Investor, former founder, and student of how enduring companies are built.
Khalid AlHadlaq
I'm an investor and former founder. Today I lead Idrisi Ventures, where I back exceptional founders building enduring companies from MENA.
I've operated companies, exited one I built, and served in senior public and private roles before turning fully to investing. Today I back a small number of founders with global ambition from MENA, alongside a tight group of strategic partners who share the long view. The work is selective, by design.
My interests sit at the intersection of enterprise AI, regional companies with global architecture, and operator-led teams with the discipline to compound through cycles.
Writing
All writing- Jun 2026
Greedy When Others Are Fearful
When uncertainty pushes many investors to the sidelines, long-term capital can find stronger companies, better terms, and more disciplined entry points.
- May 2026
The SAFE Note Illusion!
SAFE notes were designed to defer valuation conversations until there was real data to price against. Instead, they have become a mechanism for manufacturing phantom valuations, anchoring founders to numbers they never earned, and in some cases, helping them avoid accountability altogether.
- May 2026
Capital Is Not Neutral
Founders often focus on getting capital. The better question is whether the capital comes from the right investor.
- Apr 2026
The Names Change, the Pattern Does Not
Startup overvaluation is not new. The sectors change, the logos change, and the narratives change, but the pattern keeps returning.
- Mar 2026
Startup Valuation Is Not a Number
Startup valuation is less about finding a perfect number and more about understanding the assumptions an investor is underwriting.