Shirazi Holding

What Shirazi Holding does

Shirazi Holding Limited is a privately held, family-controlled investment holding company headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, with origins claimed to 1773 and a formal corporate predecessor (Hadji Ali Akbar & Sons Ltd., Manchester, 1885; renamed Shirazi Limited Corporation in 1962). The group is led by the Shirazi Maqam family under Chairman Hadji Ali Shirazi Maqam and President & CEO Dr. Sam Shirazi Maqam, with multiple family members in senior executive and board roles. Its portfolio is organized around four stated pillars — FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, and AI & Big Data — supplemented by a broader venture capital arm with a disclosed $100M fund (2024) deploying $500K–$3M initial cheques across Pre-Seed, Seed, and Seed+ rounds, and 100+ prior investments to date.

Operating subsidiaries span food & beverage (Exir Foods, Exir Waters), hospitality (Golden Palm, Aria Lotus, Fanar), energy (Sungate Energy), e-commerce and retail (noon, Namshi, CIAWOSCH, Sony House, ecommercity, Fishbox), fintech and banking (FaraBank, Float, Gerifin, RENIUM, LifePod), mining and commodities (Emertat Group, ZARTAT), event production (Web Summit Qatar fabrication), and integrated facility management (with a Center of Excellence in Manchester). Cultural and educational arms include the Shirazi Foundation (scholarships), Shirazi Museum, and 101 Art House. Geographic footprint covers the UK (Manchester HQ, New York office), MENA (Doha opened April 2024, Dubai, Tehran), with historical presence in India and Iran.

The business model is multi-stream: (1) venture capital investment income through fund deployment, capital appreciation, and carried interest from exits; (2) operating-company income from a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries serving 8M+ end-customers through 14+ products and 40+ institutional partners (including Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, Lloyds Banking Group, Qatar Investment Group, Dubai Investment Group, Aramex, AD Ports, Majid Al Futtaim, Cargill, Ocado, Hikma, Damac); (3) facility management and event production professional services. GTM is enterprise- and relationship-led, supplemented by event-driven presence (Web Summit Qatar) and a community-led research brand (Fintech Watch) distributed via LinkedIn Showcase and Telegram. Pricing is not publicly disclosed beyond VC cheque ranges and select salary bands.

Name

Shirazi Holding

Legal name

Shirazi Holding Limited

Website

https://shiraziholding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1773

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shirazi Holding Limited is a privately held, family-controlled investment holding company (founded 1773, Manchester HQ) operating a $100M venture capital fund and a diversified portfolio across FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, AI & Big Data, e-commerce, banking, mining, food, energy, and facility management, serving 8M+ customers across UK, MENA, US, and historic Iran/India markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Management & Venture Capital

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

Institutional Consulting RIAs (OCIO/Endowments/Foundations/Pensions) (FSAAACAG)

Keywords

• Venture capital investments
• Family-owned holding company
• Fintech investment portfolio
• Strategic investment partnerships
• Wealthtech insurtech investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Investment Returns: Venture capital fund with $100M size (2024), making initial cheques of $500K–$3M in Pre-Seed, Seed, and Seed+ rounds; revenue generated through capital appreciation, exits (acquisition/IPO), and carried interest from portfolio companies.
2. Holding Company Investment Income: Income derived from a diversified portfolio across FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, AI & Big Data, plus legacy operations (facility management, e-commerce, food, tobacco, banking heritage) serving 8M+ customers through 14+ products and 40+ partners.
3. Facility Management Services: Integrated facility management (soft and hard services) offered to public and private sector clients, supported by a Center of Excellence in Manchester and digital technology stack (CAFM, BMS, ERP).
4. Asset Management / Strategic Partnerships: Long-term strategic investment partnerships and joint ventures (e.g., Aramex & AD Ports NVOCC JV, Emertat Group mining investment of 50M+ USD in copper and gold mines over 5+ years) producing capital returns and dividends.
5. Conference & Event Production Services: Event fabrication and production services (stands, branding, wayfinding, signage, lounges, uniforms, gifts, logistics) for large technology conferences such as the Web Summit Qatar 2024.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Core offering

Shirazi Holding is a family-led investment holding company that deploys a $100M venture capital fund into FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, AI & Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Crypto startups at Pre-Seed through Seed+ stages ($500K–$3M cheques). Beyond the VC arm, it operates and holds equity in a diversified portfolio of operating companies spanning banking (FaraBank, FaraBank, Gerifin), e-commerce (noon, Namshi), food and beverage (Exir Foods, Exir Waters), energy (Sungate Energy), mining (Emertat Group), and cultural initiatives (Shirazi Foundation, Shirazi Museum), and publishes the Fintech Watch research media platform.

Product overview

Shirazi Holding Limited Corporation is a global premier investment conglomerate and legacy company (established 1773) operating across four strategic portfolio pillars — FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, and AI & Big Data — as well as broader venture capital and lasting legacy holdings. The product/service offering is not a single unified SaaS product but a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of: (1) the core Venture Capital arm investing $500K–$3M into pre-seed through Series A startups across FinTech, Insurtech, WealthTech, AI & Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Crypto; (2) operating Companies such as RENIUM, FaraBank, LifePod, 7ELMAS, ZARTAT, Sungate Energy, Emertat Group, Zarsang, Gerifin, SAM Capital, Exir Foods, Exir Waters, Golden Palm, Fanar, Aria Lotus, 101 Art House, and Shirazi Museum; (3) venture-stage brands including noon, Namshi, CIAWOSCH, Sony House, ecommercity, Fishbox, Float, NeoBots, Super Angel, and Pathwaises AI; (4) cultural and educational initiatives such as the Shirazi Foundation scholarship program and the Shirazi Museum; and (5) thought-leadership media products including Fintech Watch (research-driven media initiative on Telegram and LinkedIn Showcase) and the Fintech Market Update / Fintech in MENA VC investment reports. Internal corporate programs (Hemmat Talent Development, Microsoft x Shirazi digital excellence training) and regional infrastructure (Doha office) round out the offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fintech Watch: Research-driven media initiative by Shirazi Holding, dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving landscape of fintech, Web3, digital assets regulation, and institutional investment across the Middle East and beyond.
• Shirazi Limited Corporation

Products and services

• Shirazi Holding Venture Capital Fund A $100M venture capital fund investing $500K–$3M cheques in early-stage FinTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, AI & Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Crypto startups from Pre-Seed to Series C. Targets scalable business models with potential to expand into MENA markets and offers strategic partnership, scaling support, and global expansion pathways to founders.
• Fintech Watch A research-driven media initiative by Shirazi Holding delivering weekly insights, expert commentary, and curated reports on fintech, Web3, digital assets regulation, and institutional investment across the Middle East. Distributed via LinkedIn Showcase and Telegram channel for institutional investors, fintech operators, and regulators.
• Fintech Market Update Reports Research-driven fintech market reports prepared by the Market Insight Department of Shirazi Holding, covering BNPL trends, banking-fintech partnerships, and regulatory frameworks in the MENA region, published monthly.
• Fintech in MENA (VC Investment Report) Quarterly VC investment report for the MENA fintech ecosystem prepared by Shirazi Holding, with strategic recommendations on high-growth markets, early-stage entry opportunities, and cross-border partnerships.
• Call for FinTech Startups — Investment & Strategic Partnership Opportunities An open call launched November 7, 2025 inviting FinTech startups across Pre-Seed to Series C to apply for venture capital investment or strategic partnership with Shirazi Holding. Focus sectors include digital banking, payment infrastructure, InsurTech, WealthTech, digital assets, LendingTech, and RegTech.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8M+ customers served across the portfolio
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ocado GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key investment partner on the Shirazi Holding Key Partners page.
• Hikma PharmaceuticalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key investment partner on the Shirazi Holding Key Partners page.
• Damac GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key investment partner on the Shirazi Holding Key Partners page.
• AramexflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAramex has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with AD Ports Group to develop and operate a new Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) enterprise; co-founded by Mohamed Alabbar and Sajad Shirazi Maqam.
• AD Ports GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned a Joint Venture Agreement with Aramex to develop and operate a new NVOCC enterprise as part of both companies' efforts to develop the global freight industry and enhance supply chain connectivity along key international trade lanes.
• Majid Al FuttaimflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key investment partner on the Shirazi Holding Key Partners page.
• CargillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key investment partner on the Shirazi Holding Key Partners page.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationHosted two comprehensive training sessions on December 10 and 11, 2023, for staff on advanced digital solutions, AI-based technologies, and cybersecurity, equipping Shirazi Limited's teams with the digital skills essential for advancing operations.
• Emertat GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew investment packages approved through the Emertat Group for the development of business activities in the field of mining and related industries of Iran worth more than 50 million USD, with Zartat Group also participating. Investment will be in copper and gold mines over at least 5 years.
• Zartat GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZartat Group will also participate in the new investment with the Emertat Group in copper and gold mines in Iran (50M+ USD, 5+ year horizon).
• Pathwaises AIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a portfolio company in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• noonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company co-founded in 2016 by Mohamed Alabbar and Sajad Shirazi Maqam; MENA e-commerce platform operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
• FaraBankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company in Shirazi Holding's venture capital portfolio, with Dr. Sam Shirazi Maqam serving as its Chairman.
• Renium GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company in Shirazi Holding's venture capital portfolio, with Dr. Sam Shirazi Maqam serving as its Chairman.
• LifePodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company in Shirazi Holding's venture capital portfolio, with Dr. Sam Shirazi Maqam serving as its Chairman.
• Sony HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• NamshiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• CIAWOSCHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• ecommercityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• Float (Floatcard)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• FishboxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• Super AngelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.
• NeoBotsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company listed in Shirazi Holding's venture capital section.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mubadala Investment Company: Abu Dhabi sovereign investor with a diversified global portfolio spanning alternatives, infrastructure, technology and venture capital. Comparable to Shirazi in deploying long-horizon capital into MENA tech/finch and maintaining both direct operating subsidiaries and fund-of-fund structures.
• Investcorp: Bahrain-headquartered alternative investment firm with private equity, real estate, credit and absolute return strategies across MENA, North America and Europe. Comparable to Shirazi as a long-standing MENA-rooted, family- and institutionally-backed investment holding deploying capital across multiple asset classes and geographies.

Direct peers

• SHUAA Capital: Dubai-based investment bank and asset manager offering private equity, credit, real estate and advisory services across the GCC. Comparable to Shirazi's VC arm and financial-services heritage given its MENA focus and exposure to fintech, insurtech and capital markets.
• EFG Hermes Holding: Egypt-based investment bank with operations across MENA offering brokerage, asset management, investment banking and private equity. Comparable to Shirazi's MENA-rooted financial-services heritage and venture-stage participation through a regional platform.
• BMB Group: Bahrain-based private investment group with interests in financial services, real estate and technology across MENA. Comparable to Shirazi as a family-influenced holding deploying capital across borders with both legacy and growth-stage exposure.
• The Olayan Group: Riyadh-headquartered family conglomerate with diversified holdings across financial services, FMCG, real estate and industrials, and significant UK/US operations. Directly comparable to Shirazi as a multi-generational family-led investment holding with MENA origins and global operating footprint.
• Khoury Group: Lebanon-headquartered family investment group active in MENA and West Africa across financial services, real estate and industry. Comparable to Shirazi as a multi-generational family-led holding with cross-border investments and operating subsidiaries in financial services and consumer sectors.

Regional players

• Waha Capital: Abu Dhabi-listed investment company managing private equity, credit and listed-equity strategies with regional focus. Comparable to Shirazi as a UAE-rooted investment vehicle with both direct principal investments and fund-style exposure to growth assets.
• Beltone Financial Holding: Egypt-headquartered financial services group offering asset management, brokerage, leasing and microfinance across MENA. Comparable to Shirazi given its regional financial-services focus and emerging-markets investment orientation.

Emerging players

• Noon.com: MENA e-commerce platform co-founded by the Shirazi Maqam family alongside Mohamed Alabbar; while a portfolio company rather than a true peer, it illustrates the type of growth-stage consumer/tech asset in which Shirazi deploys capital and is therefore a relevant comparable for Shirazi's VC and growth-equity activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shiraziliholding
• Instagraminstagram.com/shirazifoundation
• Xx.com/shiraziholding
• Facebookfacebook.com/shiraziholding

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries37 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Shirazi Holding