Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Zest Equity announced a $4.3 million pre-Series A funding round led by Prosus Ventures, with additional participation from Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV).

The new funding will support Zest Equity’s expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as investments in talent acquisition, product development, and scaling technology, as per a recent press release.

Founded in 2021, Zest Equity offers digital infrastructure solutions to simplify private market transactions, particularly deals under $100 million, an area often underserved by major banks. The platform has already facilitated over $155 million in transaction value across 115+ deals.

On this occasion, Zuhair Shamma, Co-founder and CEO of Zest Equity said: "This funding milestone allows us to continue in our mission to remove friction from private market transaction processes.”

Rawan Baddour, Co-founder of Zest Equity added: “Prosus Ventures' deep understanding of emerging markets makes them the ideal partner to accelerate our expansion, while MSISV's expertise will be key to scaling sustainably and compliantly.”

Robin Voogd, Head of Middle East Investments at Prosus Ventures, further added: "Zest Equity is building the fabric that brings together private markets in emerging economies. Their vision aligns perfectly with our focus on supporting innovative financial infrastructure in high-growth regions."