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Saudi Catering Supply Startup Kaso Gets $10.5 Million Investment

The B2B restaurant supply chain innovator has launched a new FinTech platform and plans to turn over $1 billion over the next 12 months.

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

Nour Nasir

Kaso

Founded in 2021, Kaso is a Saudi Arabian B2B startup providing supply chain management tools for restaurants. The company already boasts 5,000-plus clients and partners across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Kaso has seen strong growth since its founding and already includes notable brands like Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings, Caribou Coffee, Chili’s, and Tim Hortons in its partner portfolio.

Recently, the startup raised $10.5 million in seed funding, enabling it to add a new FinTech platform to its suite of services that will further boost operations across the Middle East.

The funding round was backed by a range of regional strategic investors and saw international interest from the likes of Germany’s Global Founders Capital and Singapore’s MSA Novo, who both contributed to the startup’s first seed round in 2021, raising $2.1 million.

“It is very encouraging to see strong regional and international investors joining us, especially considering the challenges some startups currently face in the fundraising market,” explained Manar Alkassar, co-founder of Kaso.

Kaso’s primary goal is to “revolutionize” the food supply chain for the catering industry. To that end, the company’s new FinTech platform is intended to streamline operations using a “technology-backed ecosystem” to improve efficiency and transparency while reducing food waste.

Also Read: Revibe Has Raised $2.3 Million For Planned MENA Expansion

“It will offer payments and credit facilities to restaurants, further solving key challenges in the industry,” Mr. Alkassar said, with Kaso co-founder, Ahmed Soliman, adding: “Our platform has already made a significant impact in reducing inefficiencies in the industry, and we are confident that we can continue to make strides towards a more sustainable future.”

The restaurant procurement sector in the Middle East is a highly competitive industry. In the GCC alone, the market is projected to hit nearly $130 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of over 6%, according to research firm OCO Global.

Related Topics:FinTech FoodTech Kaso Saudi Arabia

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“AI Seal” Certification Now Required For Dubai Gov Partnerships

The new mandatory certification is designed to build trust in AI companies and create a reliable network of providers for government and public collaboration.

Published

19 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Nour Nasir

ai seal certification now required for dubai gov partnerships

Dubai Media Office

Dubai has introduced the Dubai AI Seal, a certification designed to establish trust in artificial intelligence (AI) companies and solutions. This initiative, directed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, aims to create a reliable network of AI providers which government entities and businesses can collaborate confidently.

Companies must now obtain the AI Seal to qualify for UAE or Dubai government contracts. The Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), which developed the certification, sees it as a competitive edge for companies looking to participate in key national projects. Once certified, businesses will be permitted to showcase the seal across their websites and marketing materials, signaling their credibility and dependability.

The evaluation process will consider six main criteria: the company’s services and operations, the number of employees specializing in AI, ongoing and future projects, as well as existing partnerships with public and private sector entities.

dubai ai seal certification

Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, which oversees the DCAI, commented on the initiative’s potential: “This initiative will help create powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors, locally, regionally, and globally. It will help drive new economic opportunities by leveraging AI to serve better the economy, society, and the future we aspire to”.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

The Dubai AI Seal’s goals include providing a clear framework for verifying AI providers, fostering business opportunities for AI companies, and acknowledging the industry’s strategic importance to Dubai’s economy. The initiative emphasizes AI’s role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening collaboration between government bodies and technology firms.

All technology companies operating in Dubai and offering AI-related services or products are eligible to apply for the certification at no cost through the official website.