TAP’s transformation from manual job placement to AI-driven talent acceleration, how it's sustaining financial viability without compromising impact, and the realities of scaling a company in the face of relentless adversity.
Talabat acquires InstaShop, Ninja targets $1BN+ pre-IPO valuation, and Saudi BNPL Tamara receives SAMA license for consumer finance, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.
BNPL Tamara receives SAMA license for consumer finance
This approval makes Tamara one of 65 licensed finance companies in Saudi Arabia, enabling it to serve a broader customer base and diversify its financial products.
🛒 UAE’s Talabat acquires instashop from Delivery Hero for $32 million
Effective February 25, 2025, InstaShop will be consolidated into talabat’s financial accounts while continuing as an independent brand within talabat’s grocery and retail vertical.
Why the next industrial revolution will be local, breaking ‘pilot purgatory’ in deeptech sales, and the biggest misconceptions about additive manufacturing.
Dubai-based Flow48 secures $69M, Seez acquired for $46.2 million, Disrupt.com to invest $100m to fuel AI-first startups, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.
UK’s Pinewood.AI acquires Dubai-based autotech AI Seez for $46.2 million
Founded in 2016 by Tarik and Andrew Karabit, Seez initially launched as a “Shazam for cars,” attracting almost three million users before shifting to an automotive marketplace model.
A rare surge of startup acquisitions sweeps MENA, and with Qatar attracting major VCs like Human Capital, Utopia, and Builders VC, we debated whether Doha is emerging as a deeptech hub and how its startup ecosystem strategy stacks up against Saudi and the UAE.
Saudi VC hits first close of $30 million debut early-stage fund, Dubizzle continues pre-IPO acquisitions, Nice One surpasses $2 billion market cap, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.
Why AI and embedded finance aren't always the answer, getting pricing strategies right in cost-sensitive markets, and why the biggest cost drivers are in the back-of-house.
Saudi BNPL Tabby raises $160M Series E at a $3.3B valuation, becoming MENA’s most valuable fintech
It is now the second most valuable internet company in the region, trailing only Talabat. Notably, Tabby reached this milestone in just five years—its seed round was in November 2019.
