Jordan-Based Propeller Launches Kernel Camp To Bring MENA AI Startups To Silicon Valley

Jordan-based venture capital firm Propeller has announced the launch of Kernel Camp, an annual residency program that is designed to accelerate the region's most ambitious early-stage technology founders.

The inaugural edition of the program is set to take place in Silicon Valley from April–May 2026, with a focus on startups working in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure technology and deeptech. 

Founded by Zaid Farekh in Jordan in 2017, Propeller, which has a footprint in Riyadh, Amman, Boston, and Silicon Valley, builds synergies between startups operating in the MENA region and the US market. Through the residency, Kernel Camp aims to give a select group of 4-6 startups from the MENA region the opportunity to refine their ideas, pressure-test their products, and expand their networks in the global hub of AI innovation with engineers, investors, and operators shaping the deeptech landscape. 

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Farekh explained how the firm's Kernel Camp residency program advances the firm's thesis of bringing MENA startups to the global center of AI innovation. "The center of the 'global stage' in AI and software infrastructure (where Propeller invests) is indubitably in Silicon Valley today," he said. "We know there are technical founders in the region today with the ability to compete at center stage, and we want to help them get there." 

Farekh's choice to launch the inaugural edition of Kernel Camp in Silicon Valley was thus strategic and deliberate. "Silicon Valley has the world's highest density of the three things super early-stage AI and software infrastructure startups need: potential customers to pitch to, onboard, and iterate on a minimum viable product (MVP) with; world-class peer founders to exchange ideas with, learn from, and push performance to a higher level; and angel and venture capital willing to invest in very early-stage, high-risk ventures," he explained. "The earlier that a founder can be exposed to these three things in their startup's lifecycle, the better their startup will be."

But why choose a residency model over a traditional accelerator format? For Farekh, the distinction is crucial to the program's effectiveness. "Accelerators are very prescriptive and programming-heavy," he noted. "While Kernel Camp offers a high level of support, we have a network of investors, potential design partners, experienced operators, and a wider community in tech who is ready and willing to engage with the participating founders. We want that support to be tailored to what the selected startups actually need. Keep in mind, we are only selecting 4-6 startups to participate, so we can be very bespoke and hands-on." 

Additionally, Farekh pointed out that adopting a residency format sets clear expectations about founder accountability and engagement. "A residency also makes it clear that participating founders will only get out of this as much as they are willing to put in," he said. "The vast majority of their time during the program will be unstructured. The onus is on them to make the most of the opportunity. We don't want founders to come up with the expectation that they can attend a curriculum five days a week and come out to the other end with a better startup. That's absolutely the wrong mentality. We want founders to come itching to execute their own plan for making the most out of two months in Silicon Valley. They should have their asks, their wish lists, their roadmap etc., ready to share with us. We'll do our utmost to help them execute those plans with guidance, connections, and some very light programming along the way.” 

Ziad Farekh, founder of Propeller. Image courtesy Propeller.

Kernel Camp also fits into Propeller's broader investment strategy for Fund III, a US$50 million fund dedicated to software companies building horizontal AI infrastructure and AI-native applications across the US and MENA, which was announced weeks ago. "We are only bringing startups through Kernel Camp that are building in Propeller's core areas of investment, namely the platform and infrastructure layers of the AI software stack," Farekh said. "The program embodies part of our conviction that the MENA region has a much larger role to play in the AI wave than it has played in previous digital waves, namely that the region's technical talent can build global companies with customers in the world's largest markets." 

So, what kind of candidates are eligible to apply for Kernel Camp? For starters, the residency is designed for technical founders from the MENA region who are building full-time within Propeller's deeptech investment thesis. Applicants should have developed demo-ready products, secured early traction through partners or design partnerships, and be prepared to commit to the full eight-week program in Silicon Valley in the US, as well as to be able to secure their own visas. 

Through the residency, startups will gain access to fully sponsored housing, curated workshops, weekly guest sessions, one-on-one office hours with world-class builders, and site visits to leading technology companies and venture firms. To support founders during their time there, Propeller is tapping into its broad Silicon Valley network of portfolio companies, limited partners (LPs), community partners, service providers, and co-investors. The program will conclude with a demo day for Propeller's Silicon Valley community. 

Beyond the published criteria, however, Farekh shared what truly matters in evaluating potential participants. "The biggest thing we always index on as early-stage investors is the founder," he said. "Do they have the vision, the leadership, the drive, and the resilience to build a massive company? We have a selection process after the application that will evaluate how well the founder can take advantage of what Kernel Camp provides, and how well they'll fit into a community of 4-5 other top-notch founders going through the program alongside them."

Startups interested in Kernel Camp can apply through this link.  

All images courtesy Propeller.