Dar Ventures, Plug and Play Expand Built-Environment Startup Programme Across Africa

Dar Ventures has partnered with Plug and Play to broaden its DarE startup programme beyond the Middle East and North Africa, opening its reach to technology companies across Africa and other international markets.

The programme is designed for early-stage companies working in architecture, engineering, construction and the wider built environment. It will run for 12 weeks in a hybrid format and target businesses from pre-seed to pre-Series A stage.

Eligible companies are expected to have a minimum viable product or a market-ready product, alongside early market validation and potential for commercial adoption and international growth.

Access to global network

Through the partnership, DarE will gain access to Plug and Play’s international network of startups, investors and corporate partners. The programme will primarily seek companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while remaining open to applicants from around the world.

The areas covered will include construction and infrastructure technology, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, smart cities and sustainability.

Selected startups will receive expert guidance, one-on-one mentorship and direct engagement with industry stakeholders. They will also receive curated access to investors, corporate partners and international markets.

Nader Aboushadi, co-founder of Dar Ventures, said DarE had been created to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to develop their businesses.

“Partnering with Plug and Play allows us to take that ambition to the next level, identifying exceptional founders and giving them access to the expertise and markets, coupled with Dar Ventures projects and capital they need to grow,” Aboushadi said.

Programme expands beyond MENA

Dar Ventures, the venture capital arm of design and engineering firm Dar, launched DarE in 2023 as a six-month incubator for architecture, engineering and construction technology startups in the Middle East and North Africa. Under the original programme, selected companies were eligible for up to $50,000 in equity-free funding.

Dar Ventures said DarE has supported 32 startups across four cohorts since its launch.

The company also said the expanded programme would create a global alumni community, intended to preserve opportunities for commercial partnerships, knowledge exchange, investment and expansion across markets.

Karima El Hakim, Partner, Africa at Plug and Play, said the organisation was supporting the next phase of DarE because of Dar’s expertise in the built environment.

“By bringing Plug and Play’s global innovation, venture, and corporate ecosystem to the platform, we aim to connect founders with industry, accelerate commercial adoption, and support technologies shaping how the world is built,” El Hakim said.

Funding environment

The expansion comes as African technology companies continue to attract investment, although early-stage funding remains under pressure. TechCabal Insights reported that Africa’s technology ecosystem raised $1.44 billion across 174 deals in the first half of 2026. Early-stage startups accounted for $9 million, down from $25 million a year earlier.

Dar Ventures said Plug and Play’s network includes more than 60 offices and 550 corporate and government partners across more than 25 industries. It also said the organisation has accelerated more than 10,000 startups since 2012.

No start date, application deadline or intake size has been announced for the expanded DarE programme.