Antler MENAP2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
Antler's 10-week MENAP residency, in Dubai each spring and Riyadh each fall. Invests $180,000 for 11% via SAFE, with up to $320,000 follow-on.
- Up to $180K
- Funding
- 11%
- Equity
- 10 weeks
- Program length
- Rolling
- Applications
About Antler MENAP
Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm that invests in founders from day zero, often before they have a co-founder or an idea. It entered the Middle East in 2023 with a $60 million fund for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) and launched its first regional cohort in Riyadh in September 2023. The MENAP residency now runs twice a year: in Dubai in the spring and in Riyadh in the fall.
The Dubai edition is run with the Dubai Future Foundation at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers. Its second edition in 2025 selected 96 founders from 39 countries out of more than 10,000 applicants. Antler's MENAP terms are published.
Teams that receive investment get $180,000 through a SAFE for 11% equity, and can access up to $320,000 more in uncapped follow-on funding. The residency is free. Founders must arrange their own visas.
It is a 10-week, full-time, in-person building sprint, and founders cannot hold other jobs during it. Solo founders usually do not receive investment at the end, so the residency is also where people find co-founders. Portfolio companies include TruBuild, Gainz, Ruya AI, Pemo and Dhahaby.
Jordan's ISSF committed $3 million to the MENAP fund in 2025. Antler is not an expansion partner for companies already established elsewhere.
What Antler MENAP looks for
Antler looks for exceptional individuals with deep domain expertise, technical skill or commercial track record. Founders can apply with or without an idea. Teams of two or three co-founders with complementary skills are preferred. Ventures should target MENAP markets. Prior external equity funding can affect eligibility. Founders must commit full-time to the residency with no other jobs or projects. Investment is available from the ideation stage once a team has a clear product statement and MVP roadmap.
How the Antler MENAP program works
The residency is a 10-week, full-time, in-person sprint in Dubai (spring) or Riyadh (fall). Founders arrive as individuals or teams. In the first weeks they meet other founders, test co-founder fit and validate ideas with customers.
Antler partners and mentors run sessions on problem selection, customer discovery, product, fundraising and team building. Teams form, change and refine their ideas until the end of the residency. Teams then present to Antler's investment committee.
Successful teams receive $180,000 for 11% through a SAFE and join the Antler portfolio, with access to up to $320,000 in follow-on funding and Antler's global network. Established teams with a validated concept can also pitch for investment on a rolling basis outside the residency.
How to apply to Antler MENAP
- 1Apply on antler.co/apply and choose the Saudi Arabia or UAE location.
- 2Pick the cohort you can attend full-time: Dubai in spring or Riyadh in fall.
- 3Complete interviews with the Antler MENAP team on your background and founder potential.
- 4Arrange your own visa and leave other jobs before the 10-week residency starts.
- 5Form a team of two or three co-founders and pitch to the investment committee at the end.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable Antler MENAP alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by Antler MENAP.
Antler MENAP vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antler MENAP | Up to $180K | 11% | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Rolling admissions |
| Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global | $100K | Not published | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Misk Accelerator | No cash investment | No equity | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Wayra (Telefónica) | Up to $5.8M | Minority stake | Madrid | Rolling admissions |
| EIC Accelerator | Up to $2.9M | None on grant | EU | November 4, 2026 (8 days left) |
| PearX | Up to $2M | ~7% | San Francisco Bay Area | Rolling admissions |
Antler MENAP FAQ
When is the Antler MENAP application deadline?+
Antler MENAP reviews applications on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time.
How much does Antler invest in MENA?+
Antler's MENAP page lists $180,000 for 11% equity through a SAFE for teams that receive investment after the residency. Founders can later access up to $320,000 in uncapped follow-on funding. Established teams with early traction can also get investment proposals on a rolling basis without joining a residency.
Where does the Antler MENA residency take place?+
The MENAP residency runs twice a year: in Dubai in the spring, at AREA 2071 with the Dubai Future Foundation, and in Riyadh in the fall. Both are 10-week, full-time, in-person programs. Antler does not cover visas, so international founders must arrange their own entry and residency.
Can I apply to Antler without a co-founder or idea?+
Yes. Antler accepts individuals with or without an idea and helps them find co-founders during the first weeks. Teams of two or three founders are preferred for investment, and solo founders usually do not receive investment at the end. Existing teams with a validated concept can also apply.
How competitive is Antler's Dubai residency?+
The second Dubai AI residency in 2025 selected 96 founders from more than 10,000 applicants across 39 countries, under 1%. Not every selected founder receives investment; that decision comes at the end of the residency. Antler has not published a formal acceptance rate for MENAP.
Sources: antler.co, antler.co, middleeastainews.com, arab.news, intaj.net