GrowthX puts $1M into two Qatar startups via Snoonu Startup Factory
What's the deal? GrowthX, the venture platform founded by Snoonu founder and chief executive officer Hamad Al-Hajri, has invested $1 million across two early-stage startups, Hired ValleyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and TalebhubDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Both companies join the Snoonu Startup FactoryDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, gaining capital alongside Snoonu's technology infrastructure, operational expertise, mentorship, and commercial networks.
Who are they? Hired Valley is an AI-native hiring and career platform trusted by more than 25,000 professionals and backed by NVIDIA Inception. Talebhub, founded by Mesfer Al-Marri, is building a "student economy" — a digital ecosystem for university students that spans identity verification, a peer-to-peer marketplace, job matching, and planned financial services.
Why now? Both startups have recent traction. Talebhub was named Best Startup at Web Summit Qatar, selected from more than 1,500 participants, and Hired Valley has appeared at Web Summit and GITEX and sits within Qatar Science & Technology Park.
What's the endgame? The Snoonu Startup FactoryDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → launched in April 2026 to back early-stage founders with investment, infrastructure, and access to Snoonu's operating ecosystem. Its first cheque was $100,000 to Sufra AIDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and the portfolio has since expanded. Talebhub launches from Qatar with plans to expand across the GCC and wider Arab world.
What they're saying: "Capital alone does not build companies. Founders need an ecosystem," Al-Hajri said. "Our role is to give ambitious founders the capital, infrastructure and networks they need to turn their ideas into companies that can scale beyond the region."
The signal: The $1 million commitment is modest by global venture standards — landing in the lower tier of round sizes — but reflects a deliberate strategy. By reinvesting Snoonu's capital, technology, and operational experience into new founders, Al-Hajri is building a local pipeline aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and its push for economic diversification.
Read more: 974qa.net
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
