News

Mitgo Launches MENA Publisher Investments Program

The finance service will provide $50,000 to $500,000 to help regional companies grow.

Published

3 years ago

September 14, 2023

mitgo launches mena publisher investments program

Global tech company Mitgo has launched a new Publisher Investments Program, an alternative financing service that will provide investment opportunities for projects in the MENA market. Initial capital for the fund is $20 million, with the program’s scope expanding as applications are received.

Mitgo’s service will be aimed primarily at the FinTech, smart shopping, generative AI, MarTech, and HRTech sectors. The program will help publishers solve financing gaps and cash flow issues that stand in the way of expansion.

Applicants for funding must earn (or plan to earn) more than 50% of their revenue from cost-per-lead, cost-per-click, cost-per-sale, and other performance-based methods. They also need to be working with Mitgo businesses Admitad and Takeads or with another affiliate network. Companies that do not meet these criteria may still be eligible for funding if they can demonstrate a readiness to earn using the listed advertising models.

Successful candidates will be eligible for $50,000 to $500,000 in funds. In addition, companies will also gain access to the complete Mitgo ecosystem, along with a dedicated strategic manager.

The MENA region will be a key focus for the Publisher Investment scheme, with Mitgo expecting at least 10% of all investments to be made in local projects.

“Their success is our success, which is why we’ll not only provide financial support but also allocate time and resources into mentoring and coaching, as well as giving access to an extensive network of digital advertising contacts,” said Alexander Bachmann, Mitgo CEO & Founder.

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

Mitgo has a successful history in investing, having already closed over 30 deals, including FairSavings ($500K+) and LetyShops ($3M+).

Since the announcement of its Publisher Investments program in June, Mitgo has received 100+ applications and continues actively inviting MENA publishers to submit proposals.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.