Islamic investment platform Mnaara raises $500K in pre-seed funds

By Gloria Methri

London-based digital investment platform Mnaara has completed a $500,000 pre-seed round funded by investors from the UK, the US, the Middle East, and Singapore. The round will strengthen the FinTech’s growth and further development of its Shariah-compliant investment solutions catering to the globally underserved mass-affluent market.

Mnaara says it is the first investment platform offering equitable access to Shariah-compliant global private markets funds digitally. The funds follow Shariah screening guidelines which limit and control non-ethical activities in Islamic finance, such as gambling, tobacco, alcohol, and arms, in addition to generating income from interest. Financial guidelines are also followed with respect to using excessive leverage and financial derivatives.

Saad Adada, founder and CEO of Mnaara, said, “This is a very exciting time for our business. We are creating a gateway that allows our clients to invest in top-performing funds without compromising their values. Our platform democratizes access to private markets that were previously only available to a select few, via a seamless digital journey accessible from anywhere in the world.

“Our investment approach ensures that all investments are made in accordance with Islamic finance principles and guidelines. We are on a mission to enable a community of Shariah-conscious investors by connecting them with the best investment opportunities globally.

“Currently, those who want to diversify their investments, while maintaining a Shariah-compliant portfolio, have extremely limited options. We feel it is important that private markets are open to all, which is why we have created Mnaara.”

Adada has more than 20 years of experience in investment banking and management roles with a focus on Islamic finance and Shariah-compliant investing.  He has held a number of high-profile roles within major financial institutions in the Middle East, including Islamic banks and multi-billion US-dollar family offices.

However, Adada has chosen London as the base for Mnaara, as it makes it accessible to Shariah-conscious investors in the UK who are significantly underserved. It is also the ideal location to create a product with excellent digital reach for global Shariah-compliant investors wherever they come from.

The website is at Mnaara.com and the platform will be publicly available to eligible investors before the end of 2023.