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Kamco Invest Backs Unifonic, Eyes Saudi IPO Amid MENA Tech Surge

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

2 min

Kuwait’s Kamco Invest has acquired a stake in Unifonic to expand its regional tech presence.

Unifonic, launched in 2006, offers SaaS solutions to enhance customer communication through various channels.

The company has raised over $140 million, signalling strong investor confidence in its growth potential.

This move aligns with Unifonic's potential plans for an IPO on the Saudi Tadawul exchange.

The partnership could boost cross-border investments between Gulf investors and Saudi tech firms.

In a move that’s turned a few heads across the MENA tech scene, Kuwait’s Kamco Invest has snapped up a stake in Saudi-based Unifonic through its private equity arm, acting on behalf of its clients. The deal’s clearly part of Kamco’s wider push to deepen its footprint in the region’s fast-expanding technology sector—one that’s been buzzing with activity lately.

Unifonic, for those unfamiliar, isn’t exactly the new kid on the block. Launched back in 2006, the company built its name on software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that streamline how companies communicate with their customers—whether through SMS, voice, WhatsApp, or other channels. Its clients range from banks and government institutions to major players in healthcare, retail, e-commerce, and even transport.

What’s striking is how far the firm’s come. Unifonic has already raised over $140 million in funding from some heavyweight backers, including Sanabil Investments, SoftBank, STV, SVC, and Raed Ventures. One eye-catching round—worth about $125 million—closed in 2022. I reckon that sort of backing doesn’t come by accident; it reflects solid confidence in the firm’s growth playbook.

From what industry watchers have hinted, this latest move could well be part of Unifonic’s preparations for an initial public offering on the Saudi Tadawul exchange. If that happens, it would tie in nicely with the broader wave of IPOs from tech-forward Saudi firms looking to make their mark. On the flip side, the road to public listing is rarely straightforward—it demands meticulous financial housekeeping and, quite frankly, nerves of steel.

Here at Arageek, we’ve seen countless MENA startups eye the big stage, and it always reminds me of a chat I had with a young founder in Riyadh last year. He described scaling up before an IPO as “a bit of a faff but worth every minute once you’re out there.” That stuck with me because, well… I mean, he was spot on.

This partnership with Kamco looks set to give Unifonic a sturdier base to grow from—financially and strategically. And if things roll out smoothly, it could pave the way for more cross-border backing between Gulf investors and Saudi tech innovators. All in all, a development that’s definately worth keeping an eye on.

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