Waleed Alballaa

Waleed Alballaa is Managing Partner of Sukna Ventures, where he backs technology companies across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.He came to venture capital the long way: as a builder first. Waleed spent eight years as an engineer in Silicon Valley shipping products in wireless, semiconductors, and enterprise software at Microsoft, Cadence Design Systems, Conexant, and Skyworks Solutions. He then returned to Riyadh for eight years in operating roles at Elm, one of Saudi Arabia's leading technology companies. That path — engineer, operator, investor — shapes how he evaluates founders and where he sees the capital gaps that hold back high-growth companies. Waleed serves on the boards of technology companies spanning fintech, cybersecurity, mobility, and digital government — including Tap Payments Saudi, sirar by stc, SAPTCO's Digital Mobility Solutions, and GOSI's Masdr. Beyond the boardroom, he has helped build the infrastructure of the Saudi startup ecosystem: he co-founded Riyadh Angel Investors, was a founding member of the Saudi VC & PE Association, and co-hosted Thmanyah's "Assouq" podcast. He also serves on the investment committee of Anara Capital, an impact investing fund, and mentors early-stage founders while speaking regularly at the region's flagship tech events. Waleed holds a BSc in Computer Science from King Saud University and an MSc in Computer Science from Oregon Health & Science University.