Erad is a company that provides expansion capital to online enterprises, focusing primarily on startups in the Middle East. It operates an online fund management platform that enables these businesses to connect their sales, marketing, and accounting data. By doing so, Erad facilitates access to non-dilutive capital funding, allowing businesses to secure the growth funding they need without sacrificing ownership. In addition to financial support, the platform offers key insights and analyses that help businesses optimize their operations and increase profitability.
Elevate Pay
Seed Round in 2024
Elevate Pay is a financial technology company that specializes in providing digital banking services and products. The company has developed a digital banking application that allows users to open bank accounts online and access fee-free accounts in both local currency and US dollars. Additionally, Elevate Pay offers free remittance services, enabling users to receive international transfers from various countries without incurring fees. The company also issues a free USD Mastercard, facilitating seamless transactions. Through these offerings, Elevate Pay aims to deliver regulated banking services that are innovative, fair, and accessible, ultimately enhancing the financial well-being of its consumers.
Hakbah Fintech is an innovative startup based in Saudi Arabia that focuses on transforming financial savings through a unique social savings model. The company aims to simplify and enhance the savings experience for individuals by offering a digital platform that facilitates the creation and management of savings groups. Users can join existing groups or establish their own, allowing them to save collaboratively with others. The platform supports various savings methods, including time-based contributions, and enables users to conveniently pay installments via debit cards. When it's their turn, participants can easily withdraw funds to their bank accounts, thereby empowering them to take control of their savings in a hassle-free manner. Hakbah's mission is to make savings more accessible to everyone, positively impacting financial habits and social interaction around saving.
Salla
Secondary Market in 2023
Salla is a Saudi-based e-commerce platform that empowers users to establish their own online stores in Arabic, facilitating the sale of products and services directly to customers. The platform allows users to create branded stores with personalized domain names and design options. Store owners can effectively manage their inventory through Salla’s website or mobile application. Additionally, Salla offers a variety of features, including marketing tools, automated invoicing, and performance reports, which aid merchants in enhancing their sales and customer engagement. Users benefit from capabilities such as customer database management, the ability to block customers, and options for promotions and discounts, all without incurring fees or commissions.
Vendease is an online marketplace based in Lagos, Nigeria, that facilitates direct ordering of supplies from farms and food manufacturers for restaurants and hotels in Africa. Founded in 2020, the platform allows food service businesses to digitize and automate their procurement and inventory management processes, enhancing efficiency. By offering a wide range of products, including seafood, vegetables, beverages, and processed foods, Vendease aims to streamline the supply chain for its users, thereby enabling them to focus on customer service. The platform also provides valuable analytics to help businesses improve profitability and reduce waste, making procurement more convenient and transparent.
Erad
Pre Seed Round in 2022
Erad is a company that provides expansion capital to online enterprises, focusing primarily on startups in the Middle East. It operates an online fund management platform that enables these businesses to connect their sales, marketing, and accounting data. By doing so, Erad facilitates access to non-dilutive capital funding, allowing businesses to secure the growth funding they need without sacrificing ownership. In addition to financial support, the platform offers key insights and analyses that help businesses optimize their operations and increase profitability.
Elevate Pay
Seed Round in 2022
Elevate Pay is a financial technology company that specializes in providing digital banking services and products. The company has developed a digital banking application that allows users to open bank accounts online and access fee-free accounts in both local currency and US dollars. Additionally, Elevate Pay offers free remittance services, enabling users to receive international transfers from various countries without incurring fees. The company also issues a free USD Mastercard, facilitating seamless transactions. Through these offerings, Elevate Pay aims to deliver regulated banking services that are innovative, fair, and accessible, ultimately enhancing the financial well-being of its consumers.
Elevate Pay
Seed Round in 2022
Elevate Pay is a financial technology company that specializes in providing digital banking services and products. The company has developed a digital banking application that allows users to open bank accounts online and access fee-free accounts in both local currency and US dollars. Additionally, Elevate Pay offers free remittance services, enabling users to receive international transfers from various countries without incurring fees. The company also issues a free USD Mastercard, facilitating seamless transactions. Through these offerings, Elevate Pay aims to deliver regulated banking services that are innovative, fair, and accessible, ultimately enhancing the financial well-being of its consumers.
Evolve Credit
Seed Round in 2022
Evolve Credit is a Nigerian fintech company founded in 2020, headquartered in Lagos. It operates an online platform that empowers consumers to explore, compare, and apply for various loan products tailored to different needs, including personal loans, SME loans, and options for salary earners and the unemployed. The platform provides expert reviews, ratings, and comparisons based on price, interest rates, and other terms. Additionally, Evolve Credit offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) core banking platform that enables financial institutions to streamline, digitize, and manage deposit, lending, and recovery services efficiently. This platform includes no-code tools designed to offer personalized customer banking experiences both online and offline.
Huspy is a proptech company founded in 2020 and based in Dubai, UAE, that aims to simplify the home financing process. It offers an online mortgage service platform designed to enhance the home-buying experience by making it user-friendly and efficient. Huspy addresses the complexities of securing a mortgage by allowing home buyers to obtain home loans through its web and mobile application, eliminating the need for traditional paperwork. By reimagining the home buying process, Huspy seeks to make obtaining a mortgage a celebratory experience for buyers, ultimately facilitating a more accessible and cost-effective approach to home ownership.
Manara
Pre Seed Round in 2022
Manara is a business that connects global technology companies with untapped Arab tech talent, particularly focusing on computer science graduates from Palestine and women across the Middle East and North Africa region. The company vets and trains these individuals, enabling them to enhance their skills and secure remote or onsite job opportunities in leading tech firms worldwide. Manara's mission is to foster growth within the Arab tech sector by unlocking its human potential.
Lucky is a financial services company that operates an app designed to enhance the shopping experience by providing access to credit products, discounts, and cashback rewards. The app allows users to search for and coordinate their shopping, payments, and savings, offering discounts of up to 50% from a variety of merchants. With a mission to transform the shopping and payment landscape in the Middle East and North Africa, Lucky has successfully connected over six million users since its inception. The platform enables customers to utilize credit services and cashback rewards both in-person and online, facilitating easier access to credit while helping them save on purchases.
MoneyHash
Pre Seed Round in 2022
MoneyHash is a payment orchestration platform that simplifies payment processes for businesses across the Middle East and Africa through a single integration. The company's offerings include a unified API that streamlines both pay-in and pay-out operations, allowing for a customizable checkout experience. It also features transaction routing capabilities equipped with fraud and failure rate optimizers, which help enhance success rates for transactions. Additionally, MoneyHash provides clients with a centralized transaction reporting hub, enabling them to accept a wide range of payment methods and gain comprehensive insights into their transaction activities.
Quant Data & Analytics
Series A in 2022
Quant Data & Analytics is a consultancy company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in data science and offers a range of services including data analytics, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Its expertise extends to data collection, quality management, predictive analytics, and analytics training. Quant aims to empower businesses and government entities by providing them with the tools and insights necessary to become data-driven, thus enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities. Additionally, the company develops a data analytics platform that facilitates project and data management, analytics, and data aggregation, enabling clients to address operational and strategic challenges effectively.
Lucidya, LLC is a software as a service (SaaS) company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2016. It specializes in social media monitoring and analytics, offering a platform that enables organizations to detect and analyze spikes in social media activity, track trending hashtags, and access brand statistics through an interactive live dashboard. Lucidya's solution includes real-time alerting, automated reporting, competitive analysis, and benchmarking, making it valuable for a diverse range of clients, including agencies, brands, non-profit organizations, and media industries. Leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence and Arabic natural language processing technologies, Lucidya provides accurate analysis of social media interactions in Arabic, establishing itself as a leading tool in the MENA region. The company has successfully expanded its customer base beyond Saudi Arabia to over six countries, serving various sectors such as telecommunications, banking, automotive, and retail.
Sary is a digital business-to-business marketplace based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that connects small and medium-sized enterprises with merchant wholesalers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Aldossary and Khaled AlSiari, Sary aims to streamline the supply chain in the wholesale industry, allowing businesses to efficiently procure inventory. Its mobile and web application offers a range of FMCG products, including beverages, oils, and snacks, facilitating orders from small quantities to truckloads with rapid delivery options, often within 24 hours. Sary serves a diverse clientele, including mini-market chains, hotels, restaurants, and convenience shops, and has expanded its operations to 12 major cities, catering to over 40,000 customers and partnering with more than 1,700 brands and wholesalers. The platform provides users with immediate price quotations and product comparisons, enabling them to manage their expenses effectively as their businesses grow.
Opontia is an e-commerce acquiring company focused on purchasing and growing small businesses across the Middle East and Africa. It specializes in acquiring companies that possess strong home-grown brands and long-term competitive advantages. Opontia aims to simplify the selling process for business owners, ensuring they can receive payment within six weeks of accepting an offer. In addition to facilitating sales, Opontia offers expertise in brand building, product design and launch, logistics, and financing for small and medium enterprises. This comprehensive approach allows Opontia to effectively scale the businesses it acquires while providing a fair and efficient selling experience for owners.
Tamatem Inc. is a mobile gaming studio and publishing company based in Amman, Jordan, with an additional office in Mountain View, California. Founded in 2013, Tamatem focuses on developing and localizing mobile games specifically for Arabic-speaking smartphone users. The company partners with international studios and developers to adapt and culturally relevantize various game genres, including racing, RPG-MMO, strategy, puzzle, and trivia. With a strong emphasis on user acquisition, distribution, and monetization, Tamatem has successfully published over 40 games, achieving more than 50 million downloads. The company employs a team of 26 people dedicated to optimizing and managing mobile game success in the MENA market.
Yassir Inc. is a leading super app based in Algiers, Algeria, that offers a range of on-demand services, including ride-hailing, food delivery, and last-mile logistics. Founded in 2016, the company enables users to book rides and order food through its mobile application, Yassir Go. Operating in 45 cities across multiple countries, Yassir aims to transform daily service delivery while fostering a digital economy. In addition to transportation and food services, Yassir is expanding its offerings to include financial services, allowing users to manage payments, savings, and loans digitally. The company focuses on integrating technology into everyday activities to enhance consumer lifestyles and create a marketplace that meets diverse needs.
Dayra
Pre Seed Round in 2021
Dayra is a financial technology company that provides an online platform designed to empower businesses in offering financial services to unbanked gig workers and micro-businesses. By integrating its services through APIs, Dayra enables companies to offer virtual bank accounts, prepaid cards, and access to credit and loans. The company's solutions are aimed at facilitating hassle-free and instant financial services at lower costs compared to traditional lenders, starting with a focus on the Egyptian market. Through its innovative approach, Dayra addresses the financial needs of unbanked individuals, enhancing their access to essential financial resources.
Rivy is making it easier to finance small and medium sized businesses in Africa. There is a need for financing of $158 bn for SMEs in Nigeria alone. To start, Rivy o helps SMEs access and spend lender capital effectively. During their first full operational year in 2020, the Rivy o co--founders leveraged their domain expertise and founding experience to beat their 2020 goal by 50%.
Huspy
Convertible Note in 2021
Huspy is a proptech company founded in 2020 and based in Dubai, UAE, that aims to simplify the home financing process. It offers an online mortgage service platform designed to enhance the home-buying experience by making it user-friendly and efficient. Huspy addresses the complexities of securing a mortgage by allowing home buyers to obtain home loans through its web and mobile application, eliminating the need for traditional paperwork. By reimagining the home buying process, Huspy seeks to make obtaining a mortgage a celebratory experience for buyers, ultimately facilitating a more accessible and cost-effective approach to home ownership.
Rain
Convertible Note in 2021
Rain is a regulated cryptocurrency exchange based in Manama, Bahrain, that aims to facilitate digital transactions in the Middle East. Founded in 2017, the company operates a cryptocurrency trading platform that allows clients to buy, sell, and store digital currencies securely and compliantly. By functioning within a regulatory framework, Rain emphasizes the importance of security and adherence to regulations in the rapidly evolving digital currency landscape.
Tabby Inc. is a financial technology company based in the United Arab Emirates that offers innovative payment solutions for online and offline shopping. The company specializes in a buy now, pay later service, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with flexible payment options. Customers can choose to pay for their purchases either in a single deferred payment or in multiple installments, allowing them to manage their spending and enhance their shopping experience. Through its platform, Tabby aims to reshape the relationship between consumers and money, promoting financial freedom and responsible spending.
Baraka is an investment application based in the UAE that aims to democratize access to stock markets for all individuals. The platform provides users with educational resources, market news, and comprehensive stock analysis to enhance their investment knowledge and confidence. Baraka enables commission-free investing in a wide range of stocks and exchange-traded funds, allowing users to explore diverse investment opportunities. By focusing on accessibility and empowerment, Baraka seeks to cultivate a new generation of informed investors.
Quant Data & Analytics
Series A in 2021
Quant Data & Analytics is a consultancy company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in data science and offers a range of services including data analytics, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Its expertise extends to data collection, quality management, predictive analytics, and analytics training. Quant aims to empower businesses and government entities by providing them with the tools and insights necessary to become data-driven, thus enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities. Additionally, the company develops a data analytics platform that facilitates project and data management, analytics, and data aggregation, enabling clients to address operational and strategic challenges effectively.
Sary is a digital business-to-business marketplace based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that connects small and medium-sized enterprises with merchant wholesalers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Aldossary and Khaled AlSiari, Sary aims to streamline the supply chain in the wholesale industry, allowing businesses to efficiently procure inventory. Its mobile and web application offers a range of FMCG products, including beverages, oils, and snacks, facilitating orders from small quantities to truckloads with rapid delivery options, often within 24 hours. Sary serves a diverse clientele, including mini-market chains, hotels, restaurants, and convenience shops, and has expanded its operations to 12 major cities, catering to over 40,000 customers and partnering with more than 1,700 brands and wholesalers. The platform provides users with immediate price quotations and product comparisons, enabling them to manage their expenses effectively as their businesses grow.
Baraka
Pre Seed Round in 2021
Baraka is an investment application based in the UAE that aims to democratize access to stock markets for all individuals. The platform provides users with educational resources, market news, and comprehensive stock analysis to enhance their investment knowledge and confidence. Baraka enables commission-free investing in a wide range of stocks and exchange-traded funds, allowing users to explore diverse investment opportunities. By focusing on accessibility and empowerment, Baraka seeks to cultivate a new generation of informed investors.
Tabby Inc. is a financial technology company based in the United Arab Emirates that offers innovative payment solutions for online and offline shopping. The company specializes in a buy now, pay later service, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with flexible payment options. Customers can choose to pay for their purchases either in a single deferred payment or in multiple installments, allowing them to manage their spending and enhance their shopping experience. Through its platform, Tabby aims to reshape the relationship between consumers and money, promoting financial freedom and responsible spending.
Mamo is a Fintech startup based in Dubai, UAE, focused on providing innovative payment and financial solutions tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company operates under a Cat 3C Providing Money Services license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, making it the first licensed Fintech startup in this category in the region. Mamo's flagship offering, Mamo Business, serves as an alternative to traditional banking for SMEs, combining payments, spend management, and analytics into a user-friendly platform. This platform enables businesses to accept payments globally in multiple currencies, manage expenses, and issue virtual cards, thereby streamlining financial operations and enhancing payment success rates. Mamo's diverse customer base includes a variety of sectors, such as B2B services, healthcare, tourism, and retail, making it a crucial partner for businesses looking to optimize their financial processes.
Quant Data & Analytics
Seed Round in 2020
Quant Data & Analytics is a consultancy company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in data science and offers a range of services including data analytics, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Its expertise extends to data collection, quality management, predictive analytics, and analytics training. Quant aims to empower businesses and government entities by providing them with the tools and insights necessary to become data-driven, thus enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities. Additionally, the company develops a data analytics platform that facilitates project and data management, analytics, and data aggregation, enabling clients to address operational and strategic challenges effectively.
Sabbar Ltd., headquartered in Saudi Arabia, operates an on-demand staffing platform focused on blue-collar jobs within the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors across MENA. The company's core business is connecting businesses with highly qualified, vetted professionals for casual staff hiring during peak hours or high seasons. Sabbar streamlines the recruitment process by handling interviews, training, placement, shift scheduling, worker payments, and other administrative tasks, thereby reducing associated costs for its clients.
Kitopi is a Kitchen as a Service (KaaS) platform that provides restaurants with the essential infrastructure and software needed to establish delivery-only locations efficiently and cost-effectively. Founded in 2018 by Mohamad Ballout, Saman Darkan, Bader Ataya, and Andy Arenas, the company operates a network of over 60 cloud kitchens across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Kitopi's offerings include kitchen infrastructure, management services, call assistance, delivery management, trained staff, and industry-specific technology, allowing restaurateurs to focus on their culinary creations while minimizing capital expenditure and time. Although Kitopi expanded into the United States in 2019, it exited the market following the onset of the pandemic.
Tenderd
Seed Round in 2019
Tenderd LLC operates an on-demand marketplace for renting heavy equipment, including bulldozers and cranes, primarily serving the construction and engineering sectors in the Middle East and North Africa. Based in Dubai, the company connects equipment owners with contractors, facilitating efficient access to necessary machinery. Additionally, Tenderd leverages artificial intelligence and analytics to enhance fleet operations, transforming equipment data into actionable insights. This platform allows companies to optimize equipment utilization, manage fuel consumption, and track operational progress while promoting sustainable practices and reducing carbon footprints. Through its comprehensive suite of tools, Tenderd aims to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility within the heavy equipment rental industry.
NALA Incorporation Company Limited is a FinTech firm based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, founded in 2017. The company develops a mobile payments application that facilitates various financial transactions, including bill payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and airtime top-ups, all without requiring an internet connection. NALA's platform is designed to enhance financial inclusion by providing services that cater to users in regions with limited internet access. The application incorporates bank-grade security encryption and multi-factor authentication to ensure the safety of transactions. Additionally, NALA offers budgeting tools and transaction history tracking, enabling users to manage their finances effectively. Through its services, NALA aims to simplify mobile money transfers for Africans worldwide and support international payments.
Lucidya, LLC is a software as a service (SaaS) company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2016. It specializes in social media monitoring and analytics, offering a platform that enables organizations to detect and analyze spikes in social media activity, track trending hashtags, and access brand statistics through an interactive live dashboard. Lucidya's solution includes real-time alerting, automated reporting, competitive analysis, and benchmarking, making it valuable for a diverse range of clients, including agencies, brands, non-profit organizations, and media industries. Leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence and Arabic natural language processing technologies, Lucidya provides accurate analysis of social media interactions in Arabic, establishing itself as a leading tool in the MENA region. The company has successfully expanded its customer base beyond Saudi Arabia to over six countries, serving various sectors such as telecommunications, banking, automotive, and retail.
Kitopi is a Kitchen as a Service (KaaS) platform that provides restaurants with the essential infrastructure and software needed to establish delivery-only locations efficiently and cost-effectively. Founded in 2018 by Mohamad Ballout, Saman Darkan, Bader Ataya, and Andy Arenas, the company operates a network of over 60 cloud kitchens across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Kitopi's offerings include kitchen infrastructure, management services, call assistance, delivery management, trained staff, and industry-specific technology, allowing restaurateurs to focus on their culinary creations while minimizing capital expenditure and time. Although Kitopi expanded into the United States in 2019, it exited the market following the onset of the pandemic.
Telfaz11 is a media production company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2011. It operates an Arabic multi-channel network that focuses on talent management, comedy, entertainment, and content creation. The company specializes in producing and distributing engaging online content, partnering with video platforms to deliver captivating series and films that resonate with local audiences while maintaining universal appeal. Telfaz11 influences social trends and provides opportunities for brands to promote themselves through its creative entertainment offerings, ensuring a blend of entertainment and brand promotion within its network.
Souqalmal
Series B in 2017
Souqalmal.com LLC FZ operates a leading financial comparison website in the Middle East, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with the tools to search and compare various financial products. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Dubai, the platform offers detailed information on credit cards, personal loans, car loans, bank accounts, mortgages, and various insurance options, including car, home, travel, and SME insurance. Users can obtain real-time quotes for insurance in under 60 seconds and have their policies issued within an hour. Souqalmal.com has also expanded its services to include mobile phone and broadband plans, as well as educational options like schools and nurseries. The company has received multiple awards for its innovative approach and has grown its insurance business significantly. With backing from notable investors and a proven track record, Souqalmal.com continues to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions.
Zoomcar is a leading car-sharing marketplace operating primarily in emerging markets, with over 20,000 cars available on its technology-driven platform across India, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. The company enables host entrepreneurs to share their vehicles safely and easily, generating additional passive income. Guests benefit from a wide range of affordable cars for memorable driving experiences. Founded in 2013 and based in Bengaluru, India, Zoomcar employs over 300 people and serves 50 cities across India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. Uri Levine, co-founder of mobility companies Waze and Moovit, is the Chairman of the Board. The company's revenue comes mainly from short-term self-drive rentals and vehicle subscriptions, with a significant portion derived from its operations in India.
Souqalmal
Convertible Note in 2016
Souqalmal.com LLC FZ operates a leading financial comparison website in the Middle East, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with the tools to search and compare various financial products. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Dubai, the platform offers detailed information on credit cards, personal loans, car loans, bank accounts, mortgages, and various insurance options, including car, home, travel, and SME insurance. Users can obtain real-time quotes for insurance in under 60 seconds and have their policies issued within an hour. Souqalmal.com has also expanded its services to include mobile phone and broadband plans, as well as educational options like schools and nurseries. The company has received multiple awards for its innovative approach and has grown its insurance business significantly. With backing from notable investors and a proven track record, Souqalmal.com continues to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions.
Zoomcar is a leading car-sharing marketplace operating primarily in emerging markets, with over 20,000 cars available on its technology-driven platform across India, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. The company enables host entrepreneurs to share their vehicles safely and easily, generating additional passive income. Guests benefit from a wide range of affordable cars for memorable driving experiences. Founded in 2013 and based in Bengaluru, India, Zoomcar employs over 300 people and serves 50 cities across India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. Uri Levine, co-founder of mobility companies Waze and Moovit, is the Chairman of the Board. The company's revenue comes mainly from short-term self-drive rentals and vehicle subscriptions, with a significant portion derived from its operations in India.
Zoomcar is a leading car-sharing marketplace operating primarily in emerging markets, with over 20,000 cars available on its technology-driven platform across India, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. The company enables host entrepreneurs to share their vehicles safely and easily, generating additional passive income. Guests benefit from a wide range of affordable cars for memorable driving experiences. Founded in 2013 and based in Bengaluru, India, Zoomcar employs over 300 people and serves 50 cities across India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. Uri Levine, co-founder of mobility companies Waze and Moovit, is the Chairman of the Board. The company's revenue comes mainly from short-term self-drive rentals and vehicle subscriptions, with a significant portion derived from its operations in India.