Lola secures $1.3 million pre-seed to accelerate GCC expansion plans
Lola, a Bahrain-based foodtech, has raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round from Plus VC, Vision Ventures, and angel investors.
Founded in 2023 by Othman Janahi, Lola offers a customisable cake ordering service for customers in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
This investment will fuel Lola's expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
Press release:
Lola Do Inc. (Lola), an up-and-coming innovative tech startup offering a highly customisable cake ordering service like never before through a mobile app, has successfully raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed investment round in partnership with Vision Ventures and Plus VC, the most active VCs in MENA, alongside other strategic angel investors. Lola has established itself as a key player in personalised celebrations. This investment marks a transformative step in Lola's journey, fuelling its expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
Lola has redefined the way people celebrate by offering an easy to use, fully customizable cake ordering experience through its innovative mobile app. Founded by Othman Janahi, Lola launched in Bahrain in September 2023, quickly gained traction and expanded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in July 2024. It further expanded its footprint by launching in the UAE in December 2024.
"We are thrilled to have such experienced and knowledgeable investors who share our vision. Their belief in our mission has helped us cross a significant milestone in raising this round. Beyond capital, their strategic insights and seasoned guidance are invaluable as we drive forward," said Othman Janahi, Founder and CEO of Lola.
'The cake industry is vast and fiercely competitive, but Lola has always been about baking memories, not just delivering a product. Since its launch, Lola has experienced rapid growth, increasing 5 times its size and market share in terms of cakes baked and occasions celebrated - and that's just the beginning. As the demand for personalized gifting solutions continues to grow, Lola remains committed to setting new industry standards, delivering unparalleled customization options and ensuring that every celebration has Lola as its centerpiece.'
With this investment, Lola will enhance its platform, expand its team, optimize logistics and revolutionize cake customization in this highly competitive industry. While increasing market growth and presence in Saudi Arabia remains our primary focus, we are also committed to accelerating Lola's expansion across the other GCC countries and beyond. The company is set to broaden its footprint in key Saudi cities, starting with Jeddah and the Eastern Province, to reinforce its position in the Kingdom as it builds a gifting ecosystem tailored to the region.
In an increasingly competitive FoodTech and gifting landscape, Lola distinguishes itself by delivering a highly personalized, tech-driven experience that seamlessly blends creativity, convenience, and exceptional quality. Lola's mission is not only to bake memories but also to redefine what it means to give and receive truly meaningful, memorable gifts.
Kais Al Essa, Founding Partner and CEO at Vision Ventures, commented, 'We can all see how ordering cake today is awkward for both the client and the bakery. Lola fixes that by delivering an innovative ordering app through which clients can imagine and see how their cake will look through an easy-to-use and fun experience. The bakery, on the other hand, gets an accurate design along
with colours and details that make delivering on the client's imagination easier than ever before. We always love it when technology is used to solve real-life problems and make life easier for people. We believe Lola's approach to cakes is disruptive and therefore envision that in the future Lola will empower cake making everywhere. We are excited to support Othman and Lola's team and expect Lola to be a brand to reckon with soon.'
Commenting on Lola's fundraising announcement, Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at +VC, said, 'We are always on the lookout for disruptive startups that redefine industries, and Lola is a perfect example. By seamlessly integrating personalisation and technology into the gifting experience, Lola is transforming the way people celebrate. Their innovative approach not only enhances convenience but also redefines how special moments are shared. We are excited to support Othman and his team as they expand across the region and establish themselves as pioneers in this space.'
With its vision set on elevating cake customisation and enhancing the consumer experience, Lola is ready to solidify its competitive advantage in Saudi Arabia and elevate its mission of bringing personalised celebrations to more customers across the region and baking memories, one cake and one celebration at a time.
Lola embodies warmth, creativity and the joy of celebrating special occasions and moments, big and small. Lola enables customers to design and personalise cakes with an unparalleled level of detail, ensuring that every cake is as unique as the occasion it marks. With Lola, customers can design their own cake in 1 minute or less, with the luxury of choosing from thousands of unique designs, colors and customised combinations to create their perfect cake. By seamlessly blending technology, personalization and operational efficiency, Lola is revolutionising how people celebrate and gift, making every order a truly customised experience.
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