Jordan's ISSF Commits $7 Million to Endeavor Catalyst V

Jordan's Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) has committed $7 million to Endeavor Catalyst V as part of efforts to attract more international venture capital to the country's startup ecosystem.

The investment was announced in Amman during an event attended by Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smirat. The agreement was signed by ISSF CEO Mohammad Al-Muhtasib and Allen Taylor, managing partner of Endeavor Catalyst.

Endeavor Catalyst is the co-investment arm of Endeavor, the global entrepreneurship network that supports high-growth founders in more than 60 countries. Its fifth fund exceeds $300 million and focuses on companies in emerging markets.

According to ISSF, the commitment marks the first step in the fund's second operational phase, following an initial phase that ran through 2025. The investment is intended to strengthen Jordan's venture capital landscape and expand access to international funding.

Endeavor's track record in Jordan dates back to 2009, when the organisation entered the Kingdom as its first market in the Middle East and North Africa. Companies with Jordanian ties that have received backing through the network include AI coding platform Replit, founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, which is currently valued at around $9 billion.

Other Jordanian companies supported through Endeavor's ecosystem include Tamatem Games, Altibbi, Eon Dental, Tarjama and Wazn HR.

The move reflects a broader trend across the region, with government-backed investment vehicles increasingly using fund-of-funds strategies to connect local startups with larger pools of international capital.