Saudi Arabia-based AI infrastructure startup, Think, has secured more than US$8 million in a pre-seed funding round. This marks one of the region’s notable early-stage investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The funding reflects a growing shift in investor interest from companies building AI applications and large language models to startups developing the critical infrastructure that enables those technologies to operate efficiently.
The investment also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to establish itself as a leading regional hub for artificial intelligence by strengthening its local AI ecosystem, expanding sovereign computing capabilities, and reducing dependence on foreign cloud providers.
The investment round was co-led by RAED Ventures and Wa’ed Ventures, with additional participation from Dhahran Techno Valley’s venture capital arm and a group of angel investors.
Beyond providing fresh capital, the funding speaks of increasing confidence in companies focused on solving some of artificial intelligence’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, including high operating costs, inefficient computing resource utilisation, energy consumption, and data sovereignty.
What is Think and what does it do?
Founded by Ahmed AlSharif and Ammar Enaya, Think is an AI infrastructure and deep technology startup focused on making artificial intelligence systems more efficient, affordable, and easier to deploy.
Rather than developing AI chatbots or generative AI applications, the company builds the underlying infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence.
Its technology combines intelligent software with high-performance hardware to optimise the performance of AI systems while reducing the technical challenges associated with running advanced AI workloads.
The startup’s infrastructure is designed to improve GPU utilisation, enhance cooling systems, optimise power efficiency, and minimise the overall cost of operating AI environments.
By addressing these technical bottlenecks, Think aims to help businesses deploy AI solutions more effectively without sacrificing performance or security.
What to know about this funding
The newly secured funding represents one of the largest pre-seed investments for an AI infrastructure startup in Saudi Arabia, highlighting growing investor confidence in the sector.
The investment comes at a time when artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation into widespread commercial adoption.
As more organisations integrate AI into their operations, demand is increasing for the infrastructure capable of supporting these systems reliably and cost-effectively.
The funding round was co-led by RAED Ventures and Wa’ed Ventures, while Dhahran Techno Valley’s venture capital arm and several angel investors also backed the company.
More importantly, the investment reflects a broader trend across global venture capital markets, where investors are increasingly supporting companies building the foundational technologies behind AI rather than focusing exclusively on AI models and consumer-facing applications.
What problem is Think trying to solve?
One of the biggest challenges facing organisations adopting artificial intelligence is the high cost and complexity of running AI infrastructure.
Many businesses currently rely on hyperscale cloud providers to access computing resources capable of supporting AI workloads.
While these services offer significant processing power, they can also become expensive, create long-term dependency on external providers, and raise concerns about data privacy and sovereignty.
Think aims to offer an alternative by helping organisations operate AI systems more efficiently while maintaining greater control over their data and infrastructure.
Explaining the company’s mission, co-founder Ammar Enaya said, “Our customers want the benefits of AI without the spiralling costs, security concerns, and dependence associated with hyperscale cloud providers.”
By combining advanced software with purpose-built hardware, Think seeks to reduce infrastructure costs while improving system performance, energy efficiency, and overall reliability.
What will the startup use the money for?
The fresh capital will support several strategic growth initiatives as Think expands its operations within Saudi Arabia and beyond.
According to the company, the funding will be used to expand its team, scale manufacturing operations, accelerate product development, and drive international expansion efforts.
Think also plans to increase commercial deployments across Saudi Arabia while extending its footprint throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and selected international markets.
In addition, the startup intends to accelerate the development of ILM as a standalone software platform, strengthening its technology portfolio and creating additional opportunities for enterprise AI deployments.
These investments are expected to position the company for faster commercial growth while enabling it to meet increasing demand for locally developed AI infrastructure.
Why is this funding important?
Think’s latest funding illustrates an important shift in the global artificial intelligence investment landscape.
Over the past few years, much of the attention has centred on companies developing AI models, chatbots, and productivity applications. Increasingly, however, investors are recognising that these innovations require robust infrastructure capable of supporting them at scale.
As a result, AI infrastructure has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments within the broader AI ecosystem. The investment also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s determination to build a self-sustaining artificial intelligence industry.
Alongside investments in AI talent development, cloud infrastructure, and sovereign computing capabilities, the Kingdom is actively supporting startups developing the technologies that underpin AI deployment.
This broader strategy could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness in the global AI economy while creating new opportunities for local innovation and enterprise adoption.
Looking ahead, Think’s ability to scale commercial deployments, expand across the GCC, and attract enterprise customers will serve as a key indicator of demand for locally developed AI infrastructure.
Future customer adoption and additional funding rounds will also reveal whether AI infrastructure evolves into one of the Middle East’s most significant emerging startup sectors.
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