Yango Group launches $20m VC fund to back startups across MENA, Africa, and Latin America

Dubai-based Yango Group has launched Yango Ventures, a $20 million corporate venture fund targeting early-stage startups (Seed to Series B) across MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

• The fund will focus on O2O (online-to-offline), B2B SaaS, and fintech, aiming for high-growth opportunities without taking control stakes.

⏪ Background

Yango, originally the international arm of Russia’s Yandex, has evolved into a standalone Dubai-based digital ecosystem spanning mobility, fintech, SaaS, and AI.

The company first launched under the Yango brand in 2018 as a ride-hailing platform before expanding into payments (Yango Pay), B2B SaaS (logistics and automation), and AI-driven services (Yango Play, Yasmina AI assistant).

Following Russia’s geopolitical shifts, Yango has worked to establish itself as an independent global tech firm with operations across MENA, Africa, and Latin America.

🔮 Outlook

With Yango Ventures, the company is now extending its footprint into venture capital, looking to back startups in industries where it already operates while maintaining a returns-driven, hands-off approach rather than one tied to direct strategic integration.