Lola Do Inc. (Lola), a groundbreaking tech startup offering a highly customizable cake ordering experience through its innovative mobile app, has successfully raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed investment round. The round was led by Vision Ventures and Plus VC, two of the most active venture capital firms in the MENA region, alongside several strategic angel investors. This funding marks a significant step forward in Lola’s mission to transform the personalized gifting and celebration experience, fueling its expansion into Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.
Founded by Othman Janahi, Lola launched in Bahrain in September 2023 and has quickly gained traction. The company expanded into Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in July 2024, followed by the UAE in December 2024. Through its app, Lola enables customers to fully customize their cakes, providing an easy-to-use platform for creating personalized cakes for any occasion.
“We are thrilled to have such experienced investors who share our vision,” said Othman Janahi, Founder and CEO of Lola. “Their belief in our mission has helped us reach this significant milestone. Beyond capital, their strategic insights and seasoned guidance are invaluable as we continue to scale our operations.”
Lola stands out in a highly competitive cake industry by focusing on personalization. Since launching, the company has grown fivefold in both market size and the number of occasions celebrated. Lola’s approach integrates technology and creativity to offer an unparalleled customization experience, ensuring each cake is as unique as the occasion it marks. The company’s success is rooted in its ability to meet the growing demand for personalized gifting solutions and create lasting memories for customers.
The newly raised funds will allow Lola to enhance its platform, optimize logistics, and accelerate its expansion into key cities across Saudi Arabia, starting with Jeddah and the Eastern Province. The company is also focused on expanding throughout the GCC region, solidifying its position as a leader in the personalized gifting and FoodTech space.
Kais Al Essa, Founding Partner and CEO at Vision Ventures, highlighted the importance of Lola’s disruptive approach, saying, “Lola fixes the awkwardness in cake ordering, creating an innovative app that lets clients visualize their cakes while giving bakeries accurate designs to work from. We believe this technology will empower cake making everywhere.”
Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at Plus VC, echoed this sentiment, noting that Lola is redefining the gifting experience by blending personalization with technology. “Lola is transforming how people celebrate special moments. We’re excited to support Othman and his team as they establish themselves as pioneers in this space,” he said.
As Lola continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to bring personalized celebrations to more customers, elevating cake customization and revolutionizing the gifting experience. With the ability to design a cake in less than a minute, customers can choose from thousands of unique designs, colors, and combinations to create the perfect cake for any occasion. Through technology, personalization, and operational efficiency, Lola is reshaping how people celebrate and gift, one cake at a time.
