500 Global

The internet is a wild place. Over the last decade, 2.5B people came online. What happens when the next billion internet users come online? We believe that a lot of value may be created. But how? And more importantly, how can you be a part of it? The answers may surprise you. Explore the #RiseReport now. #500strong https://500.co/risereport

500 Global: 2024 Year in Review 🌍 This year, the 500 Global team made remarkable strides in our mission to fuel innovation and invest in the world's potential. Here’s a quick snapshot of our 2024 highlights: 💰 $42.1M+ invested this year, bringing our total to $787.5M+ across the years. 🌟 138 companies funded in 2024, now totaling 3,104 portfolio companies. 👩💼 1 in 4 portfolio companies has at least one female founder. 🌱 43% of our portfolio companies align with UNSDG goals, with $460K of every $1M invested generating measurable impact. 📈 Participants from Rise 30 countries - 75% in founder programs & 51% in investor programs. (Explore the economies we believe will shape the next decade in our 500 Global Rise Report: 500.co/risereport) As we look to the future, we're proud of the progress made and remain committed to investing in solutions that shape a better world. Here's to a transformative 2025! 🌟 Christine Tsai | Courtney Powell | Bedy Yang | Tim Chae | Tony Wang | Khailee Ng | Vishal Harnal | Clayton Bryan | Amal Enan | Amal Dokhan | Amjad Ahmad | Min Kim | Abdulrahman AlJiffry | Pedro Santos Vieira | Santiago Zavala | Damaris Mendoza Loera | Regina Zurutuza | René Lomelí Ojeda

What an incredible evening today with our friends at 500 Global and BDX, celebrating the end of the year surrounded by amazing VC colleagues, investors and members of the startup ecosystem. It was a night to foster human connections and share warm conversations with like-minded professionals. I truly enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Ella Shukho, Christine Tsai, Tony Wang, Yiwen Li, Clayton Bryan, Leonard Lee, Max Morgunov CFA, Marina Morgan, Gary Fowler, Iris Sun, Jason Nyeh, Sho Tominaga, Smita Bhattacharjee, Ted McMahon, Mohak Saxena, Sena Zorlu, Harry (Hideharu) Tanaka

Wrapping up the first of several activities to support the fund managers in the Startup Catalyst portfolio, in partnership with 500 Global. It’s been great to see such an engaged group and we are excited to launch more exciting activities to bring together our exceptional investees in the new year. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to those who made it happen! Dipta Shah Jane Onoka Mohamed Eissa

I am delighted to share that I have completed the VC Unlocked Online: IFC Startup Catalyst program, a collaboration between 500 Global and the IFC - International Finance Corporation. This four-month virtual program provided a phenomenal opportunity to hone our investment skills and build a solid foundation using Silicon Valley's best practices. Heartfelt thanks to Laurien Field and the entire IFC Startup Catalyst team for their unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of investment leaders. I am also deeply grateful to our incredible instructors, who brought a wealth of knowledge and real-world insights to the modules and live workshops and to the outstanding 500 Global Education team for their support. Special thanks to Rabeel Warraich for signing us up and fostering a learning culture at Sarmayacar that champions and supports our ongoing professional development. Finally, a big shout out to my amazing peers in the program. Learning alongside such talented professionals from around the world has been an incredible experience. I've gained invaluable insights into the unique opportunities and challenges of our diverse geographies, particularly in navigating the complexities and potential of emerging markets. Truly grateful for the connections we've made. #IFCStartupCatalyst #500Strong #Sarmayacar

As 2024 wind down and a new year with new goals approaches I wanted to share a few important moments that meant a lot to me this year. I ll start with Kauffman Fellows in this post, I have been so keen on being part of this global prestigous fellowship and after graduating the program last June I realized the biggest value that lies in the people it gathers and the experiences shared and the amount of self discovery as an investor and defining who I am as an investor was crucial inorder to serve founders in the best manner possible. Humbled to have been part of it and a big thank you to the whole team of Kauffman who took us through this journey and to everyone I met through this path. These bonds will last forever CLASS 27. A special thank you to 500 Global for enabling me to pursue this and thank you to Bedy Yang for encouraging me to be part of the network and to make me see that I can balance between work and travel and thanks to Courtney Powell who saw my potential and believed in the value that I can create with my team. Thank you to my team who enabled me to have the gift of time to attend sessions and take meetings while dealing with my time difference Abdulrahman AlJiffry Daif Alrajhi Mohammad Khdair, CMA Anais-Amber Samaha Alaa Ibrahim Amal Bin Jurays Fahad Alharbi Reem Khamis you guys rock.

Excited to share that I’ve completed the VC Unlocked Online: IFC Startup Catalyst 2024 program! Over the past four months, this collaboration between 500 Global and IFC brought together an incredible group of VC professionals from around the world. It’s been a truly enriching journey, offering global exposure, meaningful connections, and valuable insights into how VCs operate across different markets, including emerging ones like ours. The inspiring conversations deepened my understanding of the venture capital world and its diverse approaches. A big thank you to Rabeel Warraich for the opportunity, and to the entire VC Unlocked team at 500 Global and IFC - International Finance Corporation for organizing such a thoughtful and impactful program. The shared knowledge and global perspectives have been truly inspiring, and I’m excited to apply these lessons into practice! #VCUnlocked #IFCStartupCatalyst #500Strong Sarmayacar

Venture capital in emerging markets is evolving rapidly, presenting both unique challenges and incredible opportunities. To stay ahead, continuous learning is not just valuable—it’s essential. I recently completed the VC Unlocked Online: IFC Startup Catalyst 2024 program, a collaboration between 500 Global and IFC Disruptive Tech, VC & Funds, IFC - International Finance Corporation. Over four months, this program deepened my understanding of key VC principles—refining strategies for sourcing startups, constructing portfolios, and negotiating term sheets. It also highlighted emerging trends in venture capital across diverse markets, particularly the growing role of local investors in bridging global expertise with regional ecosystems. For me, these insights are directly applicable to 500 Global’s mission in Eurasia, helping us deliver even more value to our startups and LPs. A special thank you to Pedro Santos Vieira for championing continuous professional development and supporting my journey. Immense gratitude to the amazing 500 Global Education team (Paulina Szyrmer, Arianne Renée Dilts, Sophie Kaminski) incredible instructors (Christine Tsai, Paul E. Yoo, Robert Neivert, Didier Quiroz Ceballos,Amjad Ahmad, Anais-Amber Samaha), the IFC Startup Catalyst team, and my talented peers for their shared knowledge and collaboration throughout this experience. Excited to bring these learnings back to my work, supporting the growth of our portfolio and strengthening the startup ecosystem in emerging markets. #VCUnlocked #IFCStartupCatalyst #500Strong VC Unlocked 500 Global 500 Eurasia

🌟 Celebrating a Transformative Learning Journey! 🌟 I am thrilled to have successfully concluded the VC Unlocked program made in partnership by IFC - International Finance Corporation Startup Catalyst and 500 Global, a program designed to sharpen skills and share best practices in early-stage venture investing. Love to have confirmed, beyond all the technical skills, that the investor-startup relationship is not merely transactional—it's a partnership built on shared goals and mutual growth. Striving for a win-win mindset is essential for fostering innovation, building trust, and creating long-term impact. I am deeply grateful to IFC Startup Catalyst and 500 Global for this opportunity to grow, connect, and contribute to a brighter future for venture ecosystems worldwide. #VCUnlocked, #IFCStartupCatalyst #500Strong