In recent times, an emerging facet of doing business and providing services has received much interest, and that is the business-to-business or B2B sector. It is hard to imagine a sophisticated and ever-changing market without any partnerships, mutual agreements, or collaborations.
The Middle East’s B2B Startups to Watch Out for in 2022
Businesses across all industries depend on the goods, resources, and skills of other businesses to carry out activities as complicated as digital infrastructure maintenance or as simple as merchandise delivery.
While B2B trade and promotion have risen in popularity, in the corporate world, this sector has built a reputation for itself. And as a direct consequence of utilizing the latest technology and the digitalization of various business operations, it has become the fastest-growing sector in the trade and commerce realm.
B2B is an economic model that encourages companies to succeed by enhancing networking, encouraging effective communication, and promoting the wholesale sector whilst meeting individual business demands.
And considering the pandemic’s influence, the entrepreneurial industry’s progress in the Middle East remains persistent since the sector has maintained its dominant ranking in terms of financing and transactions in 2021.
B2B Businesses to Become the Middle East’s New Economic Face
Now let’s take a look at the top Middle Eastern B2B startups to keep an eye on in 2022. Each one of these examines the market’s distinct characteristics, such as its strategic planning, purchasing behaviour, and growth prospects.
The reason behind choosing the following startups:
We’ve selected the firms below because they are amongst the most promising ones, having significant financial backing in their funding rounds. Large corporations or venture capitalists fund these businesses with the goal of disrupting the financial and B2B sectors. The economic paradigm in the Middle East may actually be expanded by firms developing an ecosystem that encourages mutual benefit and support. These firms have raised money based on the commitments they’ve made, and they’ve clearly elevated the game by employing the right technologies.
Top 5 Startup Funding List
5. Capiter
- Founders: Ahmed Nouh and Mahmoud Nouh
- Industry: B2B, E-Commerce, Internet
- Founded In: 2020
- Funds raised: $33 million
Capiter is an Egyptian B2B shopping platform that connects micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It comprises a single platform that enables retailers to purchase a range of items and accept deliveries using an integrated BNPL solution.
The official app of Capiter offers a safe and easy alternative with over 1.9 million daily transactions. It also expands the distribution network and provides the Middle East B2B Marketplace with reasonable rates and visibility. With a workforce of over 1500 personnel, it now serves over 50,000 merchants and 1,000 sellers.
In addition to this, the Capiter solution app helps enterprises, merchants, and producers get invaluable insight into the markets they cover. This provides businesses with actual data to enable them to ameliorate their distribution systems and enhance productivity. All this is accomplished thanks to machine learning and cutting-edge technology that the company employs.
Ahmed Nouh and Mahmoud Nouh established Capiter, a B2B firm in the FMCG sector of North Africa. The firm was founded in the year 2020 and is based in Cairo, Egypt. The company has successfully secured $33 million in funding.
4. Retailo
- Founders: Muhammad Ansari, Muhammad Nowkhaiz, and Wahaj Ahmed
- Industry: B2B, E-Commerce, Internet
- Founded In: 2020
- Funds raised: $ 48m
Retailo is an online B2B marketplace for small and medium-sized enterprises situated in the MENAP region. The network digitises and streamlines the retail business, making it easier and more user-friendly. This retailer network can help businesses deliver items in a simple, quick, and consistent fashion.
The technology allows the local enterprise to function by eliminating the middleman and operational cost challenges. The official app enables consumers to choose from over 3000 retailers. The company also offers free next-day delivery within 24 hours, allowing for a simpler buying experience. In addition to this, the app is designed to meet the customised demands of local retailers, thereby enhancing the user experience.
One can use the app to register their business as a merchant, peruse items, and place an order for free delivery within 24 hours. Retailo has swiftly expanded and already has a strong foothold in three MENAP nations.
MENA’s fastest-growing B2B startup, having revolutionised retail supply chains. Retailo was founded in July 2020 by former Careem executives, Talha Ansari, Wahaj Ahmed, and Mohammad Nowkhaiz. During the last 9 months, it has raised $9 million in funds thanks to a diverse group of international investors, including institutions from Silicon Valley, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as high net worth individuals (HNWs). The total amount of funding that Retailo has received until now is about $48 million.
3. MaxAB
- Founders: Belal EL-Megharbel and Mohamed Ben Halim
- Industry: B2B, E-Commerce, Internet
- Founded In: 2018
- Funds raised: $ 62.1m
Co-founders of MaxAB Mohamed Ben Halim, COO and Belal El Megharbel, CEO.
A Cairo-based, prominent wholesale food and grocery B2B ordering website called MaxAb is making significant strides to re-engineer the food and grocery sector. The firm employs data-driven technology and cutting-edge supply networks. The website seeks to strengthen companies by providing a diversified product selection, excellent customer service, and efficient operational assistance. Their tech-enabled supply chain ensures that the appropriate quantity of food items is delivered to the right location at the right time.
It links low-cost suppliers with low-cost food and grocery retailers. Using technology and innovative delivery systems, this program re-engineers the unstructured food retailing marketplace to fit the expectations of merchants in the locations they operate.
MaxAB’s app connects supplier networks to offer stores the cheapest rates. Additionally, the network offers smaller firms and dealers in underserved locations 24 hr services. It also provides suppliers’ and retailers’ pricing information for comparison! The company also offers a digital wallet and a variety of payment options!
Belal EL-Megharbel and Mohamed Ben Halim created MaxAB as a complete e-commerce solution for enterprises in North Africa, particularly Egypt. The firm was founded in 2018 and has its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. Its total amount of funding has been valued at about $61.2 million.
2. Tradeling
- Founders: Muhammad Chbib and Mohamed Meabed
- Industry: B2B, E-Commerce, Internet
- Founded In: 2019
- Funds raised: over $ 100 m
Tradeling is a Dubai-based B2B portal for consumers throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The company collaborates with resellers, retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers in the online business of snacks and drinks, as well as office supplies. The subcategories also cover apparel, beauty items, industrial supplies, computer accessories, and gadgets. Tradeling is expanding its portfolio to include Saudi Arabia and other regional markets.
This B2B platform allows users to purchase items at wholesale prices. They also offer a centralised digital solution for all types of purchasing. By reducing the challenges in the supply chain system, this one-stop-shop platform also aims to save time and money for the participants. The platform also consolidates all of the order interactions with numerous partners into a single location.
As per the business motto of Tradeling, business-to-business (B2B) transactions should be smoother, quicker, and better protected. With Tradeling, finding the ideal market players for any business has never been simpler. The company aims to become the most widely used platform for all commercial transactions.
The company, which is managed by start-up veteran Muhammad Chbib as Chief Executive Officer and Mohamed Meabed as Chief Technology Officer, aims to harness the potential of the digital economy and build a dynamic e-marketplace for businesses in the MENA region and beyond. The company has been successful in securing funds of more than $100 million from various investors.
1. Abraa
- Founders: Bill Barhydt
- Industry: B2B, Payment
- Founded In: 2012
- Funds raised: over $ 108.6 m
Abraa is one of the fastest-growing online B2B portals in the MENA region. The Dubai-based company is currently serving manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, and wholesalers. Apart from these, Abraa also handles import-export, buyers, trade leads, products, importers, and exporters. Furthermore, the platform allows companies and merchants in the MENA region to obtain items from manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers all over the world. The website, which has the tagline “Connecting Markets,” is now operating in three different countries.
Abraa.com makes finding products quick and secure for purchasers. As a consequence, users gain access to real purchase requests, upselling possibilities, and future revenue potential. Abraa has sections for food and drinks, health and beauty, industrial and construction, auto parts, electronics, gadgets, clothes, and fabrics. Their objective is to provide the most effective and user-friendly B2B platform possible. And this entails providing access to all sorts of certified producers across all industries. Whether a business is buying from a variety of sellers or selling to buyers all around the globe, Abra.com covers it all.
This Silicon Valley-based company, founded in 2014 by serial entrepreneur and worldwide mobile banking veteran Bill Barhydt, is dedicated to permanently transforming how the world exchanges money. So far, the company has been able to raise about $148.6 million in funds in series C.
