For investors navigating the complex landscape of global private markets, the secret to success may lie in shifting focus away from traditional funds and toward tangible solutions. Hazem Ben-Gacem, the founder and CEO of Abu Dhabi-based BlueFive Capital, believes that the most attractive opportunities currently exist where investments align directly with national strategic priorities. Speaking at the SuperReturn Asia conference in Singapore, Ben-Gacem advised entrepreneurs and investors to stop pitching generic funds and instead offer specific answers to systemic challenges facing governments.
According to Ben-Gacem, sovereign wealth groups in the Middle East are specifically hunting for ventures that address critical needs like food security, defense, and infrastructure. He noted that capital is readily available for those who can demonstrate how their business plays a pivotal role in solving these high-priority issues. Beyond basic infrastructure, he highlighted automation and robotics as essential sectors that will continue to draw significant interest as nations modernize their economies.
This philosophy has already yielded results for BlueFive Capital. Since its launch in late 2024, the firm has rapidly expanded its portfolio, managing 15 billion dollars in assets by mid-year. Recent moves include securing a thirty percent stake in supercar manufacturer Bugatti Rimac from Porsche and co-leading a massive funding round for Kling AI, a Chinese video generation company now valued at 18 billion dollars. These deals reflect a strategy of targeting high-impact industries across diverse geographic regions.
However, Ben-Gacem warned that financial projections alone are no longer enough to guarantee success. He argued that geopolitics has become one of the most volatile variables affecting returns today, particularly when operating across Europe, Asia, China, and the Middle East. In his view, political instability can cause even the most sound business assumptions to collapse overnight, making geopolitical literacy just as important as financial acumen for any serious investor.
