Autotech Ventures, a global venture capital firm exclusively focused on ground transport innovation, has officially expanded into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by establishing a base in the UAE.
The strategic move aims to capture emerging opportunities in disruptive technologies that are set to reshape the region’s auto commerce ecosystem.
Targeting mobility fintech and digital infrastructure
As competition from Chinese automakers intensifies and government policies shift, GCC corporations are being forced to fundamentally rethink vehicle distribution, fleet electrification, and aftersales management.
Autotech’s specific focus in the region spans mobility fintech, AI-driven dealership operations, connected fleet systems, and aftermarket modernization. The firm plans to back early-stage founders building solutions to digitize this sector, ranging from vehicle finance providers and franchise dealer groups to used car platforms and fleet operators.
Regional leadership appointments
To spearhead its regional market entry, Autotech Ventures has appointed Saud Abbasi as Regional Advisor and Rabih Haydar as Director of Partnerships for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).
Abbasi will guide Autotech as it navigates the new market, bringing a broad spectrum of experience across the automotive value chain, including captive finance, sales, and multi-brand dealership management.
“The Gulf has capital and the ambition to redefine how mobility ecosystems are built,” Abbasi noted. “This is a market where distribution models, electrification timelines and cross-border trade are evolving in parallel. Autotech’s disciplined investment approach can help channel that momentum into scalable, global companies.”
Haydar will lead the firm’s on-the-ground engagement, working closely with founders, corporates, VCs, and sovereign investors. Bringing over a decade of experience across mobility, automotive technology, and financial services, Haydar will focus on sourcing investments and helping GCC corporations discover startups driving the next wave of innovation.
“The GCC isn’t an emerging market anymore,” Haydar explained. “Capital is flowing, operators are under real pressure to modernize, and now is the time for intense technology innovation. I’ve spent my career inside these businesses and know where the opportunities lie.”
A market ‘reset’
Founded in 2015, Autotech Ventures manages nearly $600million globally, investing from pre-Seed through Series B in startups transforming ground transportation. The firm has backed more than 60 companies across various sectors including fintech, electrification, and supply chain logistics, boasting a portfolio that includes notable names like Lyft, SpotHero, and indie Semiconductor.
Quin Garcia, co-founder and managing director of Autotech Ventures, expects sweeping digitization of the GCC’s auto commerce ecosystem over the coming decade.
“What’s happening in the GCC isn’t a cycle, it’s a reset,” Garcia said. “We’re here at the right time, with the right partners and intend to build something lasting. Saud and Rabih have spent decades inside the GCC, giving us a real advantage.”
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