RIYADH: Startups working within the Center East and North Africa area confirmed exceptional resilience ultimate week, securing a couple of investment rounds throughout key sectors at the same time as geopolitical tensions from the Iran struggle persevered to rattle markets.
This momentum builds on a record-breaking 2025, when MENA startups raised $7.5 billion — a 225 % surge from the former 12 months, in step with information analyzed by way of Wamda.
Funding job within the MENA startup ecosystem, on the other hand, slowed in March, with most effective 17 startups elevating a complete of $48.3 million, as buyers reassessed the danger posed by way of the Iran conflict.
This represented an 85 % decline from February and a 62 % drop in comparison to the similar month in 2025, making it probably the most weakest months the area has noticed in recent times.
Investment ultimate week flowed throughout numerous high-growth sectors, together with fintech, synthetic intelligence, and foodtech, signalling emerging investor self assurance in MENA’s startup ecosystem.
Udora secures $10m for Saudi access
Udora, a Dubai-based gifting platform, has raised $10 million in a non-public investment spherical, as the corporate plans to scale up its operations within the wider area and make bigger into Saudi Arabia later this 12 months.
The corporate mentioned in a remark that it is going to deploy the contemporary capital to make bigger its product catalogue, boost up localization efforts, and toughen its era stack — together with new AI-powered personalization equipment geared toward raising consumer enjoy and boosting market potency.
In line with the remark, Udora is making ready to release in Saudi Arabia within the 3rd quarter of 2026, positioning the marketplace as a key development driving force, because of the Kingdom’s standard e-commerce adoption and a tender, digitally local client base.
Based in 2014 by way of Slava Bogdan, the company connects consumers with native florists, confectioners, and artisan dealers throughout greater than 50 markets and 1,500 towns.
Signit raises $15m
Signit, a Saudi-based AI-powered era company, raised $15 million in a Sequence A investment spherical led by way of Raed Ventures, with participation from STV, Seedra Ventures, Takamol Ventures, and Suhail Ventures.
Based in 2021, Signit is a Saudi-based virtual settlement platform that allows organizations to create, signal, and set up contracts finish to finish — from safe digital signatures to complete AI-powered contract lifecycle control.
The company recently serves greater than 700 consumers throughout govt, monetary products and services, healthcare, and endeavor sectors within the Kingdom.
“This funding lets us build the full picture: a single platform where a contract is created, negotiated, approved, signed, and managed — all compliant, all built for how business actually works here,” mentioned Mohamed El Abbouri, co-founder and CEO of Signit.
The corporate additional mentioned that the brand new capital can also be deployed to make bigger the company’s contract control platform with AI-powered drafting, negotiation, and compliance functions, and construct an clever contract assistant that provides staff one position to seek out and act on contract knowledge.
Comfi secures $95m
UAE-based fintech company Comfi has raised $95 million in a pre-Sequence A investment spherical, led by way of Iliad Companions and joined by way of Yango Ventures and Uncooked Ventures, each making their first funding within the area.
In a press remark, the corporate published that the investment spherical features a credit score facility from Companions for Expansion and a mezzanine facility structured by way of Shorooq, with participation from a notable circle of relatives place of job.
Comfi was once based in 2023, by way of Sanjar Samiev, Alisher Akbarov, Amal Abdullaev, and Denis Gavrilin, and the corporate makes a speciality of business-to-business purchase now, pay later answers for small and medium-sized enterprises.
“This pre-Series A round gives us the resources to scale our products, strengthen our regional partnerships, and expand access to fast, reliable working capital across MENA,” mentioned Samiev.
Comfi has processed greater than 15,000 invoices, partnered with over 4,000 finance leaders, and now serves greater than 1,000 purchasers — underscoring sturdy regional call for for quick, versatile capital answers for SMEs, the click remark added.
Comfi was once based in 2023, by way of Sanjar Samiev, Alisher Akbarov, Amal Abdullaev, and Denis Gavrilin. (Equipped)
Lola closes $3m seed spherical
Lola, a Bahrain-based direct-to-customer meals tech platform, has raised $3 million in a seed investment spherical led by way of Imaginative and prescient Ventures with participation from Aljazira Capital, Seedra Ventures, Plus VC and different buyers.
In line with a press remark, the newly deployed investment will likely be used to toughen the corporate’s construction of a central manufacturing facility in Dammam, designed to carry consistency, regulate, and scalability to the enterprise.
“This funding allows us to scale that vision, strengthen our infrastructure, and maintain full control over the customer experience. With strong demand and a clear roadmap, we’re closing the gap between imagination and reality, making perfection the standard for every celebration,” mentioned Othman Janahi, founding father of Lola.
Established in 2023, Lola allows consumers to design and order absolutely customised truffles via a continuing virtual enjoy.
BRKZ secures funding from Saudi Business Funding Co.
BRKZ, a Saudi-based corporate focusing on commercial provide chain enablement, has secured a strategic direct funding from Saudi Business Funding Co., the funding arm of the Saudi Business Building Fund.
In line with a press remark, the newly injected investment will likely be used to boost up manufacturing facility productiveness, support get admission to to liquidity, and build up capability usage charges.
“This investment reflects SIC’s confidence in ambitious Saudi companies; we view this as a strategic partnership and a great responsibility to continue building a tangible impact in line with Saudi Vision 2030,” mentioned Ibrahim Manna, CEO of BRKZ.
Fahad Al-Naeem, CEO of SIC mentioned: “We are investing in BRKZ because it addresses a real-world challenge in the industrial supply chain. By facilitating supplier access, providing payment flexibility, and utilising untapped production capacity, BRKZ is building a commercial infrastructure for the industrial sector.”
