What KHK & Partners does

KHK & Partners (also operating as KHK Ventures; legal entity KHK and Partners Limited) is a Dubai-headquartered, DFSA-regulated independent asset management firm that deploys institutional capital into late-stage, pre-IPO equity positions in frontier technology companies. Founded in 2015, the firm is built around an investment committee model comprising co-founders Hassan Karimi (CIO, formerly of Emirates Investment Authority, Carlyle Group, and UBS) and Herve Marwan Hurstel (MD, formerly HSBC Private Banking), with Mishal Kanoo (Chairman of The Kanoo Group) as Chairman and Mark Tluszcz (Mangrove Capital Partners, Chairman of Wix) and Fadi Arbid (Amwal Capital Partners) as Investment Committee Members. The firm holds positions in 21 disclosed companies across five verticals: AI (infrastructure, models, applications), Robotics & Physical AI, Space & Frontier Infrastructure, Defence & Autonomous Systems, and Digital Finance & Platforms. Notable holdings include SpaceX, OpenAI, Anduril, Crusoe, Lambda, Plaid, Revolut (partially exited), Klarna, Kraken (partially exited), Intercom, and Epic Games, alongside full exits from Palantir and Getaround.

The firm pursues a relationship-led go-to-market targeting sovereign wealth funds and large institutional allocators across the Gulf region, sourced through its MENA network and US tech ecosystem connectivity. Distribution is exclusively direct and referral-based, with no public marketing or retail offering, and access is restricted to Professional Clients under DFSA classification. The business model is classic alternative asset management: capital appreciation and exits from late-stage private placements, with the firm citing a structural advantage that pre-IPO entry has historically delivered approximately 2x the returns of buying at IPO. Portfolio companies additionally receive strategic support for MENA market entry, regulatory navigation, and regional partnership introductions, creating a complementary intermediation offering between US frontier tech and Gulf strategic capital. No proprietary technology products or services are offered; the firm is a capital allocator with deep regional institutional access.

Name

KHK & Partners

Legal name

KHK and Partners Limited

Website

https://khkandpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KHK & Partners (KHK Ventures) is a Dubai-based, DFSA-regulated alternative asset manager that invests in late-stage, pre-IPO frontier technology companies for sovereign wealth funds and large Gulf institutional allocators, with a disclosed portfolio spanning AI, robotics, space, defence, and digital finance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Late-Stage Technology Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Security & Defense / GovTech Growth Equity (FSANACAN)

Keywords

• Late-stage tech investing
• Pre-IPO equity investments
• Frontier technology venture capital
• Alternative asset management
• Institutional investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Fees and Carried Interest: KHK & Partners generates returns through late-stage equity investments in frontier technology companies, typically acquiring stakes before IPO. The firm earns returns through capital appreciation and exits, with pre-IPO entry historically delivering approximately 2x the returns of buying at IPO.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

KHK & Partners is a DFSA-regulated, Dubai-based late-stage technology investment firm that acquires pre-IPO equity stakes in frontier technology companies across five focus sectors: AI (infrastructure, models, applications), Robotics & Physical AI, Space & Frontier Infrastructure, Defence & Autonomous Systems, and Digital Finance & Platforms. The firm deploys capital sourced from institutional investors — primarily sovereign wealth funds and large Gulf-region allocators — and provides portfolio companies with strategic support including MENA market expansion and regulatory pathway navigation.

Product overview

KHK & Partners (KHK Ventures) is a Dubai-based late-stage technology investment firm regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The firm does not offer a product or service in the traditional sense—it operates as an investment management company that deploys capital into frontier technology companies prior to IPO. The firm invests across five focus sectors: AI (infrastructure, models, and applications), Robotics & Physical AI, Space & Frontier Infrastructure, Defence & Autonomous Systems, and Digital Finance & Platforms. Their portfolio includes stakes in prominent technology companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, Palantir, Revolut, Anduril, Crusoe, Lambda, Plaid, Kraken, Voyager, AMI Labs, Harmattan, Armada, Klarna, Field AI, Animoca, Intercom, Epic Games, Merama, Deel, and Getaround. No proprietary products, modules, or technology services are offered—the firm provides investment capital, strategic relationships, and market expansion expertise to portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Late-Stage Pre-IPO Technology Investment Vehicle A private investment vehicle that deploys institutional capital into late-stage pre-IPO equity stakes in frontier technology companies across AI, robotics, space, defence, and digital finance sectors. Available exclusively to Professional Clients as defined by the DFSA. The vehicle is targeted at sovereign wealth funds and large institutional allocators in the Gulf region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pre-IPO entry delivers ~2x returns compared to IPO entry

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Mubadala Investment Company: Abu Dhabi sovereign investor with a large late-stage technology allocation program across AI, fintech, and frontier tech — directly comparable to KHK's strategy from a neighboring GCC sovereign with overlapping LP and deal-flow relationships.
• GIC: Singapore sovereign wealth fund with one of the largest global late-stage tech allocation programs; comparable LP-style role and pursuit of the same frontier tech rounds, but from a different geography and at materially larger scale.
• Temasek Holdings: Singapore sovereign investor with significant growth equity and late-stage tech exposure globally; comparable institutional LP role and pursuit of frontier tech rounds, though headquartered in a different geography and operating across a broader asset class mix.
• Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA): GCC sovereign with large global private equity allocation programs including late-stage tech; comparable in regional LP base and pursuit of marquee pre-IPO rounds, though operating at much larger scale and across multiple asset classes.
• Sanabil Investments: PIF-owned Saudi investment vehicle focused on late-stage venture and growth-stage technology globally; directly comparable regional peer pursuing the same frontier tech allocations from the GCC.

Direct peers

• Chimera Capital: UAE-based late-stage technology investor deploying into global pre-IPO rounds; directly comparable in geography, fund size band, target sectors (AI, fintech, digital assets), and SWF-aligned LP base.
• Tiger Global Management: Pioneer of the late-stage crossover growth-equity strategy, deploying mega-rounds into pre-IPO tech globally; comparable in vintage, ticket size, and pursuit of the same SpaceX/OpenAI/fintech allocations KHK targets.
• Coatue Management: Late-stage growth equity and crossover investor with a tech-focused portfolio across AI, fintech, and consumer internet; directly comparable strategy to KHK's pre-IPO frontier tech allocation approach.
• General Catalyst: Late-stage growth and venture investor with marquee tech exposure (including defense and AI); comparable in sector focus, late-stage entry discipline, and creator of the "Harness" growth-stage fund family similar to KHK's positioning.

Broad incumbents

• SoftBank Vision Fund: Late-stage tech mega-investor with multi-billion-dollar allocation rounds; overlaps heavily with KHK's SpaceX, AI, and fintech exposures but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KHK & Partners