Founders
Backing Founders
( Jad, Co-Founder, Huspy )
( portfolio company )
BY Portfolio company Huspy has successfully raised a new investment round from Balderton
( raise )
( portfolio company )
( Husayn, Co-Founder, Onfido )
BY Portfolio company Nymcard has acquired Spotii in a Box, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Fintech
( acquisition )
( portfolio company )
Grubtech has raised
a $15 million Series B
( raise )
Entrust, a global leader in trusted payments acquires Onfido
( exit )
( Emma, CEO, Enterprise Alumni )
( portfolio company )
Venture Capital Firm of the Year at the Virtuzone Awards 2023
( award )
( BY team )
Dharma partners with Netflix & Paramount
( partnership )
( Jad, Co-Founder, Huspy )
( portfolio company )
BY Portfolio company Huspy has successfully raised a new investment round from Balderton
( raise )
( portfolio company )
( Husayn, Co-Founder, Onfido )
BY Portfolio company Nymcard has acquired Spotii in a Box, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Fintech
( acquisition )
( portfolio company )
Grubtech has raised
a $15 million Series B
( raise )
Entrust, a global leader in trusted payments acquires Onfido
( exit )
( Emma, CEO, Enterprise Alumni )
( portfolio company )
Venture Capital Firm of the Year at the Virtuzone Awards 2023
( award )
( BY team )
Dharma partners with Netflix & Paramount
( partnership )
(About us)
Our team of former founders back phenomenal early-stage founders. Along with our network of subject-matter experts, we provide the empathetic support and invaluable connections that our start-ups need to go global.
(BY Venture Partners
in numbers)
in numbers)
Countries
16
Continents
4
Investments
91
Unicorns
4
Category Winners
10
(In the engine-room, not just the boardroom.)
Founder-first
Our partners have ALL been founders themselves – with 10 companies and 6 exits between them. We invest ourselves, not just our capital – working alongside founders from the first day, to the final exit. No demands, just know-how and support on tap – wherever and whenever it’s needed. And they appreciate it - giving us a founder NPS score of 87.
(Global connections.
Local roots.)
Local roots.)
We are a default global venture firm with its roots in the MENA region. We can help you think globally from day one. We have a broad and diversified LP base of operating companies covering sectors from hospitality to construction, through to luxury retail.
(We’re proud to work with fantastic founders across the world.)
Mena(47)
Europe(27)
North 
America (22)
(The founder flywheel)
The first choice for founders
In a world where founders increasingly choose their VC, our happy founders become fantastic future advocates. They help us attract the brightest new start-ups and founders – or return themselves with new start-ups after successful exits.
BY Accelerate
Our founder programme
provides proven foundational frameworks, resources and expert insight.
NPS 87
Our NPS (Net Promoter Score) as judged by our founders is an impressive 87.
>60%
> 60% of our deal flow comes from referrals from past or current founders.
(In our founders’ words)
Husayn Kassai
BYVP was one of the very first funds I approached with my second startup. Having now worked with them for over six years, they have always delivered on opening up their network, generating leads and supporting in both the good and bad times.
Founder, Onfido (UK)
Emma Sinclair
The best investors are empathetic, reactive and reflective. They seek to add value to both the entrepreneur’s journey and business. The BY team has consistently exceeded our expectations and from our first conversation, challenged and championed us in all the right ways. I feel lucky to have them on team Enterprise Alumni.
CEO, Enterprise Alumni (US)
Omar Onsi
I have never seen someone who would build passion and become the biggest ambassador for a startup more than Ghaith and Abdallah. They have an eye to identify and believe in an entrepreneur way before anyone else and see the big picture and the future potential of a business at a time when others are debating shortsighted issues. Amazing partners who where instrumental in helping NymCard reach the stage we are in today!
CEO, NymCard (UAE)
Sarah Hawilo
As a female founder, I know firsthand that building a startup is incredibly challenging. Finding the right investor to share this journey is crucial, and I am grateful to have found that in BY Ventures. From day one, the team at BY has been incredibly supportive, creating a nurturing environment where our ideas are respected, and our voices are heard. BY are more than just investors; they are mentors, advisors, and allies in our mission.
CEO, SerVme (UAE)
Tamim Khalfa
BY’s support for Toters has been instrumental for our growth. Beside their direct investment, BY opened up their investor network to us, which resulted in additional funding for our company. Their founder-first approach to partnering with startups have brought a great balance between guidance and trust to run and scale the company efficiently throughout our different growth stages.
Co-Founder, Toters (Lebanon / Iraq)
Priscilla Elora Sharuk
Becoming a part of the BY Venture Partners family was an exceptional journey. Their unwavering support, insightful guidance, and shared vision were instrumental in our growth and success. Their steadfast belief in our mission was truly encouraging, and we are grateful for the milestones we achieved together, leading to our successful acquisition.
Co-Founder, Myki (US)
Jad Antoun
We had chemistry with Abdallah and the BY team from the initial conversation and they believed in Huspy at a stage when very few people did. We're now working with the BY team for 2.5 years and it's extremely refreshing to have investors who share the same foundations on empowering people, thinking big and building a disruptive company that will have a long-lasting impact!
Co-Founder, Huspy (UAE)
Emilie Thomas
We are very grateful for the support we received from BY on all fronts! Their mentorship has been invaluable, guiding us through key challenges. Alongside their support, the funding provided has been crucial for building a very solid and stable product. I cannot thank Abdallah and Ghaith enough and the great team working with them.
CEO, Oktopi (UAE)
Philip Mundy
The best funds are there for you when things get tough. BY is led by founders who have lived the journey. They have been there for us when we needed the impossible to happen. They move fast and are highly founder centric. We've felt understood and supported at every stage. I can't thank the team there enough.
Founder, Pando (UK)
Charaf El Mansouri
BYVP gave us permission to believe. They believed in us when we doubted, backed us at our lows, and never once lost faith. That kind of support changes cultures, mentalities, and ambitions. It goes beyond the realm of the VC. I consider them a co-founder, and we are proud to be part of the BYVP family. They are the unicorn VC.
Co-Founder, Dharma (UAE)
Sira Coba
We truly valued and appreciated BY’s investment for our Series A in 2017. Their support was instrumental in our growth and success, enabling us to achieve key milestones and expand our capabilities. Thank you, BY, for believing in our vision and contributing to our journey.
CEO & Founder, Shazura (US)
Thomas Terrats
I had known Ghaith and Abdallah as investors for several years before raising our seed round and they always had great references from entrepreneurs. During the fundraising process, they provided valuable feedback and introductions, and my co-founders and I decided to take on more dilution and turn down other VCs to partner with BY. The relationship we had built with Ghaith and Abdallah, their demonstrated value-add during our process and their global network as seed investors made BY the ideal partner for Vessel.
CEO, Vessel (Canada)
George Spencer
We couldn’t wish for better operational partners and throughout the startup community in London the BY name is synonymous with high integrity, deep empathy for entrepreneurs, and intellectual rigor in their thinking. We are thrilled to have them in our corner for the journey we’re on.
CEO, Rentify (UK)
(Investment focus)
We invest…
Globally
Our investments are spread equally across MENA, the US and Europe.
Widely
We invest widely with a focus on marketplaces, platforms and AI-enabled business models.
Early
We invest early in category-creating or market-leading startups. We invested in some of the top technology start-ups at the very start.
Deeply
Each of our partners brings their own deep domain knowledge, enhanced by our world-class advisers and partners.
(An experienced founding team + expert advisers)
Founding Partner
Abdallah Yafi
Founding Partner
Ghaith Yafi
General Partner
Rami El Jisr
Partner
Sohrab Jahanbani
Principal
Tara Al Arnaout
In-house Legal Counsel
Nouha Yasmine
Operations Lead
Mada Arslan
Senior Associate
Adnan Soubra
Associate
Jana El Husseini
Senior Analyst
Guy Labaki
Analyst
Maha Ammache
Analyst
Dylan Haddad
AI Partner
Rana El Kaliouby
Venture Partner
Maya Moufarek
Advisor
Rav Daliwal
(Our mission)
People worth supporting. Problems worth solving. We champion people first and foremost. Hungry, curious, resilient founders or founding teams, and the world-changing businesses they create. Businesses that solve big problems and move the world forward, by going back to basics and seeing things in a completely different way.