Across the investment world, private markets are booming, yet access remains uneven. While institutions and ultra-wealthy individuals continue to dominate the space, a growing segment of professionals with strong earnings are finding themselves on the sidelines. They have the income, the intent and the appetite, but not the tools or access.
Positioned at the intersection of wealth tech and ethical finance, Vennre is building a platform designed to serve this overlooked group.
In this week’s Behind the Idea, we speak to Ziad Mabsout, co-founder and CEO of Vennre, about the gaps he saw, the community the company is building and how it plans to scale.
Tell us more about your company and its offering
Vennre is a modern wealth creation platform built for high-earning professionals. We help them grow, track and allocate their wealth across private market opportunities. Our technology is designed to simplify portfolio construction, making it smarter, more personalised and more accessible. Users can discover and invest in Sharia-compliant deals through a seamless experience that mirrors the sophistication of private banking, without the barriers.
What problem was your company set up to solve?
We saw a clear gap for professionals who earn well but lack the tools, access and support to build diversified private market portfolios. These are the HENRYs (high earners, not rich yet) , often excluded from the premium opportunities that institutions or ultra-wealthy individuals enjoy. It was our very own experience with this challenge that inspired Vennre.
We were turned away from high-quality investment opportunities simply because we didn’t meet traditional thresholds. Vennre is now available to level the playing field, offering a seamless, Sharia-compliant platform that gives individuals access to curated deals and professional-grade tools without needing a private banker.
Since launch, how has your company evolved?
Our growth has been encouraging since launch. We’ve built a community of over 1,000 members, with around 15 per cent actively constructing private market portfolios through the platform. To date, users have transacted over $20million in deal flow. We’ve expanded operations into Saudi Arabia and introduced new product features, including automated onboarding, deal room analytics and Zakat calculators.
Additionally, we have added Shariah-compliant investment tracks, allowing our users to align their financial goals with their values. Throughout, we’ve remained focused on building a secure, fully regulated platform that prioritises user experience and trust.
What has been the biggest challenge or most ‘tricky moment’ to overcome?
There have been a few memorable, tricky moments along the way, but establishing trust in digital private market investing was, and still is, a core challenge. Unlike more familiar public market tools, private investments can feel opaque or inaccessible to individuals.
That’s why we’ve worked hard to demystify the experience through thoughtful design, clear communication and ongoing education. Everything from our onboarding process to our analytics tools is designed to reduce friction and increase user confidence. Building that foundation of trust has been essential to our progress.
What are your biggest achievements or ‘proudest moment’ so far?
One of the moments that stands out was seeing early users return to reinvest in second and third deals. It was a real validation of the platform and proof that we had met their expectations and earned long-term confidence.
Another highlight has been launching our Investor Club events in key cities like Riyadh, Dubai, London and Geneva. These gatherings have become more than networking opportunities; they’re a space for our community to connect, learn and grow together. Creating that sense of belonging has been incredibly rewarding for us.
How would you describe the culture of your company?
We have worked hard to build a culture rooted in integrity, collaboration, and a deep sense of purpose. Vennre is a lean and agile team, but every member plays an incredibly important role in shaping the product and serving our users.
We’re diverse in background and perspective, but unified by a shared mission to solve real problems for HENRYs and make wealth creation more inclusive. There’s transparency in how we operate, and a strong belief that the best ideas can come from anyone, regardless of title or function.
What’s in store for the future?
Right now, we are focused on scaling our capabilities while staying true to our mission. In the near term, that means launching our fully regulated entity in KSA and continuing to expand across key markets. We’re also investing in AI to enhance our advisory and wealth management features, giving users even smarter tools to analyse and manage their private market portfolios.
We want to deepen our data and analytics layers, improve personalisation and continue building toward a platform that makes sophisticated investing both accessible and intuitive.
