startAD, VentureSouq To Hold 9th Angel Rising Symposium On Climate Resilience In Abu Dhabi
Through keynotes, fireside chats, and panels, the symposium will unpack real-world strategies and investor insights shaping the future of climatetech.
The ninth edition of the Angel Rising investor education symposium is all set to take place under the theme, “Scaling Climate Resilience in the Global South,” on November 20, 2025 at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Staged by Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator startAD and GCC-based venture capital firm VentureSouq, the event, which is being organized in partnership with the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD), along with US-based financial technology company Carta, Abu Dhabi–based events, entertainment, and venue management company Ethara, and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC), will bring together thought leaders, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to discuss how capital and innovation can support climate resilience.
In a statement, Sonia Weymuller, co-founder and General Partner at VentureSouq, said, “At a moment of unprecedented momentum for climate innovation in emerging markets, Angel Rising serves as a catalyst for connecting the capital allocators who will define the future of ClimateTech investing in the region. Our mission is to cultivate a forward-looking investor community equipped to scale transformative solutions to the world’s most urgent climate challenges.”
Nihal Shaikh, Associate Director of startAD, added, “The ninth edition of Angel Rising reflects Abu Dhabi’s determination to lead the net zero transition under the Climate Change Strategy 2023–2027. The MENA faces urgent stressors in heat, water, food security, and energy. While startups are innovating, they remain underfunded. Angel Rising convenes experts and surfaces novel and tested models to de-risk early research and development, leveraging blended capital, and unlocking procurement pathways. The message is clear: don’t wait for the perfect deal—create the conditions that make imperfect deals investable. In five years, founders in Al Ain or Muscat should raise capital at home, and the MENA will stand as an exporter of climate innovation and investment expertise.”
HE Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said, “At the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, we recognize that impactful climate action requires collaboration, innovation, and an enabling investment ecosystem. Initiatives such as Angel Rising demonstrate how financial capital can be aligned with environmental priorities to drive real and lasting change. By equipping investors with the knowledge, tools, and global networks to channel funding into ClimateTech solutions, we are accelerating the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future for the UAE, the wider region, and the Global South. As we continue to mobilize green finance and technology to protect our natural capital, we are also positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for environmental investment and thought leadership to inspire the next generation of investors to see sustainability not as a cost, but as an opportunity to build enduring economic and ecological resilience.”
Angel Rising has become one of the region’s leading platforms for investor education. Through keynote sessions, fireside chats, and panel discussions, this year's edition of Angel Rising will provide practical tools and insights into the growing climatetech sector. Discussions will focus on mobilizing climate finance from the MENA, advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy, and using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to strengthen climate-focused initiatives across the Global South.
Since its launch in 2015, Angel Rising has brought together more than 900 investors and 100 ecosystem leaders, featuring speakers from organizations such as the Gates Foundation, Acumen, J.P. Morgan, and Investcorp. Speakers at Angel Rising this year include Sheikh Dr. Majid AlQassimi, Founding Partner at Soma Mater; Zoe Reich, Founding Partner at Octopus Energy Climate Ventures; Khalid Tebe, Director of Climate Policies, Regulations, and Market Mechanisms at GCFC; and Rahma Al Shamsi, Head of Ventures and Portfolio at BEEAH. Inc. Arabia Editor in Chief Aby Sam Thomas will be moderating a session at the event as well.
Pictured in the lead image is a scene from a previous edition of Angel Rising. Image courtesy startAD.
