Saudi Arabian software-as-a-service provider Blend has successfully secured $1.3 million in pre-seed funding, supported by a collective of undisclosed angel investors. Established in 2023 by entrepreneur Omar bin Sultan Al-Lihyan, Blend’s innovative system centralizes various food delivery platforms onto a single interface, streamlining order and item management as well as report tracking for restaurateurs.
The injection of capital is earmarked to propel Blend’s growth into neighboring Gulf countries, notably Kuwait and Bahrain, with plans set for the end of the following year.
The recent funding round, amounting to SAR 5 million, is aimed at fostering tech advancements tailored to the needs of restaurants, cafes, hypermarkets, and cloud kitchens. Blend, being a native Saudi enterprise, has already successfully amalgamated five local delivery applications into its system.
In a recent announcement, founder and CEO Omar bin Sultan Al-Lihyan expressed his insights on the rapid evolution of the Saudi market. He emphasized Blend’s unique position as a local solution provider, intimately familiar with the challenges and technical requisites of business owners engaging with delivery apps.
Al-Lihyan highlighted the company’s ambition to broaden its reach to the entire Gulf region by the close of 2026. This strategic move coincides with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which include transforming the restaurant and cafe sector to cater to an anticipated tourist influx and a projected population surge in Riyadh.
Notably, 30% of Blend’s clientele are businesses poised to commence operations. The startup’s journey includes participation in startup programs such as the Misk Accelerator, MVPLab Accelerator under the National Information Technology Development Program, and an association with the Zaka Center under Monsha’at.