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Startups in the Middle East and North Africa succeeded in raising more than $101 million in August, an increase of 6% over the previous month, and a year-on-year increase of more than 73%.
The recent increase in the number of financing startups in the region comes in light of the relative decline and fluctuation in the volume of financing witnessed in financing startups in the region since last year. The value of startups' deals was divided into 26 deals.
Distribution of startup financing by country
Start-up companies topped the list of funding with about $54 million, distributed among 8 companies, noting that more than half of the funding ($27 million) went to the “Rawaa Inventory Management” company deal, and “Fly Akeed” travel technology services company also succeeded in raising $15.2 million. Million dollars.
Emirati startups came in second place, with a total funding of about $44 million distributed among 9 startups.
In continuation of the decline in the volume of financing for Egyptian startups, it came in third place, with a total financing not exceeding $1.5 million distributed over 5 financing deals, which represents a decrease of more than 406% compared to last month. Note that the number of financing deals for Egyptian start-ups for the month of August reached 5 deals, about half of which went to Talents Arena, a start-up company specializing in recruitment using artificial intelligence tools, as the size of the deal it obtained amounted to about 750 thousand US dollars.
In fourth place were Tunisian startups with a total funding of more than half a million dollars, followed by Moroccan and Palestinian startups, with a total funding of about 155 and 100 thousand dollars, respectively.
Distribution of financing for startup companies according to sectors
Although the financial technology sector was at the forefront in the volume of financing in 2022 and throughout almost all of 2023, the volume of financing deals for this sector declined in August, recording $5.9 million to occupy fourth place, noting that the financial technology sector remained..The number of financing deals reached 5 deals.
The sector that ranked first in the volume of funding for the month of August was the logistics services sector, in which startup companies raised about $32 million, equivalent to a third of the total funding for startup companies for the same period.
The logistics services sector came to the fore thanks to the previously mentioned “Rawaa Inventory Management” deal.
While the sectors of travel and tourism technology, health technology, and websites (Web3) received almost equal funding, amounting to about $15 million for each sector.
State-backed Saudi developer Roshn Real Estate is set to spend around 10 billion riyals ($2.67 billion) on projects across the Gulf state.
The company, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has lined up the funds after securing a SAR6 billion revolving credit facility from three lenders in the kingdom earlier this year, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
“We’ve got about 10 billion lined up in balance sheet credit although we haven’t drawn the first six yet because we actually have enough money within our business at the moment from our receipts,” Roshn Group CEO David Grover told the publication.
“But we will be drawing it down in the next three to nine months because we have some other investments that we need to make in terms of putting cash in to start projects.”
The developer awarded this month several contracts worth $2.4 billion. The deals cover the construction, primary and secondary infrastructure and fitting works in its development projects in the kingdom.
Roshn is looking to develop 400,000 new homes, 1,000 schools and nurseries and 700 mosques across Saudi Arabia by 2030.
Source: Zawya
Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of the Insurance Authority (IA), reflecting a significant step forward in building a strong, vital, and stable insurance sector in the Kingdom.
Health projects in the Kingdom are improving, as the sector expects 100 new projects in health services in partnership between the government and the private sector over the next five years, with an estimated capital investment opportunity at $13 billion.
Saudi Shura Council member Fadel al-Buainain believes the Insurance Authority would contribute to pushing and stimulating mergers and acquisitions between insurance companies.
Buainain said that the Authority is expected to enhance mergers and acquisitions in the sector to create strong entities capable of growing, meeting needs, and effectively contributing to the economy.
He explained that some companies in the sector suffer from weak solvency and accumulated losses, among other issues.
The private health sector witnessed significant growth and development because of the insurance sector, said Buainain, adding that the Authority is expected to contribute to the development of health insurance and boost insurance companies.
He explained that this would help the companies meet the needs of the health sector in the future with the privatization of the health sector, increasing the demand for insurance.
Meanwhile, a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Economic Association (SEA), Saad al-Thaqfan, confirmed that mergers and acquisitions in the insurance sector during the coming period would increase their shares.
He noted that two companies control approximately 50 percent of the market, while all companies share the other 50 percent.
Thaqfan pointed out that the Authority will positively impact the insurance sector by focusing on structuring, developing, and supervising it.
He asserted that these sectors would continue to grow, particularly with individuals entering the labor market.
During the past decade, the insurance sector could not establish insurance companies with high creditworthiness, except for a few major companies.
During January 2021, several companies were under mergers and acquisitions, such as Walaa Cooperative Insurance, MetLife, Gulf Union Insurance, and al-Ahlia Insurance.
In 2022, the insurance sector grew 27 percent, while the insurance sector index recorded a growth of 55 percent since the beginning of the current year 2023.
The insurance sector is worth over $14 billion, with a 2.09 percent share of gross domestic product.
- The health sector
Healthcare companies in the Saudi market achieved record revenues exceeding $4.5 billion during the past year, with a growth rate of 14.2 percent. Net profits amounted to more than $800,000,000 million, with a growth rate of 22.8 percent over the previous year.
The net profit margin of companies increased during the past year to 17.5 percent, compared to about 16.3 percent for the previous year.
The health and social development sector expenditures from the general budget during the first half of this year amounted to $34 billion, constituting about 21.2 percent of the budget expenditures for 2023 and 28.5 percent more than the corresponding period last year.
Source: Ashark-Alawst
نجحت الشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا من جمع أكثر من 101 مليون دولار أمريكي في شهر أغسطس/آب بزيادة عن الشهر الفائت وصلت إلى 6%، وبزيادة على أساس سنوي فاقت الـ73%. تأتي الزيادة الأخيرة في حصيلة تمويل الشركات الناشئة في المنطقة في ظل انخفاض نسبي وتذبذب في حجم التمويل يشهده تمويل الشركات الناشئة في المنطقة منذ العام الماضي. وتوزعت قيمة صفقات الشركات الناشئة على 26 صفقة.
توزيع تمويل الشركات الناشئة بحسب الدول
وتصدرت الشركات الناشئة قائمة التمويل بحوالي 54 مليون دولار، موزعة على 8 شركات، علماً أن أكثر من نصف التمويل (27 مليون دولار) ذهب إلى صفقة شركة "رواء لإدارة المخزون"، كذلك نجحت شركة "فلاي أكيد" لخدمات تكنولوجيا السفر، من جمع 15.2 مليون دولار. جاءت الشركات الناشئة الإماراتية في المرتبة الثانية، بإجمالي تمويل بلغ نحو 44 مليون دولار موزعة على 9 شركات.
استمراراً لحالة الانخفاض في حجم التمويل للشركات الناشئة المصرية، جاءت الأخيرة بالمركز الثالث، بإجمالي تمويل لا يتجاوز الـ1.5 مليون دولار موزعة على 5 صفقات تمويل، وهو ما يمثل انخفاضاً عن الشهر الفائت يبلغ أكثر من 406%. علماً بأن عدد صفقات تمويل الشركات الناشئة المصرية لشهر أغسطس/آب قد بلغ 5 صفقات، ذهب نصفها تقريباً إلى شركة "تالنتس أرينا" وهي شركة ناشئة متخصصة في التوظيف باستخدام أدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي، حيث بلغ حجم الصفقة التي حصلت عليها حوالي 750 ألف دولار أمريكي.
اما في المركز الرابع فقد جاءت الشركات الناشئة التونسية بإجمالي تمويل بلغ أكثر من نصف مليون دولار، يليها الشركات الناشئة المغربية والفلسطينية، بإجمالي تمويل بلغ حوالي 155 و100 ألف دولار على التوالي.
توزيع تمويل الشركات الناشئة بحسب القطاعات
على الرغم من أن قطاع التكنولوجيا المالية كان متصدراً في حجم التمويل في عام 2022، طوال عام 2023 تقريباً، إلا أنه حجم صفقات التمويل لهذا القطاع قد تراجعت في شهر أغسطس/آب مسجلة 5.9 مليون دولار لتحتل المركز الرابع، علماً بأن قطاع التكنولوجيا المالية قد بقي متصدراً بعدد صفقات التمويل التي بلغت 5 صفقات.
اما القطاع الذي حصد المركز الأول في حجم التمويل لشهر أغسطس/آب فكان قطاع الخدمات اللوجستية الذي جمعت فيه الشركات الناشئة نحو 32 مليون دولار، بما يعادل ثلث إجمالي تمويل الشركات الناشئة للفترة نفسها. وقد جاء تصدر قطاع الخدمات اللوجستية بفضل صفقة شركة "رواء لإدارة المخزون" المشار إليها سابقاً.
فيما حصدت قطاعات تكنولوجيا السفر والسياحة والتكنولوجيا الصحية والمواقع الإلكترونية (ويب3) تمويلاً متساوياً تقريباً، وصل إلى نحو 15 مليون دولار لكل قطاع.
- Saudi Arabia-based full-stack inventory management platform Rewaa has raised $27 million (SAR100 million) in a Series A funding round, led by Wa’ed Ventures, the VC arm of Aramco, along with STC’s Corporate Investment Fund (CIF), Silicon Valley’s Graphene Ventures, Sadu Capital, Vision Ventures, Khwarizmi Ventures, RZM Investment, Derayah VC, and Abdulrahman Sulaiman Al Rajhi & Sons Investment Company.
- Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Alqasir and Abdullah Aljadhai, Rewaa provides retailers with a cloud-based integrated solution that synchronises online and physical store inventory, in addition to offering Point-of-Sale (POS) and accounting modules for a fully integrated platform.
- The company claims to have served more than 7,000 retailers in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East, creating over 250 local jobs.
Press release:
Rewaa, the leading full-stack inventory management platform for the retail industry, has raised $27 million (SAR 100 million) in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Wa’ed Ventures, the Kingdom-based VC fund wholly owned by Aramco.
STC’s Corporate Innovation Fund (CIF), launched earlier in February to invest in early-stage tech companies across various digital sectors, participated in the round. Rewaa marks CIF’s first venture investment in Saudi Arabia since its launch.
Other participating investors included Silicon Valley’s Graphene Ventures, Sadu Capital, Vision Ventures, Khwarizmi Ventures, RZM Investment, Derayah VC, and Abdulrahman Sulaiman Al Rajhi & Sons Investment Company.
According to the founders, the company has processed over SAR 7 billion in transaction value to date, positioning it as one of Saudi’s fastest-growing SaaS companies in the MENA region. The company specializes in omnichannel inventory management software.
“This investment propels us toward our vision of becoming the optimal technological partner for small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector. By contributing to the industry's digital transformation through the creation of a globally competitive product, we aim to make a significant impact on retail merchants, empowering them to deliver unparalleled service with heightened efficiency,” said Mohammed Alqasir, Co-Founder and CEO at Rewaa.
Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Alqasir and Abdullah Aljadhai, Rewaa provides retailers with a cloud-based integrated solution that synchronizes online and physical store inventory seamlessly, in addition to offering Point-of-Sale (POS) and accounting modules for a fully integrated platform. The company aims to become a technical partner for retailers by providing advanced technical solutions to manage inventory, sales, and payments which facilitate various business functions all from one portal.
Since its inception, Rewaa has served more than 7,000 retailers in the Kingdom and abroad, creating over 250 local jobs. The company’s innovation and success led to its recognition as one of the 35 tech companies in the Saudi Unicorns Program. The program itself was announced during LEAP, the region’s largest technology conference, as a joint initiative by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and Misk Foundation.
“Rewaa’s revolutionary approach to digitizing and optimizing operational processes based on efficiency and scale-up goals for SMEs perfectly addresses the needs of the typically-scattered retail industry,” said Fahad Alidi, Managing Director at Wa’ed Ventures.
“We had the privilege of knowing Mohammed and Abdullah since their early days as founders. We are proud to back their growth today as they transform Rewaa from a simple digital tool to the go-to cloud-based POS and inventory management platform for local and regional retailers,” he adds.
“We are pleased to invest in Rewaa, which has proven itself through tremendous in recent months, thanks to a and thanks to a great team behind these achievements. Through our investment, we seek to participate in developing technologies that support the retail market, including Rewaa'a company,” commented Majed Aljarboua, General Manager at stc Corporate Funds & Entrepreneurship.
Source: Wamda
- UAE-based fintech myZoi has raised $14 million from SC Ventures and SBI Holdings.
- Founded in 2022 by Christian Buchholz and Syed Muhammad Ali, myZoi is a fintech focused on financial inclusion and financial literacy for the underbanked. It recently obtained two regulatory licences from the Central Bank of the UAE.
- myZoi aims to use the funds to expand its presence in the UAE.
Press release:
myZoi, an innovative fintech focused on financial inclusion and financial literacy for the underbanked, has raised $14 million from SC Ventures and SBI Holdings, as it obtains two regulatory licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE. These achievements mark a significant milestone in myZoi’s mission to enable, digitise and simplify access to essential financial services for over 5 million low-income migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and beyond.
“At the heart of myZoi lies the transformative potential of fintech to innovate with solutions that foster financial inclusion. myZoi will strive towards reducing the transaction cost of migrant remittances to less than 3%, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (10c), while providing corporates a digitised, safe and efficient way to process payroll,” said Syed Muhammad Ali, Co-Founder and CEO of myZoi. “As a tech-led, digital-native company, our drive is to make a meaningful difference not just in the lives of the underbanked, but their lifeline, which is their support network of families as well.”
Headquartered in the UAE, myZoi brings global financial expertise and high standards of compliance. myZoi has secured two licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE: the Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and the Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (RPSCS) Category II. The licenses enable myZoi to empower the underbanked and support their essential transactional needs through a single platform.
The concept was originally developed by the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Christian Buchholz, and incubated under SC Ventures. Buchholz, who led SC Ventures’ design and innovation initiatives across multiple geographies over the last five years, spent extensive time within the communities myZoi will benefit the most. He was deeply inspired by their commitment to remitting up to 80%2 of their income home, leaving little for personal use. The offering, aptly named myZoi, where Zoi means 'life' in Greek, extends beyond the underbanked in the UAE and seeks to also positively impact the families back home.
“There are over 1.4 billion unbanked individuals globally. At SC Ventures, we invest in innovative business models like myZoi so we can better serve the communities we operate in. We believe that fintech innovations such as myZoi are emerging as the catalyst for change. They are building an ecosystem that delivers simple yet meaningful solutions to low-income migrant workers while offering a commercially viable and socially impactful proposition,” said Gautam Jain, Member, SC Ventures.
myZoi aims to use the funds raised to expand its inclusive and differentiated proposition for the underbanked and their families. myZoi places equal commitment to financial inclusion and financial literacy. myZoi is preparing for its full commercial launch by the end of 2023.
“We wholeheartedly believe in myZoi’s vision to enable financial inclusion and secure an equitable future for every individual, regardless of their background or social status. Therefore, we are happy to invest in this impactful fintech. Our partnership with myZoi goes beyond mere financial investment and extends to support a more empowered future for all,” said Yoshitaka Kitao, SBI Holdilngs, Inc. Representative Director, Chairman, President & CEO.
Source: Wamda
Thrift for Good wins $50,000 grant from She’s Next UAE-based charity platform Thrift for Good has won a $50,000 grant from She’s Next programme, organised by Visa and First Bank of Abu Dhabi (FAB).
Founded in 2020 by Jennifer Sault, Thrift for Good is a charity shop that rehomes preloved clothes and items to raise funds for children’s charities around the world.
Sault has also won one year of business coaching from ITC SheTrades as well as $3,000 of AWS credits and a 1:1 deep dive consultation to help jump-start the winner’s cloud journey on AWS.
The Founder of The Bookshelf startup Nada Alawadhi was granted the $10,000 People’s Favourite award.
Press release:
Visa (NYSE: V), the world's leader in digital payments, together with First Abu Dhabi Bank today announced Jennifer Sault, the Founder of Thrift for Good, a charity shop in Dubai that rehomes preloved clothes and items to raise funds for children’s charities around the world, as the much-anticipated winner of its second She's Next grant programme for UAE. The winner was selected at an award ceremony held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Handpicked from a pool of over 880 applicants from across the GCC, the winning woman-owned small business received a $50,000 grant along with a year of business coaching from the International Trade Centre (ITC), a United Nations and World Trade Organisation, and $3.000 of Amazon Web Services credits.
The business coaching will be provided by the ITC SheTrades Initiative, ITC’s flagship women and trade programme. The winner was selected from a pool of applicants representing a range of sectors including but not limited to textiles, education, food and beverage, professional services, beauty and wellness.
A jury evaluated entries based on the following criteria: the progression of applicant’s entrepreneurial journey; robustness of their business metrics; digital presence; and demonstrated ability to problem-solve confidently.
The members of the jury included: Shaikha Ali AlNaqbi, Head of Contracting Segment – Corporate Banking, First Abu Dhabi Bank; Khuloud Al Omian, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East; Carl Manlan, VP, Inclusion Impact & Sustainability, Visa, CEMEA; Houda Buhumaid, Chief Impact Officer, Dubai Holding; Wendy Paratian, Programme Officer, She Trades; and Hadi Aloh, Head of Sales, Commercial Segment, UAE, AWS.
For the first time, She’s Next included a People’s Favourite award, voted for online by members of the general public. This award with a cash prize of $10,000 went to Nada Alawadhi, the Founder of The Bookshelf, a bilingual book subscription for kids.
Further highlighting the increasing focus on sustainability in today’s local business landscape, most of the She’s Next applicants showcased sustainable business practices. In fact, based on the SMB Digitisation Index commissioned by Visa to support the She’s Next programme, all the women entrepreneurs surveyed in the GCC (100%) acknowledged the increasing importance of sustainability in the current business landscape, indicating their commitment to reduce waste, recycle products (45%), and minimise plastic usage (51%).
Through their participation in the She's Next programme, these women entrepreneurs have already gained access to practical insights from women leaders, valuable tools, educational resources, and facilitated training. This includes access to AWS Connected Community and ITC SheTrades Initiative's "Elevate Your Business" training programme.
Visa and ITC will also provide one-to-one advisory support for 30 finalists – equipping these individuals with the guidance and insights to boost their business and financial strategies.
"In a world where women-owned small businesses consistently demonstrate their resilience and future-forward optimism, Visa is proud to acknowledge and support these trailblazing female entrepreneurs in UAE.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations once again to the winners of She’s Next in UAE and look forward to supporting them in their business journey," said Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Visa’s SVP and Group Country Manager for GCC.
Sara Al Binali, Group Head of Corporate, Commercial, and International Banking at FAB, said: “The She's Next winners exemplify the strength and depth of women-owned businesses in the UAE.
FAB is proud to be part of a programme that is proving to be so effective at empowering and elevating women entrepreneurs in their journey to success. As we celebrate these exceptional winners, we eagerly anticipate their businesses reaching new heights and making a lasting impact on the UAE's entrepreneurial landscape.”
Source: By Nesma Abdel Azim- Wamda
Saudi Arabia’s Wa’ed Venture, the VC arm of Aramco, has co-led a $52 million Series B round in the US-based construction technology (contech) startup Mighty Buildings, along with BOLD Capital, with participation from Khosla Ventures and 15 other new and existing investors.
Mighty Buildings, founded in 2017, is a 3D printing contech known for its prefabricated, environmentally friendly and climate-resilient homes.
The new round brings the total funding raised since inception to $153 million.
The funds will be used to build out Mighty Buildings’ factories in North America and expand operations to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Press release:
Mighty Buildings, the leader in 3D printing construction technology known for its prefabricated, environmentally friendly and climate-resilient homes, today announced that it has raised $52 million in funding. This latest round demonstrates strong investor confidence in Mighty Buildings' innovative offsite 3D printing construction technology.
The round was co-led by Wa’ed Ventures, the $500 million innovation-focused venture capital fund backed by Saudi Aramco, and by BOLD Capital Partners, a U.S. disruption and transformation-focused venture firm. Existing investor Khosla Ventures and new investor KB-Badgers, a South Korean firm investing from its sustainability-focused fund, were among a total of almost 20 investors in the round. New investors contributed more than half of the funds raised.
Funding is earmarked to accelerate the development and scale production of new homes for the U.S. market, where new home demand continues to increase, as well as to establish manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the largest and fastest-growing construction markets in the world. The addition of operations in the Gulf region aligns with Mighty Buildings' strategy to transform housing construction globally while addressing sustainability, climate resilience, and the global housing shortage.
“The team at Mighty Buildings have reaffirmed our confidence in the incredible and diverse potential for innovation lying within the construction tech industry. Our investment in the company reflects our belief that innovative materials, such as those used in Mighty Buildings’ proprietary 3D-printing, will be a major driver for scalability and sustainability of homebuilding in the Gulf Region,” said Fahad Alidi, Managing Director at Wa’ed Ventures.
Mighty Buildings is meeting a rapidly growing demand for sustainable, prefabricated housing, as evidenced by the delivery of over 50 units to date, an important milestone that reflects the company's progress in developing scalable housing technology. By focusing on its mission, the company is making it easier, faster and more cost-effective to build homes, while pushing the construction industry towards lower carbon, climate-resilient solutions.
“This recent funding underlines Mighty Buildings’ leadership in the modular homebuilding market. It will accelerate our growth by funding the international expansion to one of the most exciting homebuilding regions in the world. We are thrilled about the support from such esteemed investors for our mission: solving the housing and climate crises by transforming the way the world builds homes,” said Mighty Buildings’ CFO Rene Griemens.
Following the opening of its innovative, industrial-scale factory in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2022, the company continues to emphasize its strategy of transformative home building. Mighty Buildings’ patented factory-based 3D printing manufacturing process speeds construction by 3-4x, providing for the completion of a home’s envelope in less than one week with drastically less water and near zero waste.
Using its patented Lumus material, which is 5x stronger than concrete, the technology of Mighty Buildings creates climate-resilient homes that resist severe weather, hurricanes and earthquakes.
Source: Wamda
Palestine-based AI data training company DataQueue has raised an undisclosed amount from the Ibtikar Fund.
Founded in 2021 by Bashir Alsaifi, DataQueue is an AI data training firm that allows organisations to have access to a broad range of annotated and labelled data for training their AI models.
This funding round will provide DataQueue with the resources to further develop its technology, strengthen its research and development capabilities, and expand its customer base.
Press release:
Ibtikar Fund announced their investment in DataQueue, a leading AI data training company, and an innovative platform to manage the entire AI lifecycle.
“DataQueue aims to revolutionize the AI landscape by simplifying the training data process and empowering organisations to unlock the true potential of AI. We are thrilled to have the support of Ibtikar Fund in our journey to democratis3 AI and enable businesses to leverage its transformative power," explained Bashir Alsaifi, DataQueue’s Founder and CEO.
The field of AI faces numerous challenges, particularly in the acquisition and management of high-quality training data. DataQueue has emerged as a solution provider, offering a comprehensive platform that addresses these challenges and streamlines the AI lifecycle for organisations.
One of the primary obstacles in AI development is acquiring diverse and reliable training data at scale. DataQueue tackles this problem by leveraging advanced algorithms and crowdsourcing techniques to efficiently gather large volumes of relevant training data from diverse sources. This approach accelerates the data acquisition process and ensures organisations have access to a broad range of annotated and labelled data for training their AI models.
Accurate annotation and labelling of training data are essential for the effectiveness of AI models. DataQueue's platform incorporates robust annotation tools and quality control mechanisms, guaranteeing precise labelling and minimising errors. This attention to detail significantly improves the performance and accuracy of AI models.
Similarly, managing and organising training data can be a complex task, especially as data volumes increase. DataQueue's centralised platform provides efficient data management capabilities, enabling organisations to categorise, search, and retrieve data seamlessly. This streamlined approach optimises the data management process, saving valuable time and resources.
“Our team was impressed by DataQueue's comprehensive approach to training data management and their commitment to quality and scalability. We believe in their vision to simplify the AI lifecycle for businesses, and we are excited to partner with them as they continue to innovate and disrupt this industry,” said Ambar Amleh, Managing Partner at Ibtikar Fund.
This funding round will provide DataQueue with the resources to further develop its technology, strengthen its research and development capabilities, and expand its customer base.
source: Wamda
Makers, the construction technology (contech) accelerator launched by Flat6Labs in partnership with SIAC and Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners), has announced that it will award the selected startups up to $100,000 each.
The programme will also grant access to pilot projects, industry experts, mentorship, business training, one-on-one consultations, coaching sessions, networking opportunities, and essential resources to cultivate and scale their businesses.
The programme will initially focus on Egyptian entrepreneurs, before expanding to Saudi Arabia and subsequently to the wider Mena region.
Press release:
Flat6Labs, the region's leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, has launched the "Makers" ConTech Accelerator Program in partnership with SIAC and Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners).
The program is the first-ever construction-focused accelerator program in the Middle East that aims to support advanced startups in the construction technology industry.
The "Makers" ConTech Accelerator Program will provide select startups with up to $100,000 in funding per startup as well as grant access to pilot projects, industry experts, mentorship, business training, one-on-one consultations, coaching sessions, networking opportunities, and essential resources to cultivate and scale their businesses.
The program will last 12 weeks, startups will be chosen based on their unique new technology, hardworking founders, and exceptionally promising products, presented at a minimum viable product (MVP) level or higher.
The launch of the new program follows Makers’ first pre-accelerator program, which ran in early 2023 and which aimed to promote construction industry innovation through connecting and engaging with various industry stakeholders with extensive expertise, thereby creating sustainable innovation ecosystems for resolving construction-related challenges within SIAC, Dar, and the industry at large.
The pre-accelerator program graduated nine of the most innovative ConTech startups in Egypt – including Reblox, Tawredaat, AION Innovation, Masafa, HomeLab, A.D Innovations, Makinahub, and JEEZAR.
During the pre-accelerator, these startups were offered strategic mentorship, entrepreneurship-focused business training, one-on-one sessions with subject matter experts, as well as other benefits that would empower them to develop and present their innovative ideas and solutions.
With the launch of the new accelerator program, Flat6Labs intends to provide ongoing support to construction technology startups. The program will initially focus on Egyptian entrepreneurs, before expanding to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and subsequently to the wider MENA region.
Commenting on the new Makers Accelerator Program, Faysal Shair, Head of Digital Solutions at Dar, said, “We are thrilled to continue our exceptional collaboration with SIAC and Flat6Labs to accelerate the transformation of the construction industry.
We believe that the program will promote innovation in the construction industry and foster talents in construction tech, empowering them to showcase their innovative solutions and work alongside industry leaders to bring those solutions to the market. We are looking forward to seeing what the selected startups will bring to the table."
"We are proud to be a part of the journey towards digitising the construction industry and unlocking more opportunities and potential for ConTech startups in Egypt," stated Seif Ragab, Deputy CEO at SIAC. “
The digital revolution of the construction industry is becoming more crucial than ever and we are excited to capitalise on this momentum and make major leaps. We are confident that the expansion of this program would essentially help the growth and development of the region's constructing industry."
"We are excited to announce the launch of an accelerator program in collaboration with SIAC and Dar Al-Handasah, with the hope that it will serve as a conduit for the development of cutting-edge innovation while driving growth and opportunities for promising startups," said Yehia Houry, Chief Programs Officer at Flat6Labs.
"We are proud of the success of the pre-accelerator program, and we believe that Makers will have a significant impact on the construction industry in Egypt, and eventually across the Middle East."
Compared to other sectors like fintech, the construction industry typically moves at a slower pace when it comes to embracing innovation or digitalisation.
The Makers program strives to equip construction entrepreneurs with the necessary support in order to provide innovative solutions and fresh technologies that optimise and automate construction industry processes, making them more efficient and sustainable while propelling the sector forward.
Source: Wamda
