Venture Souq

Erad is a company that provides expansion capital to online enterprises, focusing primarily on startups in the Middle East. It operates an online fund management platform that enables these businesses to connect their sales, marketing, and accounting data. By doing so, Erad facilitates access to non-dilutive capital funding, allowing businesses to secure the growth funding they need without sacrificing ownership. In addition to financial support, the platform offers key insights and analyses that help businesses optimize their operations and increase profitability.

SILQ is a platform dedicated to bridging economies and empowering businesses to trade, grow, and navigate new frontiers. By enabling seamless commerce, logistics, and finance, SILQ unlocks opportunities in emerging economies, fueling ambitions and redefining global trade. The name SILQ is a modern tribute to the legendary Silk Road—reimagined for the digital age. The distinctive “Q” comes from Souq, the Arabic word for marketplace, symbolizing our commitment to fast, accessible, authentic, and reliable commerce. SILQ aspires to transform local products and manufacturers into global brands by connecting them with entrepreneurs in emerging markets across the Gulf, South Asia, and beyond.

Erad is a company that provides expansion capital to online enterprises, focusing primarily on startups in the Middle East. It operates an online fund management platform that enables these businesses to connect their sales, marketing, and accounting data. By doing so, Erad facilitates access to non-dilutive capital funding, allowing businesses to secure the growth funding they need without sacrificing ownership. In addition to financial support, the platform offers key insights and analyses that help businesses optimize their operations and increase profitability.

Evolve Credit is a Nigerian fintech company founded in 2020, headquartered in Lagos. It operates an online platform that empowers consumers to explore, compare, and apply for various loan products tailored to different needs, including personal loans, SME loans, and options for salary earners and the unemployed. The platform provides expert reviews, ratings, and comparisons based on price, interest rates, and other terms. Additionally, Evolve Credit offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) core banking platform that enables financial institutions to streamline, digitize, and manage deposit, lending, and recovery services efficiently. This platform includes no-code tools designed to offer personalized customer banking experiences both online and offline.

Sary is a digital business-to-business marketplace based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that connects small and medium-sized enterprises with merchant wholesalers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Aldossary and Khaled AlSiari, Sary aims to streamline the supply chain in the wholesale industry, allowing businesses to efficiently procure inventory. Its mobile and web application offers a range of FMCG products, including beverages, oils, and snacks, facilitating orders from small quantities to truckloads with rapid delivery options, often within 24 hours. Sary serves a diverse clientele, including mini-market chains, hotels, restaurants, and convenience shops, and has expanded its operations to 12 major cities, catering to over 40,000 customers and partnering with more than 1,700 brands and wholesalers. The platform provides users with immediate price quotations and product comparisons, enabling them to manage their expenses effectively as their businesses grow.

CreditBook is a digital platform in Pakistan that serves micro, small and medium enterprises with financial management tools. Originating as a bookkeeping app, it has expanded into a suite of financial solutions that enable underserved businesses to track pending payments, receive payment reminders, and record all transactions, helping owners make informed decisions. By digitizing core financial processes, the platform supports transparency and efficiency and enables small businesses to extend credit to customers quickly, improving cash flow across local markets in Pakistan.

Opontia facilitates swift and equitable sales of small e-commerce businesses. They focus on acquiring companies with enduring competitive advantages and robust home-grown brands. Their streamlined process aims to deliver funds to sellers within six weeks.

Rivy is making it easier to finance small and medium sized businesses in Africa. There is a need for financing of $158 bn for SMEs in Nigeria alone. To start, Rivy o helps SMEs access and spend lender capital effectively. During their first full operational year in 2020, the Rivy o co--founders leveraged their domain expertise and founding experience to beat their 2020 goal by 50%.

Maroo is a payment platform specifically designed for the wedding and events industry, enabling businesses to handle payments without incurring processing fees. It offers services such as payment acceptance, branded invoice creation, and the ability to pay freelancers and suppliers, all under a unique zero fee model that allows businesses to pass transaction costs onto clients. With a community of over 9,000 businesses, Maroo has facilitated more than $180 million in revenue for event professionals. Additionally, the platform provides tools that help couples manage their wedding budgets effectively, allowing them to connect their bank accounts and manage invoices. It also offers insights and budget recommendations, making the payment process more manageable and enabling couples to pay for their weddings in equal monthly installments.

Nomod is a financial technology company established in 2019 and headquartered in London. It specializes in creating a financial operating system tailored for innovative businesses in emerging markets. Nomod's suite of payment tools and financial services simplifies the management of business transactions, allowing entrepreneurs and startups to efficiently handle their finances. The platform enables users to easily sign up and begin accepting card payments both in-person and online, thereby supporting the growth and development of businesses in these regions.

Sary is a digital business-to-business marketplace based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that connects small and medium-sized enterprises with merchant wholesalers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Founded in 2018 by Mohammed Aldossary and Khaled AlSiari, Sary aims to streamline the supply chain in the wholesale industry, allowing businesses to efficiently procure inventory. Its mobile and web application offers a range of FMCG products, including beverages, oils, and snacks, facilitating orders from small quantities to truckloads with rapid delivery options, often within 24 hours. Sary serves a diverse clientele, including mini-market chains, hotels, restaurants, and convenience shops, and has expanded its operations to 12 major cities, catering to over 40,000 customers and partnering with more than 1,700 brands and wholesalers. The platform provides users with immediate price quotations and product comparisons, enabling them to manage their expenses effectively as their businesses grow.

CreditBook is a digital platform in Pakistan that serves micro, small and medium enterprises with financial management tools. Originating as a bookkeeping app, it has expanded into a suite of financial solutions that enable underserved businesses to track pending payments, receive payment reminders, and record all transactions, helping owners make informed decisions. By digitizing core financial processes, the platform supports transparency and efficiency and enables small businesses to extend credit to customers quickly, improving cash flow across local markets in Pakistan.

Inyad is a company that specializes in developing mobile applications aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses in their sales, operations, and growth. Its applications facilitate bookkeeping by tracking customer debts and payments, while also providing an online selling platform that enables offline businesses to establish and expand their presence in the digital marketplace. By enhancing the efficiency of merchants on a large scale, Inyad plays a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the complexities of modern commerce.

FlexxPay offers an online, cloud-based platform that helps employers give employees access to a portion of their earned wages before the regular payday. The service enables immediate access to earned income, alleviating financial stress by allowing workers to cover mid-cycle expenses without waiting for the next payroll. It integrates with payroll systems to track earned-but-unpaid wages and provides an alternative to the traditional pay cycle that maintains payroll accuracy and compliance. The solution targets employers seeking a flexible payroll option to support financial wellness and workforce productivity.

BukuWarung is a technology company focused on providing digital infrastructure for Indonesia's 60 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The company offers a platform that enables users to efficiently manage their businesses through features such as digital bookkeeping, online storefronts, and payment processing. By facilitating the recording of daily financial transactions, including sales and customer accounts, BukuWarung helps small businesses maintain accurate sales records, issue bills via messaging applications, and generate daily business reports. The platform aims to empower MSMEs by enhancing their financial awareness and enabling effective business management through technology.

Jenfi is a financial technology company founded by Jeffrey Liu and Justin Louie, specializing in revenue-based financing for digital-native businesses in Southeast Asia. The company offers a service known as Growth Capital as a Service (GCaaS), which provides non-dilutive capital of up to US$1,000,000 to help businesses scale their marketing, inventory, and growth initiatives. Jenfi utilizes a proprietary risk assessment engine to evaluate both the creditworthiness of businesses and their marketing growth efficiency, ensuring that financing options are flexible and customized to meet the specific needs of each client. The platform has supported hundreds of digital-native companies, including various B2B and SaaS startups. Prior to founding Jenfi, Liu and Louie successfully developed and exited the fitness subscription service GuavaPass.

Mamo is a Fintech startup based in Dubai, UAE, focused on providing innovative payment and financial solutions tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company operates under a Cat 3C Providing Money Services license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, making it the first licensed Fintech startup in this category in the region. Mamo's flagship offering, Mamo Business, serves as an alternative to traditional banking for SMEs, combining payments, spend management, and analytics into a user-friendly platform. This platform enables businesses to accept payments globally in multiple currencies, manage expenses, and issue virtual cards, thereby streamlining financial operations and enhancing payment success rates. Mamo's diverse customer base includes a variety of sectors, such as B2B services, healthcare, tourism, and retail, making it a crucial partner for businesses looking to optimize their financial processes.

Aspire is a finance operating system for growing businesses in Southeast Asia. The platform combines business accounts, cross-border payments, corporate cards, automated invoice processing, and expense management with integrated financial management software. It enables users to manage bank accounts, invoicing, and cash flow in a single interface and provides access to funding and financial tools to support smart decisions. The company also offers Aspire Kickstart, an incorporation service for Singaporean companies. Founded in 2018 and based in Singapore, Aspire focuses on helping startups and SMBs streamline finance operations, improve transparency, and reduce administrative overhead.

Souqalmal.com LLC FZ operates a leading financial comparison website in the Middle East, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with the tools to search and compare various financial products. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Dubai, the platform offers detailed information on credit cards, personal loans, car loans, bank accounts, mortgages, and various insurance options, including car, home, travel, and SME insurance. Users can obtain real-time quotes for insurance in under 60 seconds and have their policies issued within an hour. Souqalmal.com has also expanded its services to include mobile phone and broadband plans, as well as educational options like schools and nurseries. The company has received multiple awards for its innovative approach and has grown its insurance business significantly. With backing from notable investors and a proven track record, Souqalmal.com continues to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions.

Souqalmal.com LLC FZ operates a leading financial comparison website in the Middle East, providing consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with the tools to search and compare various financial products. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Dubai, the platform offers detailed information on credit cards, personal loans, car loans, bank accounts, mortgages, and various insurance options, including car, home, travel, and SME insurance. Users can obtain real-time quotes for insurance in under 60 seconds and have their policies issued within an hour. Souqalmal.com has also expanded its services to include mobile phone and broadband plans, as well as educational options like schools and nurseries. The company has received multiple awards for its innovative approach and has grown its insurance business significantly. With backing from notable investors and a proven track record, Souqalmal.com continues to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions.