Womena

What Womena does

Womena is a Dubai-headquartered, UAE-incorporated (Pan-Arab Angels, FZ-LLC) angel investment platform founded in 2014 by Elissa Freiha and Chantalle Dumonceaux. Positioned as the first women-only angel network in the Middle East, it serves high-net-worth women seeking to deploy capital into MENA-based early-stage startups (typically raising $150,000-$750,000 USD per company, with a $5,000 minimum per investor per company) by sourcing deals, producing 30-50 hour professional due diligence reports per opportunity, hosting bi-monthly pitch meetings in Dubai, and routing investments through a protected collective investment vehicle.

The core product stack is a closed angel investment platform with four interlocking components: deal flow sourcing, an online deal room for remote member participation, professional due diligence, and a collective investment vehicle legal structure. Members also access a separate Learners and Mentors Program for aspiring investors. The operating model is community-led, with the platform drawing on a documented network of more than 30 ecosystem partners (Cairo Angels, Flat6Labs, Wamda, TechWadi, In5, Magnitt, ArabNet, Endeavor UAE, Gust, VC4A) for deal sourcing and due diligence support.

Womena monetizes through annual membership subscriptions from investor members plus a 3% success fee on funding that flows from its members to portfolio companies; founders are not charged to present. The team is small (approximately five named individuals including the two co-founders, a due diligence and education lead, and a project/technology lead, supported by a four-person advisory board), and the platform's portfolio spans at least 25 disclosed MENA startups across healthcare, marketplaces, fintech, SaaS, and consumer verticals. Public financial data, funding history, and current membership counts are not disclosed.

Name

Womena

Legal name

Pan-Arab Angels, FZ-LLC

Website

https://womena.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Womena is a Dubai-based angel investment platform that facilitates women-led angel investing into MENA early-stage startups, offering deal flow, due diligence, pitch meetings, and collective investment vehicles for high-net-worth female investors across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Platform

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds (FSANAJAM)

Keywords

• Angel investment platform
• Women investor network
• MENA startup funding
• Venture capital education
• Collective investment vehicle

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee covering access to pitch meetings, deal room, workshops, educational materials, and investment facilitation services. All services are covered by a simple annual membership fee.
2. Success Fee on Funded Companies: WOMENA charges a 3% success fee on any funding that comes from WOMENA members. This covers administrative costs of setting up the investment legally. No upfront fees to present.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WOMENA is a UAE-based women-only angel investment group that facilitates end-to-end early-stage investing in MENA startups for high-net-worth women. Members pay an annual fee to access pre-screened deal flow, professional due diligence reports, bi-monthly pitch meetings in Dubai, an online deal room, and a collective legal investment vehicle; the platform also charges a 3% success fee on funding originating from its members. Complementary offerings include education workshops for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs and a separate Learners and Mentors Program.

Product overview

WOMENA is a single unified angel investment platform providing end-to-end investment facilitation services for women investors in the MENA region. The core offering consists of the Angel Investment Platform (deal flow, due diligence, pitch meetings, and facilitated investment), paired with Education and Workshops for investor training. Members access investments through a protected Investment Vehicle legal structure and an Online Deal Room for remote participation. The separate Learners and Mentors Program extends access to the educational content and startup community for non-investing members. Together these services enable women to invest collectively with reduced risk and increased deal access compared to individual angel investing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WOMENA Angel Investment Platform A UAE-based angel group that empowers high-net-worth women to invest in startups through a supportive professional network, providing deal flow sourcing, due diligence, pitch meetings, and a facilitated investment process from deal source to deal close. Targeted at women investors in the MENA region.
• Education and Workshops Half-day workshops for high-net-worth women and aspiring angel investors covering angel investment fundamentals, plus quarterly workshops for entrepreneurs on fundraising. Delivered in partnership with financial institutions, corporates, and development organizations.
• Online Deal Room A private online group platform that lets WOMENA members access deal flow, due diligence materials, and recorded pitch meetings from home or while traveling.
• WOMENA Investment Vehicle A protected legal structure that enables WOMENA members to invest collectively into portfolio companies, providing co-investment opportunities, diversification, and a stronger negotiating position with founders.
• Learners and Mentors Program An invitation-only annual program for women interested in WOMENA's mission who are not yet investing, offering full access to educational workshops, pitch meetings, startup connections, and a customized syllabus of angel investing materials.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Cairo AngelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner contributing to deal flow sourcing and due diligence. Cairo Angels is Egypt's first formal angel investment group.
• Flat6LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional startup accelerator providing deal flow, mentorship, and investment opportunities for WOMENA members.
• WamdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading entrepreneurship platform in MENA, providing research, programs, and network access for ecosystem development.
• TechWadicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects MENA entrepreneurs with resources and expertise, particularly bridging Silicon Valley and MENA ecosystems.
• In5coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation centre in Dubai providing space and resources for startups, frequently hosts WOMENA pitch meetings.
• Seed GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvenes private sector companies, government entities, and high net worth individuals to support entrepreneurship.
• TenmousupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBahrain's angel investor network contributing to regional deal flow and ecosystem development.
• Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork supporting professional women in Dubai through events and mentorship programs.
• Mompreneurs Middle EastsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity for entrepreneurial mothers in MENA, co-hosting events like Global Mentoring Walk.
• GustsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAngel investment platform and database used for managing and tracking investments.
• EureecasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquity crowdfunding platform enabling alternative funding routes for startups.
• Blackbox (BBox)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect and support for startups and entrepreneurs globally.
• Able & BakersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative and branding consultancy supporting ecosystem development.
• Consult & Coach for a CausesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise providing pro-bono consulting services to impact-driven organizations.
• Startup MENAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform supporting entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development in MENA.
• MagnittcoreTechnology or IntegrationMENA's largest startup data platform providing deal flow tracking and ecosystem insights.
• Trestle GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm providing expertise in business development.
• Turn8supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator program providing mentorship and investment opportunities.
• Executive WomensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMagazine serving women in business and female angel investors, providing media exposure.
• VC4AsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPlatform connecting investors with African and MENA startups.
• Iliad PartnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment and advisory firm supporting ecosystem development.
• EnvestorssupportingTechnology or IntegrationInvestment platform facilitating deal flow and investor connections.
• InvoroutsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation consultancy supporting ecosystem development.
• WeyakumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem platform connecting entrepreneurs and mentors.
• Women Investing in Women DigitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal digital media platform focused on economic empowerment of women, WOMENA portfolio company.
• TCA (The CFO Alliance)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of CFOs supporting startups with financial expertise.
• OqalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKuwait-based network supporting entrepreneurs and investors.
• Endeavor UAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization supporting high-impact entrepreneurs, co-hosts Scale-UP events.
• ArabNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia company covering digital transformation in MENA, hosts major conferences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oqal: Kuwait-based angel network supporting entrepreneurs and investors across MENA. Operates a similar angel syndication model and shares the Womena partnership ecosystem, making it a directly comparable peer in business model and regional scope.
• Eureeca: MENA-headquartered equity crowdfunding platform enabling retail and accredited investors to access startup deals. Highly comparable as an alternative-investor platform serving the same MENA startup ecosystem with overlapping deal sourcing.
• Tenmou: Bahrain-based angel investor network contributing to regional deal flow and ecosystem development. Highly comparable business model focused on pooling individual investors to fund MENA startups, with overlapping geographic coverage.
• Turn8: MENA-based accelerator program providing mentorship and investment opportunities to startups. Directly comparable as a deal source and ecosystem partner that connects early-stage companies with investors in the same geographic footprint.
• Cairo Angels: Egypt's first formal angel investment group and an active Womena ecosystem partner. Operates a similar model of member-driven angel investing with pitch meetings and due diligence, directly comparable in target market and MENA geographic scope.
• Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP): Established MENA-focused venture capital firm that deploys institutional capital into regional startups. Directly comparable in MENA venture investing focus and deal flow ecosystem, though operating at a larger institutional scale rather than member-driven angel model.

Broad incumbents

• Flat6Labs: Leading MENA seed-stage accelerator and early-stage investor with multiple programs across the region. Overlaps with Womena in deal sourcing and MENA startup ecosystem support but operates as a structured accelerator rather than member-driven angel network.
• New York Angels: The most active angel group in the United States, founded by Womena advisor David Rose. Closely comparable business model as a structured angel network with member screening, due diligence, and group investment processes.
• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with active MENA programs and ecosystem presence. Comparable as a broader-incumbent player deploying capital and mentorship to early-stage startups in overlapping geographies.

Emerging players

• Wamda: Leading entrepreneurship platform in MENA providing research, programs, and network access. Comparable as a Womena ecosystem partner serving the same MENA founder-investor community, though focused more on media and programs than direct investment facilitation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/womena_co
• YouTubevimeo.com/womena
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womena

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Womena