I’m thrilled to contribute my experience and help entrepreneurs gain the guidance, market access, and operational know-how required to scale globally. The Shorooq Fund and Presight’s accelerator set a new benchmark for how cross-border collaboration drives value in the AI sector.”  

Kuok added, “I am excited to join the advisory board and contribute to this ambitious initiative. Innovation knows no borders, and this board demonstrates that; leaders from different continents aligned around one goal of identifying and nurturing the next generation of AI champions. I see tremendous opportunity in bridging ecosystems and connecting visionary founders with not only capital, but also the strategic guidance and global networks needed to scale. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to turn this vision into tangible outcomes for startups and stakeholders.” 

HE Mansoor Al Mansoori and Jack Selby.

In September, Presight and Abu Dhabi-based venture capital firm Shorooq rolled out the US$100 million Presight–Shorooq Fund I, based in Abu Dhabi, to invest in AI-first startups across fintech, smart cities, deep tech, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and Industry 4.0. 

The fund complements the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator launched in August 2025, which supports market-ready founders with distribution access, compute infrastructure, and market entry support to help turn innovation into scalable projects. 

Together, these initiatives represent one of the UAE’s key platforms for AI-focused venture development. 

The Presight AI-Startup Accelerator received 120 applications from AI startups worldwide, with 10 finalists selected for its first cohort. These startups have since generated more than 70 qualified commercial and strategic leads, with several in partnership and contract discussions with Abu Dhabi-based technology group G42 Group companies and other industry and government clients in the UAE and abroad. 

Through the accelerator, AI startups have forged partnerships with leading enterprises and government entities in Abu Dhabi, opening new commercial and strategic opportunities across sectors.

Pictured in the lead image from left to right: Magzhan Kenesbai, Investment Committee Member at Presight–Shorooq AI Fund I; Adel Alsharji, Chief Operating Officer at Presight; HE Mansoor Al Mansoori, Vice Chairman of Presight; Jack Selby, Managing Director at Thiel Capital; and Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight. All images courtesy Presight.