Business Editor
Jordan Daily - Jordan's Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) has invested $7 million in Endeavor Catalyst Fund V, marking the first major investment under the fund's second phase and reinforcing efforts to connect Jordanian startups with global venture capital markets.
The partnership agreement was signed by ISSF Chief Executive Mohammed Almuhtaseb and Endeavor Catalyst Managing Partner Allen Taylor in the presence of Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smeirat.
ISSF said the investment in Endeavor Catalyst's fifth fund, which exceeds $300 million in size and backs high-impact entrepreneurs in more than 60 countries, aims to expand funding opportunities for Jordanian startups and help address financing gaps faced by companies seeking regional and international growth.
The investment follows the completion of ISSF's first phase, which ran through 2025 and received the highest performance rating from the World Bank, the fund's main shareholder.
Almuhtaseb said the partnership would strengthen Jordan's entrepreneurial ecosystem and support innovative local companies as they scale globally. He added that Endeavor Catalyst would allocate part of its investments to support the Jordanian startup ecosystem.
Taylor said the investment reflected a shared vision of empowering high-impact companies in Jordan. He noted that Endeavor had maintained a long-term commitment to the country since launching operations there in 2009, its first market in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Endeavor Catalyst, the investment arm of the global Endeavor network, focuses on high-growth companies in emerging markets across sectors. Among its notable investments is AI software company Replit, co-founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh. The firm says its portfolio includes 74 unicorn companies worldwide.
