Manoj Sureka, CEO & Managing Partner, Synergy Fin. Consulting is a recognised leader in the finance and investment sector. Manoj has built a strong reputation for his strategic foresight and ability to foster sustainable business growth.
Prior to Synergy, he served as Head of Commercial Banking at RAKBANK and held key roles at institutions including Mashreq Bank and National Bank of Fujairah. He also serves as a board member and mentor to several companies across diverse industries.
At Synergy Fin. Consulting, the firm provides end-to-end fundraising advisory services through private equity, debt, and trade finance solutions. Their clientele includes SMEs and corporates seeking capital through banks, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors. Synergy also offers specialised advisory services in mergers and acquisitions and joint venture.
Q: You’ve worked with founders, investors, and institutions across the GCC. What is changing in the Gulf’s capital landscape?
What’s changing is the tone of capital, not just the scale. While the region is experiencing a surge in IPOs, private equity, and venture capital, a more profound transformation is happening beneath the surface. Today, capital moves not just based on performance, but on perception, positioning, and private influence. It’s not loud. It’s intentional.
Q: Can you elaborate on the shift in perception or “positioning” that investors now care about?
Investors are increasingly looking at reputation alongside valuation. They’re not just investing in numbers, they’re investing in narratives. Who’s behind the business? What’s the story? How is it being perceived in the market?. Visibility builds trust. Trust drives valuation.
Q: With the recent Israel-Iran conflict, are you seeing capital flows being affected?
Yes, but not in panic mode. What we’re seeing is more risk-sensitive capital behaviour. Investors are increasingly leaning toward jurisdictions that offer stability, financial transparency, and proactive regulation.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi stand out here, not just as safe zones, but as strategic launchpads. Amid regional uncertainty, the UAE offers consistency and investor confidence. So yes, geopolitics does influence flows, but smart capital adapts; it doesn’t retreat.
Q: And what about the way deals are structured today? Has that evolved?
Dramatically. Investors want more control with flexibility. So we’re seeing a rise in hybrid structures, convertible notes, revenue-linked returns, and profit-sharing without equity dilution.
Capital is becoming customised. This shift is empowering for founders, too; they don’t have to give up control to grow. They just need alignment.
Q: You’ve often said the most powerful deals happen quietly. What do you mean by that?
The public pitch deck era is fading. More deals are happening through warm intros, curated networks, and private investor circles.
Access, not just funding, is the new advantage. And in many cases, trust, timing, and tone matter more than even the product. I’ve seen startups raise 7-figure rounds simply because the right person made the call at the right moment.
Q: Looking ahead, where do you see the Gulf heading in the next 3–5 years in terms of capital?
The Middle East isn’t just attracting capital, it’s starting to curate it. We’re building a new investment language, one that’s quieter, deeper, and more values-aligned. The winners won’t be those who raise the most. They’ll be the ones who raise capital that fits with purpose, with flexibility, and with long-term partners.
Today, money doesn’t just move fast, it moves smart.
