RIYADH: Startups across the Middle East and North Africa continue to attract investor backing, with companies spanning semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and health technology all benefitting.
Rimal Semiconductors, a Saudi chip design startup, secured a bridge funding round from Keheilan Asset Management and an undisclosed regional investor as the company works to strengthen its position within the global semiconductor supply chain.
The funding will support Rimal’s strategy of building a fabless semiconductor business that designs chips while outsourcing manufacturing to international foundries, enabling the company to distribute production across multiple jurisdictions while retaining ownership of its intellectual property.
Rimal currently maintains manufacturing partnerships across Taiwan, Korea, and China, and is in discussions with US-based foundries as it seeks to diversify its production network.
The company positions its approach as a way to navigate the increasingly fragmented semiconductor industry, where geopolitical tensions between the US and China are reshaping global supply chains and restricting market access for many companies.
