# Zest Equity

> Zest Equity is the digital infrastructure for private-market transactions — built in MENA, used worldwide. Deal makers run an entire transaction in one workflow through three capabilities: Zest SPVs, Zest Escrow, and Zest Arrange. The platform itself is not a regulated service; two of the three capabilities are FSRA-regulated. Zest Escrow is licensed to provide Money Services (Payment Services) and Zest Arrange is licensed to conduct Arranging Deals in Investments, both by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) under FSP No. 250031. Zest SPVs are Cayman Islands structures provided on an instruction-only basis and are not, in themselves, a regulated service. Track record: US$305M+ digitized across 228+ transactions, with transaction sizes from US$1M to US$100M+.

## Core Pages

- [Homepage](https://www.zestequity.com): The private-market platform today's deal makers demand — one platform, three capabilities (SPVs, Escrow, Arrange).
- [Contact](https://www.zestequity.com/contact): Speak to Zest about your deal; select a service and the team responds within 24 hours.
- [Blog & Insights](https://www.zestequity.com/blog): Perspectives, strategy, and education from inside the Zest ecosystem.

## Services

- [Zest SPVs — Simplify](https://www.zestequity.com/spv): A Cayman Special Purpose Vehicle formation service that groups multiple investors into one clean, institutional-grade investment vehicle — for co-investments, investor syndicates, capital raising, and cap table simplification, across asset classes. Provided on an instruction-only basis under Cayman Islands law (not a regulated service), supported by institutional legal, compliance, and audit partners. Covers entity setup, digital onboarding/KYC, document signing, funding, and post-close administration.
- [Zest Escrow — Safeguard](https://www.zestequity.com/escrow): FSRA-regulated escrow that holds transaction funds in segregated client-money accounts and releases them only when pre-agreed conditions are met. Licensed by ADGM FSRA to provide Money Services (Payment Services) under FSP No. 250031. Used across M&A, joint ventures and structured deals, SPVs and co-investments, fund capital calls and distributions, growth rounds, secondaries, asset sales and purchases, and real estate deposits and milestone releases.
- [Zest Arrange — Scale](https://www.zestequity.com/arrange): FSRA-regulated arranging that lets deal makers distribute their own deals through their own network — onboarding, allocation, funding, and close handled in one workflow. Licensed by ADGM FSRA to conduct Arranging Deals in Investments. Zest does not raise capital or introduce investors; distribution is client-led and invite-only. Used across GP stakes and co-investments, secondaries and shareholder liquidity events, real estate and infrastructure financings, and growth equity and venture rounds.

## Blog — Private Markets Insights & Education

- [Continuation funds in MENA: the GP's new exit playbook](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/continuation-funds-in-mena-the-gps-new-exit-playbook): How GPs in MENA use continuation funds to hold high-conviction assets, deliver LP liquidity, and navigate a tightening exit window.
- [Zest Escrow: Taking the counterparty risk out of your close](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/zest-escrow-taking-the-counterparty-risk-out-of-your-close): FSRA-regulated digital escrow for private-market deals — funds segregated, released on pre-agreed conditions, with a real-time audit trail.
- [How Khwarizmi Ventures Scales Co-Investments With Zest Equity](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/how-khwarizmi-ventures-scales-co-investments-with-zest-equity): Case study — replacing a manual, costly SPV process with Zest's digital infrastructure to build a scalable co-investment program.
- [The Digital Rails Powering the Next Trillion in Private Capital](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/the-digital-rails-powering-the-next-trillion-in-private-capital): How Zest is replacing manual dealmaking with digital infrastructure, and what 200+ transactions reveal about private markets in MENA.
- [Restructuring the Gulf: Why 2026 requires more than just capital](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/restructuring-the-gulf-why-2026-requires-more-than-just-capital): Zest's 2026 MENA outlook — mid-market volume, cross-border deals, next-gen capital, and secondaries make execution the differentiator.
- [Biggest beneficiary of a $1T wealth transfer? Private markets](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/biggest-beneficiary-of-a-1t-wealth-transfer-private-markets): How a $1T generational wealth transfer in the Gulf is reshaping family offices, private markets, and digital infrastructure.
- [Exit opportunities for private companies](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/exit-opportunities-for-private-companies-how-entrepreneurs-can-make-sense-of-their-options): Key exit strategies from acquisitions to IPOs and how to prepare for a smooth, high-value transition.
- [How a Cap Table Simplification Vehicle Actually Works](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/how-a-cap-table-simplification-vehicle-actually-works-c154v): Why entrepreneurs and investors use simplification vehicles to streamline governance and speed up deal-making.
- [The PE-ification of Venture Capital](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/the-pe-ification-of-venture-capital): How private equity practices are reshaping the venture capital landscape.
- [The Basics of Private Funds](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/the-basics-of-private-funds): Introduction to private fund structures, types, and key concepts.
- [An Angel's Guide to Investing in AI](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/an-angels-guide-to-investing-in-ai): How angel investors can evaluate and participate in AI startup opportunities.
- [Liquidation Preferences: What You Need to Know](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/liquidation-preferences-what-you-need-to-know): How liquidation preferences work and their impact on investor returns.
- [How to Manage Your Stakeholder Relationships as You Grow](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/how-to-manage-your-stakeholder-relationships-as-you-grow): Best practices for managing investor and stakeholder communications.
- [Key Considerations for Your Capital Stack](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/key-considerations-for-your-capital-stack): How to structure debt and equity layers for optimal capital formation.
- [What is a Leveraged Buyout (LBO)?](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-is-a-leveraged-buyout-lbo): How LBOs work, why PE firms use this strategy, and the risks involved.
- [What is an Earnout in M&A Deals?](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-is-an-earnout-in-m-a-deals): Earnout structures in M&A, how they work, and key considerations.
- [How to Measure the Investment Performance of a Private Market Fund](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/how-to-measure-the-investment-performance-of-a-private-market-fund): Key metrics and methods for evaluating private fund returns.
- [Benefits of Using an Escrow Provider](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/benefits-of-using-an-escrow-provider): Why regulated escrow matters for private-market transactions and how it protects all parties.
- [What is Product-Market Fit (PMF)?](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-is-product-market-fit-pmf-heres-what-you-should-know): What PMF means and how to know when you have achieved it.
- [Customer Due Diligence and Onboarding](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-you-should-know-about-customer-due-diligence-and-onboarding): KYC and CDD processes for private-market participants.
- [Raising Capital: A Guide for Entrepreneurs](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/raising-capital-a-guide-for-entrepreneurs): Step-by-step guide to fundraising, from preparation to execution.
- [Understanding the J-Curve in Private Markets](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/understanding-the-j-curve-in-private-markets): The J-curve effect in private equity and venture capital fund performance.
- [What Investors Look for When Valuing Startups](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-investors-look-for-when-valuing-startups-at-different-stages): How investors evaluate startups at seed, Series A, and later stages.
- [How Equity Dilution Impacts Investors](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/how-equity-dilution-impacts-investors): Understanding dilution mechanics and how investors can protect their positions.
- [Why Communication is Important for Running a Successful Investment Business](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/why-communication-is-important-for-running-a-successful-investment-business): Why transparent communication matters in investment management.
- [Reserved Matters: What You Need to Know](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/reserved-matters-what-you-need-to-know): Reserved matters in shareholder agreements and corporate governance.
- [Why Simple Cap Tables Are Important](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/why-simple-cap-tables-are-important): The impact of cap table complexity on fundraising and governance.
- [What is an SPV?](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/what-is-an-spv): Special Purpose Vehicles, their legal structures, differences from funds, and how SPVs are used in venture capital and private markets.
- [The Liquidity Dilemma with Startups](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/the-liquidity-dilemma-with-startups): Challenges of illiquidity in private markets and emerging solutions.
- [The Emerging Manager Playbook for Navigating Private Markets](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/the-emerging-manager-playbook-for-navigating-the-private-markets): How emerging managers navigate fund formation, deal sourcing, and operations.
- [Pre-Money vs Post-Money Valuation](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/pre-money-vs-post-money-valuation-whats-the-difference): The difference between pre-money and post-money valuation in startup fundraising.
- [Equity Compensation: An Effective Retention Tool](https://www.zestequity.com/blog/equity-compensation-an-effective-retention-tool): How equity compensation works and why companies use it to retain talent.

## Key Facts

- Company: Zest Equity — digital infrastructure for private-market transactions.
- Group entities: Zest Technologies DIFC Ltd (DIFC — operates the technology platform), Zest Equity Holdings SPC (Cayman Islands — SPV structures), ZE Transaction Solutions Ltd (ADGM — regulated Escrow and Arrange services).
- Regulation: The platform itself is not a regulated service. Only ZE Transaction Solutions Ltd (ADGM) is FSRA-regulated, under FSP No. 250031, to Provide Money Services and Arrange Deals in Investments. Zest Cayman SPVs are instruction-only and are not, in themselves, a regulated service. Zest DIFC and Zest Cayman do not provide financial services (including advising or arranging).
- Services: Zest SPVs (Cayman, not regulated), Zest Escrow (FSRA-regulated — Money Services), Zest Arrange (FSRA-regulated — Arranging Deals in Investments).
- Track record: US$305M+ digitized across 228+ transactions; transaction sizes US$1M to US$100M+.
- Founders: Zuhair Shamma (Co-Founder & CEO), Rawan Baddour (Co-Founder & Director).
- Backed by: Prosus Ventures, Morgan Stanley Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund, Middle East Venture Partners, 500 Global, Nuwa Capital, Dash Ventures.
- Institutional partners: Latham & Watkins (Corporate Counsel), Walkers Global (Cayman Counsel & Registered Agent), Vistra Global (Administration, KYC), RegWise (Compliance), Grant Thornton (External Audit).
- AI compliance agent: Tarth — Zest's proprietary AI system that automates compliance case processing (median ~3 minutes per straightforward case; 800+ compliance hours saved to date).
- Certifications: ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
- Jurisdictions: ADGM (Abu Dhabi), DIFC (Dubai), Cayman Islands; investors onboarded from 40+ jurisdictions.
- Target clients: fund managers, family offices, venture capital firms, private equity firms, emerging managers, syndicate leads, private companies, corporate service providers, private credit firms.
- Pricing: SPV setup from US$10,000 (one share class), scaling with complexity; you pay when the SPV closes and funds transfer. Escrow and Arrange pricing available on request.
- Does not: raise capital, place capital, introduce/solicit investors, or provide legal, investment, or financial advice. Nothing on the platform is publicly marketed; all deals are private and invite-only.