- Stride Ventures invests $1 million in UAE-based Maalexi, marking its first venture debt commitment in the GCC region.
- Maalexi offers a risk management platform for small food and agri-businesses, featuring digital contracts, AI-enabled inspections, and blockchain-authenticated documentation.
- The investment aims to enhance regional food security and connect rural markets with the global economy.
- Stride Ventures highlights its commitment to global expansion and innovation in emerging markets with this strategic investment.
India-based venture debt firm Stride Ventures has taken a significant step in its international expansion strategy by investing $1 million in UAE-based Maalexi.
This investment marks Stride Ventures’ first venture debt commitment in the GCC region and aims to accelerate Maalexi’s growth and operational capabilities, enhancing food and agri-produce procurement and distribution efficiency across the region.
Revolutionizing Cross-Border Trade
Maalexi, founded in 2021 by Dr. Azam Pasha and Rohit Majhi, is a dynamic risk management platform designed to help small food and agri-businesses access cross-border trade directly.
The company is poised to revolutionize the $3 trillion global cross-border food and agri-produce trading market.
Maalexi offers critical risk management tools, including digital contracts, AI-enabled inspections, and blockchain-authenticated documentation. These tools enable SME agri-buyers to procure food supplies more quickly, cheaply, and safely from globally located SME agri-producers and exporters.
Stride Ventures’ Vision for Innovation
Apoorva Sharma, Managing Partner at Stride Ventures, emphasizes the strategic importance of this investment.
She states that Maalexi’s deployment of cutting-edge technologies places it at the forefront of enhancing regional food security and connecting rural markets with the global economy.
She explains that this investment reflects Stride Ventures’ commitment to global expansion by supporting companies that use technology to improve traditional industries. Sharma notes that their strategy is forward-thinking, designed to foster innovation and cultivate synergies across borders.
Enhancing Maalexi’s Capabilities
Dr. Azam Pasha is the co-founder and CEO of Maalexi. He is enthusiastic about the partnership. He says that the debt capital raised from Stride Ventures will enhance its ability to acquire new users and scale operations.
They will use these funds to deploy cutting-edge technology solutions. These solutions will streamline the movement of goods through local and international warehouses and carriers. This will effectively mitigate key risks in international trade.
Additionally, this capital infusion will help them acquire more debt capital. This will expand their operations and bolster food security across the UAE and the broader GCC region.
Strengthening Stride Ventures’ Global Presence
This strategic investment underscores Stride Ventures’ commitment to Hub71, Mubadala’s tech ecosystem, and highlights the firm’s role as a global investor focused on supporting high-growth companies in emerging markets.
Stride Ventures aims to leverage its investments to foster innovation and create synergies that transcend borders, enhancing the global economy and improving traditional industries.
Stride Ventures’ $1 million investment in Maalexi marks a significant milestone in its international strategy. By supporting Maalexi’s innovative risk management platform, Stride Ventures is helping to revolutionize the cross-border food and agri-produce trading market, enhance regional food security, and connect rural markets with the global economy. This partnership exemplifies Stride Ventures’ commitment to global expansion and its strategic focus on fostering innovation in emerging markets.
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