Spiros Margaris

Spiros Margaris is a prominent venture capitalist and thought leader in the fields of fintech and artificial intelligence. He has recently joined as a venture partner at SparkLabs Group, contributing to the leadership of Saudi Arabia's AI.M Accelerator in Riyadh. This initiative is part of the broader Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M), which aims to enhance innovation in AI within the Kingdom over the next five years.126

Background and Achievements

• Venture Capitalist: Margaris is the founder of Margaris Ventures and has been recognized as the global No. 1 finance and fintech influencer, as well as a leading AI thought leader.6
• Advisory Roles: He has served on advisory boards for several fintech companies, two of which have achieved unicorn status (valued at over $1 billion) under his guidance. Notably, he advised STC Pay and Snappi, both of which have recently received banking licenses.6
• Awards: In 2024, he won the Swiss Derivative Award for the Best Active Managed AMC for his "Margaris No. 1 Artificial Intelligence Basket" fund.6

Role in AI.M Accelerator

As part of SparkLabs Group's initiative, Margaris is involved in fostering early-stage AI startups through the AIM-X program. This accelerator is designed to support local and global AI ventures, providing them with essential resources and investments to thrive in a competitive landscape.123 The program aims to attract promising startups and bolster Saudi Arabia's position as a key player in the global AI ecosystem.45