Wa’ed Ventures and Tali Ventures Co-Lead $19 million in Graphiant Funding Round

Wa’ed Ventures and Tali Ventures are leading the way in providing $19 million in new funding to the American Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) firm Graphiant. Wa’ed Ventures is the $500 million venture capital arm of Aramco, while Tali Ventures is backed by stc Group. According to Wamda, this investment is part of Graphiant’s larger $102 million Series B funding round. The new deal includes the company establishing a regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Graphiant Raises Money to Go Global

The involvement of Graphiant in the recent funding round will be important for helping the company expand internationally. Sequoia Capital, Two Bear Capital, and IAG Capital Partners were some of the companies involved in the latest round.

Khalid Raza, the founder and CEO of Graphiant, has already attained several achievements and is recognized for leading the way in developing network technology. Previously, he and his team created Viptela, building programs for software-defined networking. Cisco decided to buy Viptela in 2017.

Right now, Graphiant helps in developing a network that easily integrates with the latest cloud technologies. Companies do not have to invest in a lot of hardware, thanks to Graphiant’s NaaS platform for setting up and running their networks. The “as-a-service” model allows businesses to access and use the newest network technology at a lower cost.

Raza shared his excitement about the company’s expansion into the Middle East, “Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global epicenter for innovation. The strategic partnership with Tali Ventures, Wa’ed Ventures, and the broader support of stc Group marks a defining chapter in our journey,” he said.

Because of this fund, Graphiant will create a regional office in Riyadh. This action is part of Saudi Arabia’s mission to establish itself as a leader in technology and innovation by 2030.

Saudi Arabia Is Embracing Technology

For Saudi Arabia, this investment is more than just funding a startup. It’s a step towards building a stronger digital economy. If Saudi Arabia uses Graphiant’s SaaS network, its services will be safer and faster for both government and private businesses.

Anas Algahtani, Acting CEO of Wa’ed Ventures, highlighted why Graphiant is a good fit, he stated “By enabling enterprises to deploy secure, high-performance connectivity across multi-cloud and hybrid environments, Graphiant is solving foundational challenges for digital transformation. We are excited to back their expansion into the Kingdom as a strategic partner.”

The stc Group, a major telecom business in the region, has also expressed strong support for Graphiant’s entry into the Kingdom.

Motaz Alangari, Chief Investment Officer at stc Group, added, “Graphiant’s unique enterprise connectivity solutions are in line with stc Group’s plans to use latest technology, enhance tech transfers and build scalable solutions.”

The popularity of network solutions is increasing, largely due to the increasing use of AI and digital services by companies. According to industry forecasts, the Network-as-a-Service market is expected to reach $92 billion by 2030, and Graphiant’s technology can play a leading role.

The firm has signed up Sony Pictures and Valmont to use its services. This company, with its numerous patents and funds from important investors, is all set to expand further.

As a result of its presence in Riyadh, Graphiant will provide new employment opportunities, assist in training local experts, and help Saudi companies advance with useful technological resources.