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PALO ALTO, Calif., TORONTO and DUBAI, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raiven Capital, a global early-stage venture capital firm, is pleased to announce its membership in the Middle East Venture Capital Association (MEVCA)—the premier organization supporting the growth of venture capital and innovation across the region.
This milestone marks Raiven's continued commitment to investing in startups in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), following the launch of its second Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) licensed fund based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
"Raiven is honored to join MEVCA, the leading platform for VCs in the region," said Paul Dugsin, Co-Founder of Raiven Capital. "We believe in building ecosystems, not just portfolios. MEVCA gives us a platform to collaborate with like-minded investors, founders, and changemakers driving the region's future."
"We're delighted to welcome Raiven Capital to the MEVCA community. Their global perspective, combined with deep operational expertise, adds tremendous value to the region's growing VC landscape. Raiven's commitment to supporting founders and fostering collaboration aligns perfectly with MEVCA's mission to connect and strengthen the venture ecosystem across the region."
— Omar AlKhawaja, Vice Chairman, MEVCA
Raiven's expansion into the Middle East complements its global footprint. The firm's first fund, launched in Toronto and Silicon Valley, was ranked in the top 10% of North American funds, in a 2025 survey of 1,800 VC firms by Carta Fund Services.
"We're seeing world-class founders and breakthrough ideas across the Middle East," said Supreet Manchanda, Co-Founder. "Our operator-investor team is deeply engaged in helping startups achieve product-market fit, scale efficiently, and create long-term value. MEVCA is a key enabler in that journey."
As Raiven builds strong relationships across the GCC, the firm is focused on its core mission: investing in bold founders building the future with AI, IoT, and other new technologies.
Check out our new and improved website at raivencapital.com that reflects our market and fund expansion.
About MEVCA
The Middle East Venture Capital Association (MEVCA) aims to serve the Middle East's entrepreneurial and investment community through a concerted effort to advance the region's venture capital industry and greater entrepreneurial ecosystem.
About Raiven Capital
Raiven Capital is a global VC, investing at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and operational transformation. With hubs in Silicon Valley, Toronto, and Dubai, Raiven has delivered multiple successful exits since 2020. Its portfolio spans AI, IoT, deeptech and digital platform companies driving systemic change.
PALO ALTO, Calif., TORONTO and DUBAI, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raiven Capital, a global early-stage venture capital firm, is pleased to announce its membership in the Middle East Venture Capital Association (MEVCA)—the premier organization supporting the growth of venture capital and innovation across the region.
This milestone marks Raiven's continued commitment to investing in startups in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), following the launch of its second Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) licensed fund based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
"Raiven is honored to join MEVCA, the leading platform for VCs in the region," said Paul Dugsin, Co-Founder of Raiven Capital. "We believe in building ecosystems, not just portfolios. MEVCA gives us a platform to collaborate with like-minded investors, founders, and changemakers driving the region's future."
"We're delighted to welcome Raiven Capital to the MEVCA community. Their global perspective, combined with deep operational expertise, adds tremendous value to the region's growing VC landscape. Raiven's commitment to supporting founders and fostering collaboration aligns perfectly with MEVCA's mission to connect and strengthen the venture ecosystem across the region."
— Omar AlKhawaja, Vice Chairman, MEVCA
Raiven's expansion into the Middle East complements its global footprint. The firm's first fund, launched in Toronto and Silicon Valley, was ranked in the top 10% of North American funds, in a 2025 survey of 1,800 VC firms by Carta Fund Services.
"We're seeing world-class founders and breakthrough ideas across the Middle East," said Supreet Manchanda, Co-Founder. "Our operator-investor team is deeply engaged in helping startups achieve product-market fit, scale efficiently, and create long-term value. MEVCA is a key enabler in that journey."
As Raiven builds strong relationships across the GCC, the firm is focused on its core mission: investing in bold founders building the future with AI, IoT, and other new technologies.
Check out our new and improved website at raivencapital.com that reflects our market and fund expansion.
About MEVCA
The Middle East Venture Capital Association (MEVCA) aims to serve the Middle East's entrepreneurial and investment community through a concerted effort to advance the region's venture capital industry and greater entrepreneurial ecosystem.
About Raiven Capital
Raiven Capital is a global VC, investing at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and operational transformation. With hubs in Silicon Valley, Toronto, and Dubai, Raiven has delivered multiple successful exits since 2020. Its portfolio spans AI, IoT, deeptech and digital platform companies driving systemic change.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Raiven Capital Joins Middle East Venture Capital Association (MEVCA)
SHANGHAI, April 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DFRobot, a global leader in open-source hardware, recently participated in the Robot Hokoten @ Akihabara event in Tokyo, appearing at the DigiKey booth. The company presented two AI-driven projects based on open-source hardware—an "Electronic Nose" gas recognition system and an AI-powered cell recognition teaching system—demonstrating how AI and open hardware can be effectively applied in STEAM education and maker scenarios.
Electronic Nose: Integrating TinyML with On-Device AI
The "Electronic Nose" project combines edge AI with embedded hardware. It uses four MEMS gas sensors connected to an ESP32 running a TinyML model for real-time odor analysis.
During the demonstration, the sensor probe was placed above a glass of beer. Within 20 to 30 seconds, the system completed odor sampling and analysis. The results were then transmitted to the LattePanda Sigma, a compact x86 computing module, which generated descriptive content or tasting notes using a locally deployed language model. The entire process was executed on-device, without relying on network connectivity.
Xia Qing, Senior Engineer at DFRobot, commented: "This demonstration shows how makers can combine TinyML-based sensing with local AI models to transform sensor data into intuitive insights. Potential applications include coffee flavor analysis, fermentation monitoring, and food freshness detection."
AI Cell Recognition: Bringing AI into the STEAM Classroom
Another featured project focused on educational applications. DFRobot presented an AI-powered cell recognition teaching system designed to integrate artificial intelligence into middle school biology education. The system is built using the HUSKYLENS 2 AI vision sensor and the UNIHIKER K10 development board.
Powered by the K230 processor with up to 6 TOPS of AI computing performance, HUSKYLENS 2 can efficiently run both pre-trained and user-trained models with low latency. In the demonstration, the system performed real-time identification and classification of cells under a microscope, making abstract AI and machine learning concepts tangible through hands-on interaction.
The project showcases the complete AI workflow—from data collection and model training to edge inference—highlighting its practical applicability in educational settings.
Partnering with DigiKey to Expand the Open-Source Hardware Ecosystem
DFRobot and DigiKey jointly showcased at Robot Hokoten to promote open-source hardware and AI education. The two parties will continue collaborating on technical content, global marketing, and educational solutions, lowering the barrier to AI and open hardware adoption, and accelerating the transition from maker projects to real STEAM classroom applications.
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DFRobot Showcases AI Maker Projects at Robot Hokoten in Akihabara
