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Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region raised $95 million in July 2023
22 Aug 2023 Written by Admin SAEStartups in the Middle East and North Africa region raised a total of $95 million in funding across 31 deals in July 2023, marking a slight decrease of no more than 10% compared to the same period last year. This also represents an increase of over 167% compared to the funding volume recorded in June 2023. In contrast, the number of deals decreased by approximately 31% during the same period.
Distribution of Startup Funding by Country
Emirati startups took the lead with a total funding exceeding $64 million. This dominance was largely due to the significant deal secured by "Wan Moto," a company that received around $40 million, accounting for about two-thirds of the funding obtained by Emirati startups. This deal also comprised over 40% of the total startup funding in the region for July 2023.
Saudi Arabian startups claimed the second position with a total funding of approximately $19 million. Egyptian startups followed in third place with a total funding of around $7.6 million, continuing the trend of declining funding volumes for Egyptian startups in recent months. Lastly, Moroccan startups obtained a total funding of nearly $2 million.
In addition to this, startups in Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Syria collectively received funding totaling less than $1.2 million.
In terms of the distribution of funding deals, the UAE also led with 10 funding deals. Saudi Arabia and Jordan followed with 5 funding deals each, while Egypt secured 4 funding deals. The remaining deals were distributed among other countries, with 2 deals each for Bahrain, Lebanon, and Morocco, and 1 deal each for Tunisia and Syria.
Distribution of Startup Funding by Sectors
The transportation sector took the lead with approximately $42 million distributed across 3 deals. The dominance of the transportation sector in terms of funding size was primarily due to the significant deal of "Wan Moto". This company specializes in last-mile delivery operations and vehicles designed for corporate and business use. Its focus is on smart solutions and the use of electric vehicles. The second place was occupied by the food technology sector with around $14 million, thanks to the deal involving "Kasu," a food technology company headquartered in Riyadh. The company managed to raise about $10.5 million in a seed funding round.
The healthcare technology sector secured the third position by raising around $10 million across three deals, followed by the electronic sector with approximately $8.3 million distributed over two deals. On the other hand, the financial technology sector moved to the fourth place with a total funding of about $7.6 million distributed across 4 deals. The insurance technology sector followed with $4 million distributed over 4 deals. With this, the top five sectors accounted for up to 90% of the total startup funding in the Middle East and North Africa region in July 2023.
What is the position of Arab countries on the Artificial Intelligence Index?
18 Jul 2023 Written by Admin SAETortoise Intelligence recently released the Artificial Intelligence Index Report for the year 2023, which is one of the global rankings of artificial intelligence that includes more than 60 countries. In this article, we will review the main topics that this report focuses on and the ranking of Arab countries according to its findings.
The Artificial Intelligence Index (AI)
AI index relies on 111 indicators collected from 28 different sources of public and private data, covering 62 countries. These indicators are categorized within seven core pillars, which are as follows:
1. Government Strategy: This indicator measures the depth of governmental commitment to national artificial intelligence strategies and the extent of their commitment in terms of expenditure and implementation.
2. Research: This measure encompasses specialized research output in artificial intelligence, including the number of publications and citations in reputable academic journals.
3. Development: This pillar focuses on the level of development of foundational platforms and algorithms relied upon by innovative artificial intelligence projects.
4. Competence (Talent): This measure emphasizes the availability of talents and skills among practitioners engaged in artificial intelligence solutions.
5. Infrastructure: This pillar evaluates the availability of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence activities, including electricity, internet access, automation, and more.
6. Operational Environment: This measure focuses on the regulatory context and public perception of artificial intelligence.
7. Trade: This measure concentrates on business activities, including the activities of startups, investments, and artificial intelligence-based commercial initiatives.
These pillars provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the position of countries in the field of artificial intelligence.
Ranking of Arab countries on the Artificial Intelligence Index
The United States of America ranked first on the Artificial Intelligence Index, followed by China in second place, and then Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Canada. As for the Arab countries, the table below illustrates their ranking on both the global and Arab levels.
As can be seen, with the exception of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which secured average global rankings, other Arab countries rank lower on the global scale. It is worth noting from the table that there is a common weakness among all Arab countries included in the index, which is the talent pool working in artificial intelligence activities. If we consider the average ranking of Arab countries in this index, their combined position is approximately 48, indicating an educational and professional gap in the Arab world in this field. Additionally, significant lag can be observed for Arab countries in terms of operational environment, development and trade indicators.
On the other hand, there is significant variation among Arab countries in terms of operational environment, government strategy, and research indicators. In terms of government strategy, Saudi Arabia not only outperforms on the Arab level but also takes the global lead. This is attributed to the presence of a dedicated and approved national strategy for artificial intelligence, a government entity specifically focused on developing implementation plans for artificial intelligence in the country, providing funding and a dedicated budget, and monitoring the achievement of set goals. Since 2018, the Kingdom has shown interest in the field of artificial intelligence by establishing the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority "SDAIA" as the national reference for the development, regulation, and utilization of artificial intelligence.
Likewise, the United Arab Emirates holds a relatively advanced position (rank 20) in terms of having a national strategy for artificial intelligence and its commitment to implementation. However, the most notable strength of the UAE in this field lies in its infrastructure, where it ranks fourth globally. Qatar also stands out in terms of research indicators, securing a relatively advanced position (rank 17), with a 17-place difference from the UAE on the same index.
For more information about the Artificial Intelligence Index Report, please visit the Tortoise Intelligence website by clicking here.
Startups in the Middle East and North Africa secured funding exceeding $445 million in May 2023
20 Jun 2023 Written by Admin SAEStartups experienced a strong comeback in May, in terms of the funding they received. The total amount acquired by startups in the Middle East and North Africa exceeded $445 million, marking a year-on-year increase of approximately 153%. In comparison to the previous month, the increase was significant, reaching over 6257%. It is worth noting that April was one of the worst months in terms of startup funding in years, with the total amount obtained by startups not exceeding $7 million.
Regarding the number of deals, there were 39 deals in May, compared to 11 deals on a monthly basis, representing a 7% decrease on an annual basis.
Distribution of startup funding by country:
Startups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured the largest share of startup funding in May, with a total amount of around $422 million distributed among 14 deals, accounting for 90% of the total funding. This was largely driven by the success of the startup "Tabby" (Buy Now, Pay Later), which alone secured funding of $350 million. Qatari startups ranked second for the first time, with a total amount of approximately $12 million obtained through one deal, which was the funding for the comprehensive delivery and online shopping application "Snoonu."
Saudi Arabian startups secured funding of around $6 million, ranking second in terms of total funding. However, in terms of the number of deals, Saudi startups ranked first with 15 companies receiving deals. This was due to the graduation of seven Saudi startups from the Flat6labs business accelerator program in Riyadh. It is expected that Saudi startups will dominate the list of companies receiving funding deals in June, following the graduation of 20 Saudi startups from the Saudi Arabian "Misk Accelerator" program. Egyptian startups witnessed a decline in both funding and the number of deals, with the total funding not exceeding $1 million and only four deals. Egyptian startups ranked third, behind the UAE with 14 deals.
Distribution of funding by sectors:
Thanks to the aforementioned "Tabby" deal, the financial technology sector received the majority of startup funding, with a total of over $388 million obtained in May, accounting for around 87% of the total startup funding.
The e-commerce sector ranked second, with a total funding of $30 million, largely driven by a funding round for the startup "Sqwatt Wolf" which secured $30 million. The comprehensive application sector followed with $12 million, while the online job market sector ranked fourth with approximately $5 million. The healthcare technology sector secured funding of $3.5 million, ranking fifth.
In terms of the number of deals, the financial technology sector also took the lead with 10 deals, followed by the healthcare technology sector with six deals. The online job market sector came next with five deals. The remaining deals were distributed among other sectors, with one or two deals in each sector, including the comprehensive application sector, which had only one deal, namely the Qatari application "Snoonu."
It is worth mentioning that excluding the debt funding obtained by "Tabby" ($350 million), the total startup funding in the Middle East and North Africa amounted to $95 million. The UAE startups accounted for approximately $71 million of this amount.
The figures for startup funding and the number of deals in May indicate a recovery for startups from the exceptional recession they experienced in June. However, the fact that debt funding accounted for 78% of the total funding suggests a partial recovery, especially considering the modest size of funding for Egyptian and Saudi startups.
4 Ways How Small Businesses Can Fuel Growth with Artificial Intelligence
20 Jun 2023 Written by Admin SAEArtificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for businesses, and AI has been referred to as "the next big thing" in the business world in recent years. But today, talk about artificial intelligence is no longer about future speculation, but rather a tangible reality, and the stories that filled the news about ChatGPT are only evidence of that. It is also no longer limited to large companies such as self-driving cars, but startups and small companies can benefit from it as well. So we have an opportunity to benefit from the developments of artificial intelligence in the business world, but how?
This article we review four ways in which small businesses can leverage AI to boost their growth and gain a competitive advantage:
1- Enhancing customer service: While customer service often requires a human touch, AI can make it more efficient. AI's efficiency is evident in its ability to serve as an initial point of contact for responding to customer inquiries. Thanks to AI advancements, conversational robots have become more effective in written and spoken communication, even in different languages. They can efficiently handle customer queries and provide personalized experiences by understanding and responding to customer needs.
The benefits of using AI in customer service extend beyond cost reduction. AI can collect and reuse customer information, offering clear insights into customer requirements and desires. It can use data for predictions, identify areas of improvement, and even indicate potential expansions or advanced services, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Some popular AI tools that can enhance customer service: (ChatGPT, IBM Watson Assistant, LivePerson, Ada, Salesforce Einstein, Bold360, Nuance Nina, Zendesk Answer Bot).
2- Improving email interactions: Dealing with a large volume of customer emails, tracking requests, responding to inquiries, and managing other tasks can lead to chaos even in well-organized teams. Slow and inadequate responses to customer queries can frustrate customers and create a negative perception of a company's brand.
Email robots offer various solutions to overcome the challenges associated with managing email correspondence. They automate comprehensive response services, including addressing pricing inquiries, product quality, delivery services, order updates, and more. They can also escalate more complex messages to the appropriate department within the company. With advancements in robotics, the tone and language can be tailored to enhance communication with customers. This saves time in addressing repetitive customer queries that can be resolved through automated responses.
Some popular AI tools that can help improve email interactions: Grammarly, Crystal, Boomerang, PoliteMail, Respondable by Boomerang (AI-powered tool integrated with popular email platforms like Gmail), Clearbit Connect, X.a.
3- Marketing and sales: AI has numerous applications in the field of marketing. The main advantage of using AI in marketing is that decision-making and communication processes are based on accurate and comprehensive data. AI applications provide a more holistic and accurate view of sales, helping create customer prospect lists and identify strengths and weaknesses before planning marketing campaigns. One survey found that 61% of sales teams exceeded revenue targets by leveraging automation in their sales processes. AI can also be employed to analyze sales data and marketing performance, facilitating better decision-making.
Some popular AI tools that can be useful for marketing and sales: Salesforce Einstein, Marketo Engage, HubSpot Sales Hub, Drift, InsideSales Predictive Playbooks, Gong.io, Conversica, IBM Watson Marketing.
4- Blog writing and search engine optimization (SEO): AI helps increase the quantity and quality of blog content by significantly reducing writing and editing time. It does so by inputting and analyzing keywords, determining their appropriate usage and distribution, and formulating or restructuring sentences and paragraphs related to the keywords. AI simplifies content writing and blog optimization, saving time and effort, reducing errors, and enhancing content quality. In fact, one study indicated that the use of AI by marketers increased from 29% in 2018 to 84% in 2020.
Some popular AI tools that can be useful for blog writing and search engine optimization (SEO): Frase, SEMrush, Surfer SEO, Clearscope, WordLift, MarketMuse, Yoast SEO, TextOptimizer.
Determining the best AI tool to use depends on several factors and considerations, such as: your needs, ease of use, compatibility of the tool with your existing systems, software, or platforms, scalability, pricing of the tool, flexibility and customization within other factures. It is recommended to thoroughly evaluate different AI tools based on the user's specific context and requirements before making a decision.
By leveraging AI in several areas, startups can gain a competitive advantage by streamlining operations, improving customer experiences, and making data-driven decisions. By embracing AI, small businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and remain competitive in an increasingly data-centric digital business environment.
Three Reasons for the drop in startup funding in MENA to $7 million in April
16 May 2023 Written by Admin AdminStart-up companies in the Middle East and North Africa recorded the lowest volume of funding in years on a monthly basis, as the total amount of funding in April did not exceed $7 million, distributed over 11 deals, meaning that the total funding value has decreased compared to its value in March by about 97%, and by 99% compared to April 2022. In the following lines, we review how the volume of funding and deals was distributed by country and sector, and we try to answer the reasons why the volume of startup funding in April was so low.
Distribution of startup financing by country
Emirati startups occupied the largest share of funding, with a total value of $3.6 million distributed over 3 deals, while Saudi startups came in second place, with $3 million distributed over 3 deals as well. Tunisia and Iraq came in the fourth and fifth places, with total funding of $549,000 and $125,000, respectively. While 4 deals went to Tunisian startups, only one Iraqi startup received funding.
Distribution of financing startups by sectors
Startups active in the financial technology sector occupied the lion's share of total startup funding in April, raising nearly $5 million, or about 71% of the total funding.
Food technology companies came in the second place behind financial technology companies, with a total funding of $600,000, followed by real estate technology companies with a total funding of $533,000, then logistics companies with a total funding of $500,000, while the remaining of the funding was distributed among emerging companies in active in electronic labor market, electronic sports, software as a service, clean technology and agricultural technology.
What are the reasons behind the drop in startup funding in April?
The reason for the significant decline in the volume of funding for startups in April can be attributed to several factors.
First - The month of April coincided with the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan: It is known that the volume of economic activity in Islamic countries, and Arab countries in particular, slows down during the blessed month of Ramadan, but this reason is one within others to be taken into account.
Second - the crises of the global economy: Despite the slowdown in financing startups at the global level, the latter does not have a significant impact on financing startups in the Middle East and North Africa market for many reasons, the most important of which is that financing startups in the region relies heavily on local funding. Specifically, the financing coming from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which were the least affected by the economic crises that afflicted the global economy in recent years. Nevertheless, the impact of the global economy situation on financing emerging companies in the region cannot be ignored.
Especially on the Egyptian start-up companies, as during the past two years a number of Egyptian companies witnessed the insolvency, perhaps the most prominent of which was the “Swvl” mass transit company, which depends on the Egyptian market in particular, and was going through an economic crisis. Is was also vulnerable to global market turbulence, due to its large geographical spread and its dependence on international finance.
Third - The pattern of financing startups in the Middle East and North Africa:
It is noted in financing startups in the region that they tend to fluctuate in the amount of financing from one month to another, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the volume of deals varies greatly, as one startup may obtain financing that exceeds one hundred million Dollars, while the volume of funding for five financing deals does not exceed one million dollars, and may even be less than that sometimes, and what confirms this is the financing data for emerging companies in the past years, and the large discrepancy in the volume of funding between months.
In conclusion, the aforementioned reasons have come together to show financing for startups in the month of April of this very meager size. As for the coming months, it will be early to expect a slowdown in the growth of financing for startups. During the first quarter of 2023, startups succeeded in raising more than $1.1 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the first quarter of 2022. Also the month of May has already witnessed a number of relatively large deals, including two company deals. "Tarabut" and "SQUATWOLF" company, where the total amount obtained by the two companies amounted to about $ 62 million, or about 9 times the total funding for startups in the month of April.
فن الحرب: أسرار الاستراتيجية من الصين القديمة: كيف يمكن أن تستفيد من كتاب "فن الحرب" لسون تزو في مشروعك التجاري
17 Mar 2023 Written by Admin SAEفن الحرب" هو كتاب استراتيجية عسكرية كلاسيكي كتبه الجنرال الصيني سون تزو في القرن الخامس قبل الميلاد. يتكون الكتاب من 13 فصلًا، يركز كل منها على جوانب مختلفة من الحرب، مثل التخطيط والتكتيكات والقيادة.
يؤكد سون تزو على أهمية التحضير وفهم نقاط القوة والضعف الخاصة بالفرد وكذلك تلك الموجودة لدى العدو. كما يشدد على أهمية استخدام الخداع والمرونة للحصول على مزايا على ساحة المعركة.
واحدة من المفاهيم الأكثر شهرة في الكتاب هي فكرة "الفوز بدون قتال"، حيث يتم تحقيق النصر من خلال التخطيط الاستراتيجي والتحركات بدلاً من الصراع المباشر.
بشكل عام، يوفر كتاب "فن الحرب" نظرات قيمة حول طبيعة الحرب ودروس لكل من الاستراتيجيين العسكريين وقادة الأعمال والسياسيين.
الأفكار الرئيسية لكتاب "فن الحرب":
- التحضير: يؤكد سون تزو على أهمية التحضير والتخطيط قبل الذهاب إلى المعركة. يعتقد أن النجاح في الحرب يتم تحديده قبل بدء المعركة، من خلال عوامل مثل تحليل التضاريس والطقس ونشر القوات.
- فهم نقاط القوة والضعف: يشدد سون تزو على أهمية فهم نقاط القوة والضعف الخاصة بالفرد وكذلك تلك الموجودة لدى العدو. يقترح أن الجنرال الذي يعرف نفسه وعدوه سيفوز بالمعارك، بينما الجنرال الذي يعرف نفسه فقط أو عدوه سيفوز فقط في نصف الوقت.
- المرونة: يشجع سون تزو على المرونة في المعركة، مقترحًا أن يكون الجنرال قادرًا على التكيف مع التغيرات وضبط استراتيجياته وفقًا لذلك. يؤكد على أهمية عدم الارتباط بأي خطة واحدة بشكل زائد، والقدرة على تغيير الخطط استجابة لمعلومات جديدة.
- الخداع: يناقش سون تزو أهمية استخدام الخداع والتضليل في الحرب. يقترح أن يكون الجنرال قادرًا على إخفاء الحقيقة عن العدو من خلال تكتيكات مثل الخداع، والانسحابات الزائفة، وخلق مظاهر زائفة للقوة أو الضعف.
- الفوز بدون قتال: المفهوم الأكثر شهرة لسون تزو هو فكرة "الفوز بدون قتال". يقترح أن الهدف النهائي للحرب ليس تدمير العدو، ولكن تحقيق النصر بأقل قدر من الخسائر البشرية والموارد. يدعو إلى استخدام تكتيكات مختلفة وتشمل العديد من الاستراتيجيات والتكتيكات التي يمكن استخدامها في الحرب، مثل الاستخدام الذكي للقوة العسكرية، والتناقض في السلوك والتحركات، والتغلب على العدو دون مواجهة مباشرة، والاستغلال الذكي لنقاط ضعف العدو، وتخفيض خسائر جيشك، والتأكيد على الدفاع عن القوة والهجوم بشكل متزامن، وتقليل الوقت الذي يقضيه الجيش في الحرب، وتفادي الحرب إذا كان ذلك ممكنًا.
بشكل عام، يوفر "فن الحرب" دليلًا شاملًا لإستراتيجية الحرب التي كان لها تأثير كبير على مدى القرون. لقد تم تطبيق تعاليمها ليس فقط في الحرب ولكن أيضا في المجالات الأخرى مثل الأعمال التجارية والسياسة والعديد من المجالات الأخرى.
Strategy Secrets from Ancient China: How 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu Can Benefit Your Business Today
17 Mar 2023 Written by Admin SAE"The Art of War" is a classic military strategy book written by Chinese general Sun Tzu in the 5th century BC. The book is composed of 13 chapters, each focusing on different aspects of warfare, such as planning, tactics, and leadership.
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of preparation and understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of the enemy. He also stresses the importance of using deception and flexibility in order to gain advantages on the battlefield.
One of the most famous concepts from the book is the idea of "winning without fighting," where victory is achieved through strategic planning and maneuvers rather than direct conflict.
Overall, "The Art of War" provides valuable insights into the nature of warfare and has been studied by military strategists, business leaders, and politicians for centuries.
The main ideas of "The Art of War":
- Preparation: Sun Tzu stresses the importance of preparation and planning before going to battle. He believes that success in warfare is determined before the battle even begins, through factors such as terrain analysis, weather, and the deployment of troops.
- Understanding strengths and weaknesses: Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of the enemy. He suggests that a general who knows himself and his enemy will win battles, while a general who only knows himself or his enemy will only win half the time.
- Flexibility: Sun Tzu encourages flexibility in battle, suggesting that a general should be able to adapt to changing circumstances and adjust their strategies accordingly. He stresses the importance of not being overly attached to any one plan, and being able to change tactics in response to new information.
- Deception: Sun Tzu discusses the importance of using deception and misdirection in warfare. He suggests that a general should be able to deceive the enemy through tactics such as feints, false retreats, and creating false appearances of strength or weakness.
- Winning without fighting: Sun Tzu's most famous concept is the idea of "winning without fighting." He suggests that the ultimate goal of warfare is not to destroy the enemy, but to achieve victory with minimal loss of life and resources. He advocates for using tactics such as diplomacy, psychological warfare, and strategic positioning to weaken the enemy and achieve victory without engaging in direct conflict.
Overall, "The Art of War" provides a comprehensive guide to military strategy that has been influential for centuries. Its teachings have been applied not only in warfare, but also in business, politics, and many other fields.
Funding for startups in the Middle East and North Africa soared to $760 million in February
15 Mar 2023 Written by Admin SAEThe markets for startups in the Middle East and North Africa have once again shown significant growth in funding volume during February, contrary to expectations of a slowdown in funding growth. This comes after successfully raising more than $760 million in funding across 48 deals. This represents a 638% monthly increase in funding for startups in the Middle East and North Africa, and a 103% increase compared to January 2022.
Startups funding by country
Egyptian startups saw significant momentum in February, raising $422 million across 16 deals, taking the top spot in terms of both funding volume and number of deals. This was due to a deal by the payment application company, "Fawry", which raised about $400 million, representing approximately 95% of total Egyptian startup funding for February and nearly half of startup funding in the Middle East and North Africa for the same period.
Saudi Arabian startups came in second with a total funding of $316 million across 13 deals. The largest share of Saudi Arabian startup funding was divided between two major deals: the "Flowerd" deal, which operates a specialized online flower and gift shop, raised about $156 million, while the second deal went to the food technology company, "Nana", which raised around $133 million. The Saudi Arabian startups' share of total startup funding in February was about 41%.
Despite having the lowest funding volume in years, Emirati startups ranked third after raising only $8 million across seven deals. However, this does not necessarily indicate a downward trend in funding for Emirati startups, as the UAE remains a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.
Behind the UAE startups, Bahraini startups came with a total of 6 million dollars distributed among two deals, then Moroccan startups with around 5 million dollars distributed among seven deals. Oman's authority also recorded funding for startups amounting to about 2.7 million dollars. Additionally, startups in Iraq, Algeria, Yemen, and Tunisia each witnessed a funding deal ranging from 220,000 dollars to about 16,000 dollars.
Regarding the concentration of startup funding in the region, we find that more than 96% of startup funding in February was concentrated in Egyptian and Saudi startups. The concentration of funding deals in both countries accounted for around 60% of the total number of startup funding deals during the same period.
The average funding size per deal was more than 15 million dollars, which is about three times the average funding size per deal recorded in 2022.
Distribution of funding deals for startups according to sectors
February witnessed several changes in the funding of startup deals according to their activity sectors. The multi-use application sector came in first place in terms of funding volume, but this was due to one financing deal, namely the financing deal for the Egyptian application "Halan" which became the most comprehensive and superior application to obtain funding in the Middle East and North Africa.
The e-commerce sector came in second place after companies operating in this sector raised about $160 million from 4 deals, which is an exception, as the e-commerce sector has relatively declined over the past three years compared to other more active sectors.
Food technology companies ranked third with a total funding volume of about $136 million, distributed over 5 deals. In fourth place came the healthcare technology sector with about $16 million, followed by the financial technology sector with about $14 million distributed over 10 deals, making it the sector that receives the most funding deals for February. Thus, funding for startups is concentrated in three sectors, namely comprehensive applications, e-commerce, and food technology, which account for more than ninety percent of the investments.
Financing startups according to investment stages
Funding through growth accelerators in February was one of the most prominent stages of startups financing, as 12 financing deals were obtained through growth accelerators. In terms of the number of deals also, we find that 8 financing deals took place in the initial investment stage, followed by the pre-initial financing stage with 6 deals, then pre-series (A) financing with 4 deals, while the amount of financing in 7 deals was not announced. As for the large financing deals, it was limited to three deals, two of which are in the Series (C) financing stage, and one deal is in the Series (B) financing stage.
تمويل الشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا يحلّق ب760 مليون دولار في شهر فبراير
13 Mar 2023 Written by Admin Adminأظهرت أسواق الشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا من جديد نمواً كبيراً في حجم التمويل خلال شهر فبراير/شباط مخالفة توقعات تباطء نمو التمويل، وذلك بعد أن نجحت في جمع أكثر من 760 مليون دولار موزعة على 48 صفقة. وبهذا يكون تمويل الشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا قد ارتفع بنسبة 638% على أساس شهري، وبنسبة 103% مقارنةً بشهر يناير/كانون الثاني 2022.
توزيع تمويل الشركات الناشئة بحسب الدول
شهد تمويل الشركات الناشئة المصرية زخماً كبيراً في شهر فبراير/شباط حيث نجحت في جمع تمويل بقيمة 422 مليون دولار موزعة على 16 صفقة، لتحصد بذلك المركز الأولى من حيث حجم وعدد صفقات التمويل. جاء تصدر الشركات الناشئة المصرية من حيث حصتها في التمويل نتيجة لصفقة تطبيق شركة "إم إن تي حالا" للمدفوعة الإلكترونية، التي جمعت بموجبها نحو 400 مليون دولار، أو ما يمثل نحو 95% من إجمالي تمويل الشركات الناشئة المصرية لشهر فبراير/شباط وما يقرب من نصف تمويل الشركات الناشئة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا للفترة نفسها.
حلّت الشركات الناشئة السعودية في المركز الثاني بإجمالي تمويل بلغ 316 مليون دولار توزعت على 13 صفقة. وقد انقسمت الحصة الأكبر من تمويل الشركات الناشئة السعودية إلى صفقتين كبيرتين؛ هما صفقة "فلاورد" التي تدير متجراً إلكترونياً متخصص بطلب الورود والهدايا، والتي حصلت على نحو 156 مليون دولار، أما الصفقة الثانية فكانت من نصيب شركة "نانا" المتخصصة بتكنولوجيا الغذاء التي جمعت نحو 133 مليون دولار. وبلغت حصة الشركات الناشئة السعودية من إجمالي تمويل الشركات الناشئة في شهر فبراير/شباط نحو 41%.
بحجم تمويل منخفض هو الأقل منذ سنوات جاءت الشركات الناشئة الإماراتية في المركز الثالث بعد جمعها نحو 8 مليون دولار فقط موزعة على 7 صفقات. لكن على الرغم من انخفاض تمويل الشركات الناشئة الإماراتية في شهر فبراير/شباط إلا أننا لا يمكن اعتبار ذلك مؤشراً على اتجاه هابط في تمويل الشركات الناشئة الإماراتية، إذ ما زالت الإمارات المركز الأهم للشركات الناشئة وقطب جاذب للتمويل الإقليمي والدولي بل يمكن القول إن شهر فبراير/شباط يشكل استثناءً لمحركات تمويل الشركات الناشئة في الإمارات الأخذة بالنمو والتوسع.
خلف الشركات الناشئة الإماراتية جاءت الشركات البحرينية بواقع 6 مليون دولار موزعة على صفقتين ثم الشركات الناشئة المغربية بنحو 5 مليون دولار توزعت على 7 صفقات. كما سجلت سلطة عمان تمويلاً للشركات الناشئة بلغ نحو 2.7 مليون دولار. وايضاً شهدت الشركات الناشئة في كل من العراق والجزائر واليمن وتونس صفقة تمويل لكل منها، بقيمة تمويل تراوحت بين 220 ألف دولار ونحو 16 ألف دولار.
لجهة تمركز تمويل الشركات الناشئة في المنطقة نجد أن أكثر من 96% من تمويل الشركات الناشئة في شهر فبراير/ شباط قد انحصر في الشركات الناشئة المصرية والسعودية، كما سجل تمركز صفقات التمويل في كلا البلدين إلى إجمالي عدد صفقات تمويل الشركات الناشئة نحو 60% للفترة نفسها.
أما متوسط حجم التمويل لكل صفقة فقد ببلغ أكثر من 15 مليون دولار، أي بنحو 3 اضعاف متوسط حجم التمويل لكل صفقة المسجل في عام 2022.
توزيع صفقات تمويل الشركات الناشئة بحسب القطاعات
شهد شهر فبراير/شباط تغييرات عديدة على صعيد تمويل صفقات الشركات الناشئة بحسب نشاطها، حيث تصدر قطاع التطبيق الشامل (متعدد الاستخدامات) المركز الأول من حيث حجم التمويل، لكن هذا التصدر كانت نتيجة لصفقة تمويل واحدة، هي صفقة تمويل تطبيق "حالاً" المصري، الذي أصبح أكثر تطبيق فائق وشامل يحصل على تمويل في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.
جاء قطاع التجارة الإلكترونية بالمركز الثاني بعد أن جمعت الشركات الناشطة في هذا القطاع على نحو 160 مليون دولار من 4 صفقات، وهو ما يشكل استثناءً فقد شهد قطاع التجارة الإلكترونية خلال السنوات الثلاث الفائتة انخفاضاً نسبياً لحساب القطاعات الأخرى الأكثر نشاطاً.
احتلت شركات التكنولوجيا الغذائية المركز الثالث بإجمالي حجم تمويل بلغ نحو 136 مليون دولار توزع على 5 صفقات. أما في المركز الرابع فجاء قطاع التكنولوجيا الصحية بنحو 16 مليون دولار، يليه قطاع التكنولوجيا المالية بنحو 14 مليون موزع على 10 صفقات، وهو أكثر قطاع يحصل على صفقات تمويل لشهر فبراير/شباط. وبهذا يكون تمويل الشركات الناشئة من حيث القطاعات قد تركز بنسبة تفوق الـ90% في ثلاثة قطاعات هي: التطبيقات الشاملة والتجارة الإلكترونية وتكنولوجيا الغذاء.
تمويل الشركات الناشئة بحسب مراحل الاستثمار
شكل التمويل عبر مسرعات النمو في شهر فبراير/شباط أحد أبرز مراحل تمويل الشركات الناشئة، فقد حصلت 12 صفقة تمويل عبر مسرعات النمو. ومن حيث عدد الصفقات أيضاً نجد أن 8 صفقات تمويل جرت في مرحلة الاستثمار الأولي، يليها مرحلة التمويل ما قبل الأولي بـ6 صفقات، ثم تمويل ما قبل السلسلة (أ) بـ4 صفقات، فيما لم يعلن عن حجم التمويل في 7 صفقات. أما من حيث صفقات التمويل الكبيرة فقد اقتصرت على ثلاث صفقات منها صفقتان في مرحلة التمويل من السلسلة (ت)، وصفقة واحدة في مرحلة التمويل من السلسلة (ب).
Trade opportunities through e-commerce channels have boomed in recent years but many firms are still unsure about how to take advantage of them. To help firms sharpen their market research and digital marketing skills, UNESCWA and the International Trade Centre would like to extend a cordial invitation for the upcoming webinar Identifying and Harnessing Opportunities for E-commerce on March 16th at 4-5:15 pm (CET). This 75-minute, interactive webinar will give provide a hands-on introduction to market research using the Global Trade Helpdesk, a free, integrated platform providing a strategic overview of trade and market information to compare opportunities across 220 markets. It will also introduce digital marketing techniques and how to leverage new digital trade opportunities through the ecomConnect.org resources and community.
Register for the session here: http://bit.ly/3KKXtb2
ازدهرت فرص التجارة عبر قنوات التجارة الإلكترونية في السنوات الأخيرة، لكن لا تزال العديد من الشركات غير متأكدة من كيفية الاستفادة من هذه الفرص. لمساعدة الشركات على تطوير أبحاث السوق الخاصة بهم ومهارات التسويق الرقمي، تود لجنة الأمم المتحدة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية لغربي آسيا (الإسكوا) ومركز التجارة الدولية توجيه دعوة للندوة الإلكترونية القادمة بخصوص تحديد واستغلال فرص التجارة الإلكترونية والتي ستقام الخميس 16 مارس/آذار الساعة 4-5:15 مساء (بتوقيت وسط أوروبا). ستوفر هذه الندوة التفاعلية عبر الإنترنت، والتي ستستغرق 75 دقيقة، مقدمة عملية لأبحاث السوق باستخدام مكتب دعم التجارة العالمية، وهي منصة مجانية ومتكاملة توفر نظرة عامة ecomConnect.org استراتيجية لمعلومات التجارة والسوق ومقارنة الفرص عبر 220 سوق. كذلك ستقدم الندوة تقنيات التسويق الرقمي وكيفية الاستفادة من فرص التجارة الرقمية الجديدة من خلال موارد ومجتمع
http://bit.ly/3KKXtb2:سجل حضورك للندوة هنا
