Bilal Baloch: ‘Never let a serious crisis go to waste’

Bilal Baloch: ‘Never let a serious crisis go to waste’ | AGBI
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May 12, 2026
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INTERVIEW
Tech
Bilal Baloch: ‘Never let a serious crisis go to waste’
By Valentina Pasquali
April 27, 2026, 7:26 AM
Supplied
Baloch is a partner of UAE-based Shorooq, which dubs itself as 'the region’s fastest growing venture capital fund'
Startups can still mature and grow
Plan and focus on healthy cashflow
Lower costs and deepen relationships
An early-stage investor and founder steeped in international affairs, Bilal Baloch says Gulf startups and venture capital have what it takes to mature and grow as the Iran conflict and the advent of artificial intelligence reshuffle business and geopolitics as we know them.
Never let a serious crisis go to waste, Baloch tells AGBI from Palo Alto, California, where he splits his time with Abu Dhabi.
Baloch is a partner of UAE-based Shorooq , which dubs itself as the regions fastest growing venture capital fund. He leads global investing efforts into AI.
Backed by sovereign powerhouses including the UAEs Mubadala , the Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund , Shorooq has gone from $2 million to $1 billion in assets under management in under a decade.
Emirati agritech company Pure Harvest , Saudi buy-now-pay-later fintech Tamara and Egyptian online grocery platform Breadfast are among the companies in Shorooqs portfolio.
Many companies in the UAE and Gulf, especially founders with consumer-facing products, have been affected by the war and its disruption of critical commodity flows, Baloch says.
But the impact on Shorooqs startups hasnt been as sweeping as it might have during the pandemic or a financial crisis.
Those things impact the tech and venture capital ecosystem a lot more, Baloch says. Because they challenge the very fundamentals of an economy in a way that a security shock does not in the medium-to-long term.
Abu Dhabi-based agtech Pure Harvest is just one of the companies in Shorooqs portfolio
Shorooq is advising founders on its crisis playbook, which starts with ensuring they have a healthy cashflow and runway.
Startups typically raise capital on a 12-to-18-month cycle, but they should now plan for up to 24 months, he said.
Cut where you can, streamline where you can, Baloch says.
He is a founder himself, having created and exited Enquire AI, a platform linking organisations with experts. He holds a doctorate in political economy from Oxford University and a masters degree in international relations from Tufts University.
That AI is reshaping business at a time the conflict weighs on budgets has been a lucky coincidence, according to Baloch, because agents are making startups more efficient, he says.
One of his founders told him he will need to hire 50 percent fewer engineers in the next 18 months thanks to AI. Another startup is running weekly agentic AI bootcamps for employees to learn the ropes quickly.
Founders should also deepen relationships with existing clients, whether by extending contracts or providing discounts, and ensure their teams feel taken care of.
Human beings and businesses are no different, they want to know that youre there for them, Baloch says. No one does that better than the Middle Easterners, because theyve got such a long history of living and working through conflict and crises.
Domestic resilience
The presence in the Gulf of non-Western investors, entrepreneurs and professionals, who cant easily run back to the stability of their home countries, gives places like Dubai or Abu Dhabi an unparalleled reservoir of resilience and commitment.
What separates your typical founder in the Middle East from your typical founder anywhere else is they have a heavy responsibility to act like a statesman, Baloch says. Making sure your team is safe and secure, your communication is explicit and regular, not just building and shipping products.
A fragile ceasefire and profound uncertainty over the wars end and what the day after will look like is forcing the region to reckon with a new reality of shifting alliances, while the roles of the US, Israel, Iran and Gulf states are all in play.
Investors and entrepreneurs must take that seriously, whether they sit in Abu Dhabi or San Francisco, Baloch tells AGBI .
The war will accelerate regional investments in critical industries, such as space, logistics, AI and defence manufacturing, according to Baloch.
These held promise before, he says, but when you see it up front, its a very different ballgame, because maybe others who didnt see it that way can come along the journey with you.
Baloch is bullish on the UAE because of its unmatched ability to do whats best for the people that live there, and actionably help and support business and security as a twin goal.
Further reading:
Fadi Ghandour: An early summer and a hockey stick winter
Badr Jafar: Private sector must shoulder stability in times of war
Mishal Kanoo: War wont break Dubais economic model
The close investment partnership with the US will also survive, he predicts.
Here in the US the last few weeks, Ive heard more people say theyre still keen to invest in the region than those holding back, Baloch says.
Meanwhile Shorooq has done three highly sought-after deals in American AI companies since the conflict started, a testament to the value proposition of the region and the backing for their global AI fund from G42 .
These young founders are thinking globally from day one, Baloch says.
They are saying, Id like to have customers in the Middle East and in Asia. They recognise AI is becoming ground-zero across the region and would love to get access to institutions and talent there, or to raise growth capital from there.
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