Bahraini fintech Bambucorn has secured a Crowdfunding Platform Operator licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain, widening the capital-raising menu for founders and everyday investors across the region.
[BODY] The new approval lets Bambucorn host equity rounds for startups, SMEs and real-estate projects, with ticket sizes small enough for retail backers yet structured to meet CBB safeguards. It also enables issuers based outside Bahrain to tap the platform—useful for founders building in neighbouring markets but seeking the kingdom’s streamlined regulatory environment. Co-founder Fareed Bader credits Bahrain’s “investor-first but innovation-friendly” rulebook, while fellow co-founder Narayanan Ganapathy says splitting deals into bite-size cheques helps investors diversify and lets consumer-facing brands turn loyal customers into shareholders. Bambucorn’s parent already holds a Dubai Financial Services Authority licence, so the fresh Bahraini permit consolidates its Gulf footprint and supports government plans to make fintech a pillar of economic growth.
The win also reinforces the Bahrain Economic Development Board drive to attract financial-services disruptors; under the National Economic Recovery Plan, regulators are pushing faster approvals for sandbox graduates and complementary schemes such as Tamkeen’s startup grants. For founders, Bambucorn adds another path to early capital that doesn’t hinge on traditional VCs—and for the crowd, it offers regulated access to ventures previously limited to insiders.
Startups and investors can pre-register on Bambucorn’s portal ahead of the platform’s first Bahraini deals.
