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Venture Context
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90% of all registered businesses in the GCC and contribute between 20% and 30% of most countries’ GDP. However, many SMEs still struggle to access financing, whether for business setup, expansion, or managing cashflow gaps.
Market Opportunity
67% of SMEs globally have been unable to secure sufficient, or any, funding on at least one or more occasions. The SME financing gap in the MENA region is estimated to be between $210B and $240B, with 52% of SME loan applications in the UAE rejected by banks.
Despite the rise of platforms facilitating equity and lending models for both startups and established businesses, SMEs continue to face challenges in finding investors who understand their industry dynamics and contribute beyond financial capital. On the other hand, investors often lack visibility into suitable opportunities that match their interests and have difficulty finding transparent and accountable SMEs, leading them to rely mostly on personal networks.