El Alfi and Al-Sonbaty cofounded Sawari Ventures in 2010 and a year later launched the startup accelerator Flat6Labs. Flat6Labs was the most active investor in MENA in the first nine months of 2024, with deal counts of 37, according to MAGNiTT. Sawari Ventures has invested in more than 30 companies, including MoneyFellows, Si-Ware, and Swvl. In October 2024, Sawari Ventures announced it would launch its second institutional fund, Sawari Ventures II, in early 2025 with a target of $200 million. El Alfi also founded Hybrid Capital Partners, Nafham, The GrEEK CAMPUS, and TATP. Al-Sonbaty was a partner and member of the Investment Committee at EFG-Hermes Private Equity.