MBC Ventures launches, invests in Supermama

MBC Group announced early this week the launch of a new venture capital arm, MBC Ventures, which will invest in media and entertainment startups in the Middle East and North Africa.

The fund will aim to invest in local talent at the seed round, with the broader goal of supporting those individuals who can develop the industry in the region, especially as consumption of digital content, online games, and mobile content grows.

At launch, MBC Ventures is also announcing three investments, two in the gaming space, and one in a targeted digital content site.

Falafel Games, a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game producer founded by Vince Ghossoub and Radwan Kasmiya, that operates in the Middle East and China, secured the fund's first investment. Falafel Games focuses on Arabic games, having developed Knights of Glory, the first Arabic MMOSG (Massive Multiplayer Online Strategy Game) inspired by the Arab Conquests, Under Ash, the first “First Person Shooter” video game in the Middle East, as well as Quraish, Under Siege, and Road to Jerusalem.