Startups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are experiencing a wave of fresh funding, driven by investor confidence in technology, innovation, and regional expansion potential. Two of the most promising names—Sellou from Bahrain and PayTic from Morocco—have recently secured significant capital to help grow their operations and push their services to new markets.
These funding milestones not only reflect the increasing interest in MENA’s startup scene but also point to how localized, tech-enabled solutions are solving real problems in sectors like e-commerce and financial technology.
Sellou: Revolutionizing Online Shopping With Short Video Stores
Sellou, a Bahrain-based startup, is transforming how people buy and sell products online. Unlike traditional marketplaces that depend on static images and text, Sellou takes a video-first approach. It allows sellers to record short, dynamic videos showcasing their products. These clips are then shared directly with customers through the platform.
Founded in 2020 by Bahraini entrepreneur Salman Al Khalifa, Sellou blends the power of social media storytelling with e-commerce, creating a more interactive and personal shopping experience. Sellers are no longer limited to uploading boring product pictures; instead, they can highlight product features, demonstrate usage, and build trust through video.
Sellou recently raised an undisclosed seed round that values the startup at $3 million. The company plans to use this capital to improve its platform technology, enhance video creation tools, and expand across other markets in the MENA region.
What makes Sellou stand out is its focus on creating real connections between buyers and sellers. In many parts of the region, small business owners rely heavily on social platforms like Instagram and TikTok to showcase their products. Sellou builds on this trend by combining entertainment, engagement, and commerce into one seamless platform.
This fresh funding will also help Sellou invest in marketing and user acquisition, especially in countries where digital commerce is booming but still lacks personalized experiences. With smartphone usage and internet access rapidly increasing across the Arab world, video commerce may become the next big thing—and Sellou is positioning itself right at the center of it.
PayTic: Streamlining Payments and Card Management in Africa
Morocco’s fintech sector is also heating up, and PayTic is a major reason why. This Casablanca-based startup recently raised $4 million to help banks, fintechs, and payment providers better manage their payment operations and card programs.
Founded in 2020 by Imad Boumahdi, PayTic focuses on automating the backend processes that financial institutions often struggle with—like reconciliation, compliance checks, and handling chargebacks. These manual tasks can be slow, error-prone, and expensive. PayTic’s software offers a more efficient way to manage everything in one place, saving time and reducing operational costs.
The recent investment round was led by AfricInvest, a major private equity firm, and joined by several international investors including Build Ventures, Mistral Venture Partners, Axian Group, and Island Capital Partners.
This funding will be used to grow PayTic’s team, improve its technology platform, and expand into both North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The company is already gaining traction in the region and sees huge opportunities as digital payments continue to rise, especially in places where banking systems are still developing.
In a continent where millions remain unbanked or underbanked, automating payment infrastructure is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. PayTic is stepping up to help financial institutions build trust, boost efficiency, and reach more customers.
The startup also offers solutions for card program managers who deal with multiple service providers, currencies, and regulations. PayTic’s all-in-one dashboard makes it easier to monitor, analyze, and optimize card-based payment operations.
With financial inclusion becoming a priority across African governments and central banks, startups like PayTic are in a strong position to scale quickly and play a critical role in shaping the future of digital finance.
Other MENA Startups on the Rise
Beyond Sellou and PayTic, several other promising startups across the MENA region have recently announced successful funding rounds. These include:
- STUCK? – A Saudi Arabian startup that uses artificial intelligence to improve language learning and understanding. It recently closed a six-figure pre-seed funding round led by a UK-based tech fund. The platform helps users understand languages in context and is focused on natural language processing.
- Rentify – Based in the United Arab Emirates, Rentify is blending property technology (proptech) and financial services to simplify rent payments. It secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding to help expand its platform, which allows tenants to pay rent in monthly installments and landlords to receive upfront payments.
These startups represent the growing diversity in the MENA startup ecosystem. From AI to fintech and social commerce, innovators are tapping into local needs with global potential.
Investor Confidence Growing in the Region
The recent investments signal increasing investor confidence in the MENA region, which has traditionally lagged behind more developed markets in terms of venture capital. However, things are rapidly changing. Governments across the region are encouraging entrepreneurship, building innovation hubs, and improving access to capital.
Venture capital firms are also becoming more active in the region, not only providing funding but also mentorship, strategic advice, and networking support. This creates a positive feedback loop that helps startups grow faster and reach new markets.
In particular, sectors like fintech, proptech, AI, and e-commerce are attracting the most attention. These industries address real challenges—like financial inclusion, housing, and job creation—and are well-suited to digital solutions that can scale quickly.
Conclusion: A Promising Future for MENA Startups
Sellou and PayTic are just two examples of how MENA startups are creating meaningful change in their local markets while attracting international investor interest. As digital transformation accelerates across the region, startups that solve practical problems with innovative solutions are likely to thrive.
With millions of young, tech-savvy consumers, improving infrastructure, and growing investor support, the future looks bright for the MENA startup ecosystem.
Entrepreneurs across the region now have more access to funding, mentorship, and global markets than ever before. If the momentum continues, we can expect to see many more success stories emerge from this vibrant and fast-evolving part of the world.
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