Venture capital firm 500 Global has appointed Dr. Alaa Murabit as Managing Partner of Sustainable Growth, marking a significant strategic shift to accelerate inclusive economic transformation in frontier and emerging markets.
Dr. Murabit, a globally recognized expert in health, climate, and inclusive development, will oversee a practice focused on mobilizing capital and capabilities across health, climate, and human development sectors. Her role will be critical in reshaping how capital is deployed to enable long-term, resilient economic growth, particularly in developing economies.
The Sustainable Growth practice will bring together public, private, and philanthropic capital to create innovative financing strategies, educational programs, and advisory platforms. This includes building national innovation infrastructure, de-risking venture capital, and aligning investment with national development priorities.
“Economic development has always been an impact of the investments 500 Global has made,” said Courtney Powell, COO & Managing Partner. “Dr. Murabit’s appointment reinforces the growing global consensus that venture capital, when de-risked through public-private partnerships, can serve as a catalytic engine for inclusive growth.”
With a track record of mobilizing over $25 billion in global financing and shaping the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Murabit brings both policy and operational expertise. She has held roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, led organizations like IMPACT2030, and helped design innovative finance platforms focused on maternal health and climate security.
Dr. Murabit will be based in Abu Dhabi, further anchoring 500 Global’s growing Middle East presence. Her leadership comes amid growing investor interest in sustainable, inclusive finance in regions facing climate shocks, economic instability, and rising inequality.
“In many markets, global capital arrives too late—or not at all,” said Dr. Murabit. “We need to redesign financing systems that prioritize local innovation, share risk equitably, and ensure investment delivers sustainable outcomes for people and planet.”
Founded in 2010, 500 Global has worked closely with governments and sovereign funds, including Sanabil Investments (a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund) and Georgia’s IT Agency, to embed localized VC infrastructure and address regional development needs.
In 2023, the firm published the Rise Report, highlighting venture gaps in 30 rising economies beyond the U.S. and China, including India, Mexico, Egypt, and South Korea. This report served as a call to action for allocators and policymakers to co-develop high-impact venture ecosystems.
With Dr. Murabit’s appointment, the firm signals a pivot from fragmented short-cycle development efforts to coordinated, scalable investment platforms that can transform economies and deliver lasting impact.
