- Multiverse Computing to establish Doha as its regional headquarters
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has announced its investment in Multiverse Computing, a global leader in efficient and sustainable artificial intelligence and one of Europe’s newest unicorns, during a signing ceremony held in Doha. QDB’s investment forms part of the company’s EUR 500 million Series C funding round, which values Multiverse Computing at EUR 1.5 billion.
QDB, through its investment arm, joins a consortium of global strategic investors participating in the round, which is co-led by Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP Solar Impulse Venture Fund and Bullhound Capital.
Founded in Spain, Multiverse Computing specializes in developing AI language models and enhancing their efficiency through advanced compression and model architecture optimization. Its technologies help reduce energy consumption and computing costs while accelerating response times. The company develops its own models and can also compress third-party models, enabling AI tools to operate on standalone devices independently of large-scale cloud servers and providing users with greater sovereign control over their AI infrastructure.
Through its investment in Multiverse Computing and as part of this partnership, QDB will support Multiverse Computing in establishing Doha as its regional headquarters. Operating regionally from Qatar, the company will serve customers and pursue partnerships across the region, drawing on its expertise in efficient sovereign AI to contribute to the continued development of the technology and innovation ecosystem in Qatar and the wider region.
Mr. Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank, said:
“Our investment in Multiverse Computing reflects the ambition of the Startup Qatar Investment Program to attract high-growth technology companies that can contribute meaningfully to Qatar’s innovation ecosystem, while reaffirming QDB’s commitment to anchoring the industries of the future in Qatar. By supporting the establishment of the company’s regional headquarters in Doha, we are bringing world-class expertise in efficient and sovereign AI closer to the local market, while creating new opportunities for partnerships, knowledge transfer and regional commercial growth. This directly advances the objectives of Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) 2024-2030, which places innovation and the attraction of cutting-edge technology companies as central building blocks in the development of a diversified, knowledge-based economy.”
Mr. Enrique Lizaso, Co-founder and CEO of Multiverse Computing, stated: “The AI industry’s future relies on doing more with less by running powerful models efficiently, sustainably, and securely without being constrained by legacy infrastructure. Partnering with Qatar Development Bank and establishing our regional headquarters in Doha accelerates our ability to deliver this vision to the Middle East and beyond. Qatar’s forward-thinking approach to sovereign AI and its strategic location make it the ideal launchpad as we scale our CompactifAI platform across new markets.”
This investment forms part of the Startup Qatar initiative, which brings together key stakeholders from across Qatar’s business ecosystem, including Qatar Development Bank, which leads the initiative’s investment track for global companies. The initiative aims to attract leading technology companies to establish and expand their operations in Qatar. Since Startup Qatar was launched in 2024, QDB has invested through the initiative in more than 40 startups from 15 countries worldwide.
Earlier this year during Web Summit Qatar 2026, QDB announced an expansion of the Startup Qatar Investment Program. The program’s target portfolio is set to reach QAR 1 billion by 2030, reinforcing Qatar’s long-term commitment to building a globally competitive startup and innovation ecosystem.
About Qatar Development Bank
Established in 1997 as a government-affiliated development institution, Qatar Development Bank aims to strengthen the national business landscape, fostering and driving the economic diversification of the private sector in Qatar.
Throughout more than twenty-five years of economic development, Qatar Development Bank has achieved notable successes, cementing its position as a major contributor to the national entrepreneurship ecosystem, the private sector and a diversified and knowledge-based economy.
Qatar Development Bank’s strategy is aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Third National Development Strategy, and the Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan, with a focus on building a promising future for businesses in Qatar and empowering entrepreneurs to lead a sustainable and prosperous future.
Qatar Development Bank anchors its support framework on three interconnected pillars, beginning with the promotion of innovation by embracing and accelerating entrepreneurial ideas and investing in startups, developing local businesses by providing financial and advisory support, and enabling the export ecosystem to bolster Qatari exports and raise the competitiveness of Qatari products in global markets, in collaboration with partners from the governmental entities.
The bank’s efforts are centered around diversifying support mechanisms to foster social and economic development, leveraging available resources to advance environmental, social and institutional governance and digital transformation efforts, and promoting innovation and creativity, with a focus on forging impactful local and global partnerships.
