Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Oman’s SafaQat raised funding from Oman Future Fund and Idrak Group to expand its award-winning digital procurement platform, grow government and market presence, and empower youth with training and SME support. It is advancing AI tools for bidding and price forecasting.
Ovasave raised $1.2 million to expand its digital fertility and hormonal health platform across the GCC. Backed by top investors and Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, the startup aims to enhance women’s health access through tech-driven, personalized solutions and corporate partnerships amid growing regional FemTech demand.
Wittify.ai raised $1.5 million from Saudi angel investors to develop AI agents with advanced Arabic speech recognition and text-to-speech across 25 dialects. The startup aims to empower businesses in MENA with no-code AI tools, advancing regional expansion and product innovation.
ORA, a Casablanca-born Moroccan startup, raised $7.5 million in Series A funding, championing the value of local innovation and signaling Morocco’s readiness to support homegrown tech ventures.
Saudi quick commerce startup Ninja raised $254 million in a pre-IPO round at a $1.5 billion valuation. Operating across GCC countries, Ninja offers instant delivery of groceries and food, with nearly $1 billion in annual GMV and profitability, positioning itself for IPO and further expansion.
Morocco’s startup funding surged to nearly $95 million in 2024, driven by a few high-value deals and growing interest in TravelTech and FinTech. However, early-stage dominance, limited exits, and a funding gap risk stalling growth. Strategic support in late-stage funding, M&A, and emerging tech is essential to unlock Morocco’s next phase of innovation-led economic expansion.
Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing delivery startup Ninja has secured $250 million in funding led by Riyad Capital, reaching a $1.5 billion valuation and becoming the Kingdom’s newest tech unicorn. The funding highlights Saudi Arabia’s expanding venture capital ecosystem and startup scene, supporting the government’s efforts to diversify the economy. Ninja plans an IPO by 2027 and operates in multiple Gulf countries, reflecting regional growth in tech-driven logistics services.
Aria Ventures has launched a $1 million fund to support deep-tech startups by bridging research and market application. The venture studio plans to grow the fund to $4 million over four years while offering hands-on support and infrastructure. Their DeepTecher competition fosters innovation by mentoring and funding promising projects in AI, biotech, robotics, and related sectors.
Nawy secures $75 million to accelerate its expansion across MENA, advancing digital home-buying solutions and strengthening Egypt’s role in regional proptech innovation.
Octolane, a startup co-founded by two Bangladeshi immigrants, raised $2.6 million to launch an AI-powered CRM platform that automates tasks like data entry and follow-ups. Targeting businesses using tools like Salesforce, the platform aims to increase productivity and reduce reliance on traditional CRM systems in the fast-growing sales tech market.