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Dubai Startup Silkhaus Aims For A “Smooth As Silk” Experience

Technology now plays a key role in the Dubai rentals market, helping real estate investors and travelers alike to create unique hospitality experiences.

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dubai startup silkhaus aims for a smooth as silk experience

Dubai-based Silkhaus is a PropTech startup that describes itself as a “technology-first hospitality brand”. The company aims to offer immersive nomadic experiences by “providing business and leisure travelers with a home away from home” and, as the name suggests, convert tedious planning into an experience that’s as smooth as silk.

For readers unfamiliar with the term, PropTech is the application of technology in the real estate sector. It encompasses everything from property management and Airbnb-style bookings to construction and analytics, with features usually accessed through a mobile app.

The global PropTech market value is projected to grow from $18.2 to $86.5 billion by 2032 — a compound annual rate of about 17% — and is primarily driven by nomadic professionals who are happy to relocate for career purposes.

As for Silkhaus, the startup was conceived by strategy consultant Aahan Bhojani, who noticed several issues with his own corporate travel experiences. He now strives to ensure others won’t experience the same frustrations.

silkhaus founder and ceo aahan bhojani

“I realized there was something broken about the long-stay travel experience, and finding suitable long-term accommodation options on online travel aggregators was like pulling a needle out of a haystack […] aside from investors purchasing real estate, we have seen a growing interest in the resident population seeking to reside in the UAE. The need for a ‘landing pad’ to accommodate incoming audiences has never been stronger,” says Aahan Bhojani, founder and CEO of Silkhaus.

Also Read: Hotel Cloud Kitchen Startup Matbakhi Launches In Saudi Arabia

Despite a gradually worsening global market, Silkhaus was still able to raise $7.75 million in a seed funding round last month, and is well placed to boost its portfolio of investors and continue with a medium-term expansion strategy.

Over the last few years, big data and cloud technology have transformed consumer experiences in the property sector, positively affecting property owners, tenants, landlords, and brokers alike. Startups like Silkhaus look set to continue this trend, with plans in the works to expand to cities across the Middle East and eventually into South and South-East Asia.

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Paymob Extends Series B Funding To $72M Amid Continued Growth

The financial services provider has secured an extra $22 million after strong performance in its core market of Egypt.

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paymob extends series b funding to $72 million amid continued growth

Leading financial services provider Paymob has secured an additional $22 million in a funding extension, bringing its Series B total to $72 million.

The funding was spearheaded by EBRD Venture Capital, with support from Endeavor Catalyst. Existing backers such as PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude, and Helios Digital Ventures also participated, reaffirming their confidence in Paymob’s business model and potential in the regional fintech industry.

This extension comes on the back of Paymob’s strong performance in its core market of Egypt, where it has experienced 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B in Q2 2022. With the Series B extension and continued profitability in Egypt, Paymob is well-positioned to further its expansion strategy across the MENA region.

Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, commented: “We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there. This funding will help Paymob fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC roll-out. We remain committed to creating cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact”.

Also Read: Zoho Expands Qatar Operations & Releases New Survey Data

The expansion into GCC markets has been driven by Paymob’s initial Series B funding of $50 million, raised in 2022 and led by Kora Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Clay Point. The investment fueled Paymob’s growth, allowing it to launch its mobile app in 2023 and grow its merchant base by 3.5 times, now serving nearly 350,000 merchants across MENA.

Paymob has also expanded its payment acceptance suite to offer 50 payment methods through its gateway, POS terminals, and the Paymob app, providing the region’s most comprehensive fintech solution. The company recently introduced embedded checkout services for Shopify and WooCommerce, further demonstrating its commitment to empowering small and medium businesses across the region.

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