News
Talabat Mart Egypt appoints Mohamed Sekkina as general manager
Talabat, the MENA’s leading technology platform in online food and grocery delivery, has announced the appointment of Mohamed Sekkina, as the new General Manager of Talabat Mart in Egypt.
Sekkina has a proven track record of experience that enabled him to lead the launch of Talabat Mart in Egypt and Oman in 2020 and head its business operations in the UAE before becoming interim Country Manager for the past 5-6 months, which saw Talabat Mart’s sales increase in the United Arab Emirates by more than 55%.
Sekkina’s strategy in his new role is pillared in providing an unparalleled grocery delivery experience, supporting the geographic expansion plans, and enhancing dark stores to better meet the demand of new and existing customers.
Commenting on his appointment as General Manager of Talabat Mart Egypt, Sekkina stated: “It gives me great pleasure to join Talabat Egypt’s team, and play a role in further advancing the team’s success in the Egyptian market. Not only will we shape the future of quick commerce in Egypt, but we started it back in March 2020. We introduced 20 min grocery delivery to one of the busiest countries in the world.”
Sekkina added that “Our overarching strategy is to develop Talabat Mart’s service to provide consumers with a seamless experience. Attaining this goal is highly facilitated by our innovative technologies that enable our dark stores to unprecedentedly meet market needs. We are working on unifying our seamless customer experience across Egypt and particularly focus on underserved areas because we believe that all Egyptian consumers should have access to high-quality services. We are also committed to supporting local suppliers and contributing to their business growth – we aim for Talabat Mart to become an incubator and supporter for all local businesses.”
He also pointed out that Talabat Mart currently has an assortment of about 5,000 products, and the company seeks to increase the number to approx. 8000 products in the coming period, especially under the fresh produce category. Sekkina elaborated that the process of selecting products by pickers inside the dark store does not exceed two minutes, in addition to the selection accuracy standing at 99.9%, meaning that possibilities of receiving missing or wrong items are highly minimized.
Talabat Mart is currently operational in the following areas: Alexandria, Mansoura, Tanta and Cairo (Hadayek Al-Ahram, Helwan, 6 October, Ibrahimia, El Tagamoa, Giza, Hejaz, Rehab, Al-Shorouk, Sheikh Zayed, Obour, Maadi, Mokattam, Hadayek El-Kobba, Sidi Beshr, Shubra, Ain Shams, Nasr City, Madinaty, El Haram, Heliopolis, and Downtown Cairo). In terms of expansion, Talabat Mart will be launching its operations in Ismailia, Port Said, and Zagazig in the coming few months and is working on doubling the number of dark stores by next year, which is currently more than 30 stores that operate 24/7.
Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.
J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.
“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.
The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.
Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.
TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.
With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.
Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.
Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”
Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”
AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.
Key Features of AnteThink include:
1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.
2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.
3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.
Credit: Antethink
AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.
Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.
Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.
In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.
The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.
Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.
As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.
The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.
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