9th Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium

Scaling Climate Resilience in the Global South
ADGM, Abu Dhabi | Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 2:00–8:30 PM

About Angel Rising

The Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium, co-hosted by startAD and VentureSouq with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, is MENA’s flagship platform for investor education.

Since 2015, it has introduced regional investors to frontier themes like FoodTech, and Tech for Good. Now in its 9th edition, themed “Scaling Climate Resilience in the Global South,” Angel Rising will feature high-impact panels, firesides, and networking and bring together global experts, regional investors, and policymakers to explore how capital can drive urgent climate solutions and strengthen MENA’s role in the global economy.

About Angel Rising

ORGANIZED BY

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Environment Agency - ABU DHABI

ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS

A launchpad for growth in the UAE for global tech startups

Who Should Attend

  • Angel investors and VCs focused on early-stage ClimateTech.
  • Family offices, sovereign funds, and philanthropics supporting climate resilience in the Global South.
  • Corporate leaders driving sustainability and innovation
  • Government and policymakers shaping climate finance.
  • Ecosystem builders and advisors advancing MENA as a ClimateTech hub.

Why Attend

  • Discover ClimateTech opportunities across the Global South.
  • Shape investment strategies and gain policy & regulation insights for a resilient future.
  • Build influential co-investor networks.
  • Position for long-term relevance.

A launchpad for growth in the UAE for global tech startups

Program Agenda

Keynote by H.E. Sheikha Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Executive Director - Integrated Environment Policy and Planning

  • Beyond 1.5°C: Leveraging technology to adapt to climate change
  • Bridging the Gap: Unlocking early-stage investment in the Global South
  • Policy as a Multiplier: Enabling Ecosystems for Climate Innovation
  • AI for Climate Action: How AI is Supercharging Climate Solutions

Reception with 150 investors, founders, and policymakers

Angel Rising | Through the Years

Angel Rising has grown to be a leading voice in the region to evangelize investing into early-stage technology companies.

2015

Regional Investor Educational Symposium
Angel Rising launches as a symposium to provide the UAE community with the skills required to invest in the regional startup ecosystem

2016

Regional Investor Educational Symposium
2ⁿᵈ edition: the Investor education symposium continues featuring fundamental topics on investing

2017

Empowering Angel Investors in the Region
3ʳᵈ edition: the focus shifts to empowering angel investors in a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UAE

2018

Investing in MENA: Finding MENA’s Competitive Edge on the Global Stage
4ᵗʰ edition: of addresses investing successfully in the MENA region with a lens on emerging technologies

2019

The New Silk Road: Investment Trends Shifting East From China to the US
5ᵗʰ edition: highlights new tech markets, global players, and regional emerging developments with a hands-on workshop experience

2020

Conscious Investing and Tech for Good
6ᵗʰ edition: takes place virtually. It was the culmination of the 1ˢᵗ edition of the Conscious Investor Fellowship, with insightful discussions on making conscious investments in the Tech for Good space

2021

FoodTech for Thought
7ᵗʰ edition: takes place virtually. It was the culmination of the 2nd edition of the Conscious Investor Fellowship, with insightful discussions on the FoodTech space

2023

ClimateTech for Change
8ᵗʰ edition: in line with COP28 being hosted in the UAE; Angel Rising focused on investments in Climate Tech. The event took place in the Climate Innovation Zone, fringe events at COP28

By the Numbers

Corporations Activated

8

previous editions since 2015

Attendees

3,170+

attendees across nine years

Speaker

107

world-class speakers featured

Startups

13.2M

digital reach globally

Previous Speakers

Sonia Weymuller
Sonia Weymuller
Partner and Co-Founder
,
VentureSouq
John Tate
John Tate
CEO
,
Tamkeen LLC
Maria
Lola Fernandez
Senior Investment Associate
,
VentureSouq
Nihal
Nihal Shaikh
Assistant Director of Communications and Strategic Projects
,
startAD
Patricia Bubner
Patricia Bubner
CEO
,
Orbillion Bio
Tammer Qaddumi
Tammer Qaddumi
Partner and Co-Founder
,
VentureSouq
FRANCISCO JARDIM
Francisco Jardim
Managing Partner
,
SP VENTURES
Rick Fox
Rick Fox
CEO
,
Partanna Global
Susan Graham
Susan Graham
Dr
,
Dendra Limited
Peter Hirsch
Peter Hirsch
Head of Sustainability
,
2150
Swapna Gupta
Swapna Gupta
Parter
,
Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund
Aby Sam Thomas
Aby Sam Thomas
Editor in Chief
,
Entrepreneur Middle East
Anjali Bansal
Anjali Bansal
Founding Partner
,
Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund
Dick Cameron
Dick Cameron
Vice President of Science
,
Pachama
Suleiman Amin
Suleiman Amin
Managing Director
,
The Catalyst Limited
Prof. Phil Hart
Prof. Phil Hart
Chief Researcher, Head of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Center
,
Technology Innovation Institute
Jessica Matthews
Jessica Matthews
Global Head of Sustainable Investing
,
JP Morgan Private Bank
Rob Bartrop
Rob Bartrop
CRO
,
SOURCE Global
Sean Dennis
Sean Dennis
CEO
,
Seafood Souq

Register Now

Seats are limited to 150 decision-makers and ecosystem leaders.
Secure your place today and join the region’s most influential investors and policymakers at the forefront of ClimateTech.

Our Gallery

Adnan
Adnan Dekedek
Program Lead
,
startAD at NYUAD
Max Rye
Max Rye
Co-Founder
,
TurtleTree
Patricia Bubner
Patricia Bubner
CEO
,
Orbillion Bio
Rodrigo Mallo
Rodrigo Mallo
General Partner
,
Outsized Ventures
Katherine Foster
Katherine Foster
Advisor Social
,
Alpha Foundation
Fransisco Jardim
Fransisco Jardim
Managing Partner
,
SP Ventures
speaker-marcum
Ed Marcum
Managing Director
,
Working Capital Investment Fund
Fahim Al Qasimi
Fahim Al Qasimi
Co Founder
,
Seafood Souq
Greg Ohanessian
Greg Ohanessian
Founder
,
Soma Mater
Nihal
Nihal Shaikh
Assistant Director of Communications and Strategic Projects
,
startAD
Maria
Lola Fernandez
Senior Investment Associate
,
VentureSouq
Hattan Ahmed
Hattan Ahmed
Entrepreneurship Director
,
KAUST
Muna Abusulayman
Muna Abusulayman
Social Impact Investor & Serial Entrepreneur
Andrew
Andrew Yip
Head of Technology & Innovation
,
Food, NEOM
Kholoud Almohammadi
Kholoud Almohammadi
Investment Manager, Future Investement
,
Initiative Institure
Caio Malufe
Caio Malufe
Head of Strategy
,
Food & Ag Advisor, Orbillion Bio
Heather Henyon
Heather Henyon
Founding Partner
,
Mindshift Capital
Nicole Rogers
Nicole Rogers
Founder
,
Drawdown Foods
Henry Gordon Smith
Henry Gordon Smith
Founder
,
Agritecture
Justine Dampt
Justine Dampt
Co-founder
,
Shake your plants
Anshuman Bapna
Anshuman Bapna
Founder
,
Terra.do Inc
Majid Al Qassimi
Majid Al Qassimi
Founder & Partner
,
Soma Mater
John Tate
John Tate
CEO
,
Tamkeen LLC
Sonia Weymuller
Sonia Weymuller
Partner and Co-Founder
,
VentureSouq

Keynote by H.E. Sheikha Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Executive Director - Integrated Environment Policy and Planning

  • Beyond 1.5°C: Leveraging technology to adapt to climate change
  • Bridging the Gap: Unlocking early-stage investment in the Global South
  • Policy as a Multiplier: Enabling Ecosystems for Climate Innovation
  • AI for Climate Action: How AI is Supercharging Climate Solutions

Reception with 150 investors, founders, and policymakers

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