MENA Startup Ecosystem News | June 2022

Here is this month’s compilation of startup news. This report is also available in a downloadable PDF version via this link: MENA Startup Ecosystem News – June 2022

TOP NEWS

MENA startups raise US$1.68 billion in H1 2022:

• Startup platform Magnitt’s report on State of Startup Funding – H1 2022 for the Emerging Venture Market (EVM) indicated that the amount raised came from 300 deals including 3 Mega Deals of $100 million+. This shows a 46% increase compared to the same period in 2021.
• 33 total Exits were announced this year – just 2 Exits short of last year’s record-high number.
• With the addition of Turkey, Pakistan and Africa to comprise EVM, a total of $5.1 billion over 754 deals was raised across this region. A noticeable slowdown in VC activity in Q2 was observed as a result of global market pressures. This is expected to continue through out the remaining two quarters of the year

INVESTMENTS

STARTUPS

• Careem acquires MUNCH:ON: Careem adds MUNCH:ON, the subscription based food delivery platform, to its own growing multi-service platform. MUNCH:ON will stop daily operations and the offering will be rebuilt on the Careem app and introduce  low-cost meal segments that MUNCH:ON has pioneered in the region as well as new food discovery and delivery options for corporates.
• Pure Harvest Smart Farms acquires interest in agritech venture: UAE-based agritech Pure Harvest Smart Farms acquires BayWa’s controlling interest in the Al Dahra Baywa Joint Venture which operates a large-scale, 11-hectare smart agriculture facility. The acquisition increases Pure Harvest’s operating capacity to under 22 hectares (54 acres).
• Egyptian e-marketplace for toys, Tasala, shuts down: The startup felt the knock-on effect of the economic downturn resulting from the ongoing Ukraine war. The decision was made in the wake of the recent import restrictions put in place regarding a number of products including “non-essential products” such as toys that took effect last March.
• Dukkantek expands to six markets: Following its Seed round of $5.2M in March 2022, the UAE-based store management platform Dukkantek has expanded to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Turkey. The Seed funding has also assisted the improvement of its technology stack, expanded the platform’s reach, and served its ever-growing merchant base.
• Jadwa Investment acquires Kuwait’s Dabdoob Holdings: Saudi Arabia-based Jadwa Investment has acquired 70 per cent of Kuwaiti company Dabdoob Holdings, owner of Dabdoob, the child-centric e-commerce retailer offering toys, books, costumes and games with a same-day delivery service, and largest toy e-commerce application in GCC.
• Egypt’s MNT Halan acquires Talabeyah: Fintech player MNT Halan’s acquisition of the e-commerce platform Talabeyah will enable the latter to scale nationwide by providing access to merchants and retailers, financing their customers’ purchases and backing the firm with 120 tech engineers
• Egypt’s Appetito acquires Tunisia’s Lamma: Both startups operate in the Q-commerce space. Appetito acquiring Lamma would allow for its expansion in Morocco, Tunisia and West Africa to become the largest e-Grocery and Q-commerce in Africa. Acquisition amount is unknown
• GrubTech to expand to Egypt: The UAE-based cloud kitchen management solutions provider plans to invest US$5 million in Egyptian market via opening its office in Cairo. The move follows GrubTech’s raise in 2021 of $13 million Series A Funds.
• Tamatem expands to China: After securing an investment and strategic partnership with MSA Novo, the Jordan-based Arabic mobile games publisher, Tamatem, will expand to China, partnering with various Chinese developers to bring the best mobile games to the Arabic-speaking market
• Fenix launches ride-hailing service in Bahrain: The Abu Dhabi based mobility startup introduces FENIX taxi starting with Bahrain which can be booked via its integrated mobility “Super App” platform. It now operates the largest electric vehicle fleet in Greater Middle East with 10K vehicles.

VENTURE CAPITAL

• Disruptech secures funding from AXIAN Group: Egypt-based Disruptech, a fintech-focused VC fund, has secured funding from Madagascar-based AXIAN Group. The deal will enable Disruptech to help more fintechs to scale and expand beyond their home market
• SVC investments in PFG’s Venture Debt Fund: Saudi Venture Capital (SVC) invested in a global specialty lending fund managed by Partners for Growth (PFG). The fund focuses on offering venture debt instruments to high-growth startups and SMEs in several sectors, such as Technology, FinTech, Healthcare, and Life Science.
• Al Waha Fund of Funds partners with Israel’s LionBird: Bahrain-based VC fund Al Waha Fund of Funds has partnered with Israel’s LionBird to launch the $85 million LionBird III fund, to help regional startups access the US healthcare market. LionBird is a US-focused digital health fund that specialises in seed-stage venture capital. The fund will also help Bahraini and GCC startups navigate the complex US healthcare market
• BIM Ventures launches second fund valued at $32M: The KSA-based venture building studio’s second fund, BIM Investments II, will primarily provide emerging local tech companies with the capital, expertise, and operational support they need to grow and prosper in the market, alongside direct investment in follow-on rounds to support startups in their spin-off from the studio.
• ADQ and Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship of Jordan launch $100M fund: The Fund will invest in high-growth technology companies and funds in sectors including healthcare and life sciences; food and agriculture, mobility and logistics. The capital will primarily be invested in Jordan to help advance its technology ecosystem

STARTUP PROGRAMS

• Majid Al Futtaim and AstroLabs launch new startup accelerator: The Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad aims to support startups in the UAE and SMEs in the MENA region focusing on culture, heritage, sustainability, innovation, health & beauty and proptech. The program will provide startups access to business growth incentives & mentorship to strengthen their commercial viability.
• Dtec’s SANDBOX for early-stage startups puts Founders at its core:  Dtec’s landmark 12-month startup program offers founders 200+ hours of workshops, 100+ hours 1:1 with expert practitioners, USD $950,000+ in-kind credits from partners, access to award-winning office space, Equity Warrant of USD $50,000, business licensing support, and much more. If you are an early-stage tech entrepreneur in Dubai, seeking to test, grow and scale, APPLY TODAY

WORTH THE READ

Wamda

• Mena startups raised $176 million in May, lowest amount so far in 2022
• Can buy now, pay later survive the cost of living crisis?
• How bad is Big Tech’s hiring freeze?
• The importance of last mile in e-commerce
• Fintechs face reckoning as easy money dries up

Magnitt

• Funding First 2 of Q2: On Mega Deals & Base Building
• On M&A in MEAPT: Untapped potential driven by data
• The Biggest Winner: How VC prepped the ecosystem for M&A plays
• Unpacking Q-commerce: The Sector Making VCs Reach for their Checkbooks