Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Inovia Capital, the Canadian venture capital firm, has announced the opening of a new office at ADGM in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant expansion of its global footprint and deepening its engagement with the UAE’s innovation ecosystem.
The company said the new office at “one of the world’s most dynamic hubs for innovation and artificial intelligence” strengthens its international presence, which already includes locations in Canada, the Bay Area, London, and now Abu Dhabi, according to a statement issued by Inovia.
The move follows Inovia’s recent Canadian Innovation Delegation’s visit to the UAE in October — part of the firm’s broader effort to build long-term links between Canada and the Middle East.
The company said the new Abu Dhabi office supports the ambitions outlined in the recent Canada–UAE Memorandum of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Infrastructure, signed earlier this month.
“Canada and the UAE share a strong and growing ambition to advance innovation, talent mobility, and global collaboration,” said Chris Arsenault, Partner & CEO at Inovia Capital. “Our new office builds on the momentum created through relationship-building efforts that began over a year ago, including our October Innovation Delegation visit to the region.”
As part of the firm’s regional expansion, Claire Glossop Irani — recently promoted to Head of Strategic Partnerships and Office of the CEO—has relocated to Abu Dhabi to lead Inovia’s operations across the Middle East. Her role includes overseeing global investor relations and creating new commercial and financial partnerships for Inovia’s portfolio companies, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Claire, who previously worked in the Gulf and has experience in investment, investor relations and ecosystem-building, is expected to play a key role in advancing Inovia’s regional ambitions. “It is an opportune moment to accelerate strengthened ties between the Canadian and Middle East tech ecosystems,” she said. “Being based in Abu Dhabi will allow us to better support our portfolio by deepening our relationships with entities committed to building the next generation of global technology companies.”
Inovia noted that while its primary investment focus remains in Canada, establishing an office in the UAE represents a major step in enhancing partnerships across the Middle East and aligns with its mission of helping founders build global, sustainable technology companies.
Inovia said the opening of the ADGM office builds on the momentum generated during its previous visits to the region, which included meetings with major UAE entities and innovation platforms. In a background note, it highlighted that the firm has been engaging with Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem through multiple touchpoints, including interactions with ADIA, ADQ, Hub71, Mubadala, Dubai Chambers, and the Dubai Future Foundation, as part of broader efforts to expand partnerships and pursue co-investment opportunities.
The company added that the UAE’s focus on artificial intelligence, sovereign digital infrastructure, and technology-led economic diversification aligns closely with Inovia’s investment strategy.
