Jordan's ISSF backs Anara's $48M MENA impact fund with $4M
What's the deal? The Jordanian Fund for Entrepreneurship (ISSF) has committed $4 million to Anara Impact Capital's debut fund, Anara Impact Capital, which reached a $48 million first close in October 2026. The venture capital fund backs seed and Series A startups across the Middle East and North Africa.
Where the money goes: Anara targets companies in learning, wellbeing, financial access, and climate. As part of the deal, the fund commits to allocating a share of its portfolio to Jordanian startups.
Why now? The investment falls within ISSF's second phase, which focuses on attracting regional and global funds to the local market. It follows the first phase, which ran until 2025 and earned the highest performance rating from the World BankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, ISSF's main shareholder.
The move is part of a wider ISSF push to channel international venture capital into Jordan. In June, it committed $7 million to Endeavor Catalyst V.
The Jordanian angle: Anara's $48 million close — near its $50 million target — combines development-finance and European public backing with regional investors. The fund has Jordanians in its executive management and investment committee, and made its first investment in Jordanian mental-health platform Arab Therapy.
What they said: ISSF chief executive officer Mohammed Al-Muhtaseb said investing in Anara "embodies the fund's strategy of attracting regional partnerships that open new expansion horizons for Jordanian startups" (translated from Arabic).
Managing partner Nafez Daqqaq called the partnership "a strong boost to our shared vision of empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs in Jordan" (translated from Arabic).
The signal: The deal gives Jordanian startups a direct route to regional capital and helps bridge early-stage financing gaps. It is a meaningful addition to Jordan's funding channels, rather than a standalone surge in startup financing.
Read more: alanbatnews.net
Image credit: paalia
