Lahore-based HR and payroll startup Paismo has raised $1.3 million in a seed round led by Indus Valley Capital. The ‘oversubscribed’ round was also joined by Antler and Jedar Capital and takes the startup’s total funding to date to $1.5 million. Founded in 2022 by Rebecka Zavaleta and Usama Mahmud, Paismo is building what it The post Pakistan’s Paismo raises $1.3 million seed for its HR & payroll software appeared first on MENAbytes.

First published on Termsheet, a newsletter with commentary on startups and venture capital in emerging markets by Zubair Naeem Paracha.  Careem’s Super App spinout had been in the works for over 18 months at least. The company reportedly held talks with different investors in the UAE & Saudi and finally announced a $400 million deal The post E&’s big bold bet on tech appeared first on MENAbytes.

Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city of NEOM launched a new accelerator program, Seven Senses, to support entrepreneurship in the NEOM and Tabuk regions. Launched by NEOM’s Social Responsibility Department, the program is designed to help SMEs, creative craftsmen, freelancers, and innovative businesses capable of bringing about change in the two regions. Starting today and until May The post NEOM Launches ‘Seven Senses’ Accelerator to Support Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia appeared first on MENAbytes.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched a new startup competition to support female tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators across the Middle East. The Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East was announced at Biban 2023, Saudi Arabia’s largest SME conference, as part of UNWTO’s ongoing efforts to make tourism a pillar of women’s The post UNWTO Launches Startup Competition Supporting Female Tourism Tech Entrepreneurs in MENA appeared first on MENAbytes.

Brainy Squad and Exits MENA have announced a partnership aimed at creating informative and engaging content that delves into investment and entrepreneurship topics. By leveraging Brainy Squad’s creative and production services with Exits MENA’s expertise in the investment industry, this collaboration aims to provide valuable insights for businesses and entrepreneurs in the MENA region.  According The post Exits MENA Partners With Brainy Squad to Develop Creative Investment and Entrepreneurship Content appeared first on MENAbytes.

From funding rounds to new product launches and partnerships, the MENA region’s startup ecosystem has had quite a busy week. In MENAbytes’ weekly startup news roundup, we highlight the most important news and updates from the MENA tech and startup scene, keeping you informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in the region. Here’s what The post MENAbytes’ Weekly Startup News Roundup: March 25, 2023 appeared first on MENAbytes.

GEMS Education, a UAE-based K-12 private education provider, launched its Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program powered by GEMS World Academy and sponsored by CAFU.  A first of its kind in the region, the school-based accelerator program covers all aspects of turning an idea into a fully-fledged operational startup. With the help of a cohort of experienced The post GEMS Education Launches Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator in Support of Student Entrepreneurs appeared first on MENAbytes.

Kanari AI, a dialectal speech technology solutions specialist, launched Fenek AI, the first MENA-focused automatic transcription, translation, and subtitling platform for dialectal languages.  Fenek AI allows its users to transcribe audio and video files in Arabic and in English, edit and share their files in several formats, subtitle videos, and create workspaces on the platform The post Kanari AI Launches Fenek AI, the First MENA-Focused Speech Recognition Solution for Dialectal Languages appeared first on MENAbytes.

Sygnum, a Zurich-based bank, received a Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Markert’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), following its initial approval late last year.  Thanks to the license, Sygnum Bank Middle East can offer regulated crypto banking services to clients in the region through a  “concierge-style client service” that includes digital asset The post Swiss Digital Asset Bank Sygnum Sets Up Middle East Hub in Abu Dhabi Global Market appeared first on MENAbytes.

Flat6Labs, MENA’s leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm, recently announced the first cohort in its Riyadh Seed Program. The four-month program aims to help startups build their products, test the market, improve their business models, and pitch to external investors. The seed program is part of a bigger investment agreement between Flat6Labs and Saudi The post Flat6Labs Announces First Cohort In Riyadh Seed Program, Investing in 10 Innovative Saudi Startups appeared first on MENAbytes.