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VISARUN.AI Raises $700K To Streamline MENA Visa Processing
The funding injection will enhance the company’s AI-driven platform, cutting processing and application times in the UAE and beyond.
AI-driven visa service platform VISARUN.AI has secured $700,000 in pre-seed funding from Swiss and UAE-based angel investors. The fresh capital will be used to enhance the platform, grow the sales team, and expand market presence across multiple regions.
Visa processing in the MENA region has become increasingly complex in recent years due to high application volumes and embassy staffing shortages. With wait times stretching from 4 to 12 weeks, businesses and travel agencies face significant hurdles in organizing trips. VISARUN.AI aims to simplify this process by eliminating paperwork and providing a more structured approach to visa applications.
At the heart of the VISARUN.AI platform is a Smart Visa Route system, which customizes application steps based on various factors such as travel destination, applicant nationality, and approval probability. Additionally, the company is developing an AI Interview Simulation feature, offering virtual consultations with real-time feedback to help applicants prepare more effectively.
“VISARUN.AI represents the future of visa process management. This fresh capital will enable us to fully automate visa processes and develop an advanced AI agent for comprehensive process management,” explained Vladimir Indjikian, President and co-founder of VISARUN.AI.
For businesses, the platform offers a Visa Approval Calculator, allowing users to estimate the likelihood of application success before making travel plans. An Advanced Document Verification system also ensures accurate document analysis, minimizing errors and streamlining the approval process.
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“Our core technology combines computer vision and advanced machine learning models to ensure accurate document verification. In fact, the custom-trained language model cross-validates applicant data, virtually eliminating processing errors,” explained Alena Iakina, co-founder and CCO of VISARUN.AI.
With the ability to process up to 10,000 visa applications per month and reduce manual labor by as much as 70%, VISARUN.AI is positioning itself as a game-changer in the industry, especially in a region where migrant workers and tourists lead to very high demand.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
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CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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