1001 AI Secures $9 Million In Seed Funding Led By CIV General Catalyst And Lux Capital

1001 AI, founded and led by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, has raised $9 million in seed funding to build AI infrastructure for critical industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The round was led by CIV, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital, with participation from prominent angels including Chris Ré, Amjad Masad (Replit), Amira Sajwani (DAMAC), Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud (RAED Ventures), and Hisham Alfalih (Lean Technologies). Drawing on Abu-Ghazaleh’s experience at Scale AI, the London- and Dubai-based startup is developing an AI-native operating system to streamline operations in high-stakes sectors such as aviation, logistics, and oil and gas—areas that collectively represent over $10 billion in inefficiencies across the Gulf. The funding will accelerate early deployments and team growth as 1001 AI prepares to launch its first product by year’s end. FOUNDER: Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh INVESTORS: CIV, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Chris Ré, Amjad Masad, Amira Sajwani, Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud & Hisham Alfalih ROUND: Seed AMOUNT: $9,000,000 HQ: #Dubai #VentureCapital #1001AI #BilalAbuGhazaleh #CIV #GeneralCatalyst #LuxCapital #ChrisRé #AmjadMasad #AmiraSajwani #KhalidBinBaderAlSaud #HishamAlfalih #TradedVC