News

High-Speed Freight Link Hyperloop One To Shut Down

The high-tech transportation system was planned to connect Europe and China.

Published

7 months ago

December 22, 2023

high-speed freight link hyperloop one to shut down

Founded in 2014 with the goal of building a high-speed freight link between Europe and China, Hyperloop One is reportedly shutting down.

Following a paper in 2014 by Elon Musk about his vision for hyperloop transport systems, the project intended to carry cargo along the length of its route in just a single day. The company planned to carry cargo and people in pods traveling through sealed metal tubes at aircraft-like speeds.

From 2017 until 2022, the company was known as Virgin Hyperloop One due to an investment from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. However, Virgin pulled out last year when Hyperloop One decided to abandon plans to transport passengers. The company has now laid off over 100 staff members due to its change in priorities.

Also Read: Aramex And Regent To Develop Electric Seagliders

According to news outlet Bloomberg, Hyperloop One never secured a contract to build a working hyperloop system, and all remaining employees will be gone by December 31.

News

Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.