Latest news with #B2B
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The $1 Trillion Blind Spot: How Zinit's AI Is Revolutionizing Global Procurement
In a world where digital transformation has revolutionized nearly every aspect of business operations, procurement — particularly in emerging markets — has remained stubbornly analog. Across industries worth, collectively, trillions of dollars, spreadsheets, emails, and manual processes still dominate the procurement landscape. With its AI-powered B2B procurement platform, which is already showing impressive early adoption across Asia, Dubai-based Zinit aims to change that. The company focuses on tail spend — representing approximately 30 percent of procurement value and 80 percent of transactions — which is often ignored by major platforms like SAP and Coupa. By targeting this underserved segment, Zinit's platform helps enterprises reduce costs by 15-30 percent while dramatically improving efficiency. The numbers speak for themselves. In just six months since launching, the company has onboarded 83 enterprises across multiple countries, including India's Vinati Organics, Piramal, and Quantela, each with $1–2 B in revenue. Indonesia's JD Group ($155B) and Amcor ($13B), as well as Malaysia's top packaging manufacturer GSPP, have published their tenders on the Zinit platform. Behind Zinit are co-founders Anton Buzdalin and Andrey Chernogorov, entrepreneurs who previously built Bidzaar into Eastern Europe's leading procurement automation platform. That venture connected over 1,000 private enterprises — including 43 Forbes 200 companies — and processed an annual GMV of $15 billion. "Suppliers are no longer just vendors. They're strategic partners, a core part of your support system, and often the first layer of risk management. In the $1 trillion markets where Zinit operates, companies still rely on email and Excel for procurement. We're changing that by embedding best practices and scalable systems into fast-growing emerging economies. What keeps us moving is how quickly our clients start seeing real, measurable results," says Anton Buzdalin, Co-Founder of Zinit. His partner Andrey Chernogorov adds: "Transparent procurement doesn't just drive efficiency, it's fostering a new culture of B2B relationships built on transparency, rapid technology adoption, and access to enterprise partnerships." With over 350 successful tenders already completed on the platform and growth at 50 percent month-over-month, Zinit is quickly gaining traction in the procurement automation space. The company's global team now numbers 63 professionals, supporting operations across multiple countries. Zinit's AI-powered platform enables one-click cross-border tendering, reducing tendering time by 80 percent while helping companies refresh their supplier databases by bringing in new qualified vendors. For Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs), the technology serves as a procurement AI co-pilot, completely reshaping how they manage tail spend. Zinit stands out through both its business model and its next-generation tech platform powered by integrated AI. While most competitors focus on internal process automation, Zinit is building an open supplier network that leverages network effects and transparent, competitive sourcing. This shift from closed systems to open collaboration delivers faster results, greater savings, and a more dynamic vendor ecosystem. 'Our edge is in the model. We're not just digitizing processes, we're building an open supplier ecosystem that thrives on competition and transparency,' says Andrey Chernogorov, Co-Founder of Zinit. The platform offers a low-risk, results-driven partnership — an essential quick win for CPOs — delivering an average 15 percent cost reduction on tail spend while helping modernize and future-proof procurement operations. The company has just opened a new office in Brazil and is set to expand further with upcoming launches in MENA and Turkey over the next year — marking a significant step in strengthening its global footprint. Its country-agnostic model enables rapid, profitable scaling, positioning Zinit as the first truly digital-first procurement platform in these markets. In 2025, the company will invest $2 million into India's economy, reinforcing its commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Moreover, through partnerships with companies like Uflex, L&T Financial Services, and Compass Group, Zinit is further driving procurement modernization and reshaping how businesses operate. Zinit's innovative approach has already earned notable recognition. The company was named First Runner-Up at AIM Congress 2025, selected from 3,200 applicants and over 100 global startups by the UAE Ministry of Economy, and recognized as a future unicorn under the We the UAE 2031 initiative. This acknowledgment underscores the potential impact of Zinit's platform on global procurement practices, particularly in emerging markets where the transition from manual to digital processes represents a significant opportunity for efficiency gains and cost savings. Now the team is pursuing a dual fundraising strategy. First, in each of the core markets, the team engages local investors who bring not only capital but also strategic value for localization and market access. At the same time, Zinit is in the process of closing a Series A round at the holding level (based in Dubai), intending to finalize it by the end of August. 'Fundraising isn't just about capital, it's about local alignment. That's why we bring in strategic investors in every region we enter,' noted Anton Buzdalin, Co-Founder of Zinit. The outdated nature of procurement in many enterprises presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Zinit. The majority of companies still rely on outdated tools like Excel or closed platforms that restrict competition. By bringing AI-powered automation to this space, Zinit is addressing a gap that has long existed in the market. The competitive landscape varies by country. In most of the active markets, it's still a "blue ocean" — with few or no directly comparable players. For example, in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, there are no true equivalents. There, the main competition is not another platform, but the continued reliance on outdated processes like email and spreadsheets. In Brazil, there is a strong regional player, but even they are operating on legacy software and traditional business models that don't match the scale or agility of Zinit's approach. For enterprises still using traditional procurement methods, the platform offers an opportunity to modernize operations without major disruption. The company's focus on delivering measurable results — specifically the 15-30 percent cost reduction — provides a compelling value proposition for potential clients. As digital transformation initiatives continue to accelerate globally, platforms like Zinit stand to benefit from increased adoption across industries. By focusing specifically on emerging markets where digital procurement adoption is just beginning, the company has positioned itself to capture significant market share as these economies continue to grow and modernize. With successful implementations already underway at dozens of enterprises across multiple countries, Zinit appears well-positioned to continue its expansion. The company's background — building on the founders' experience with Bidzaar — provides a solid foundation of industry knowledge and proven execution ability. For the procurement industry, Zinit represents a new wave of specialized solutions designed to address specific pain points that broader enterprise platforms often overlook. By focusing exclusively on tail spend management and bringing modern AI capabilities to this niche, the company exemplifies the trend toward targeted solutions that deliver immediate, measurable value rather than comprehensive but complex enterprise systems. As Zinit continues its global expansion, the procurement industry will be watching closely to see if this Dubai-based startup can truly transform how businesses manage tail spend across international borders and diverse regulatory environments.
Wamda
10 hours ago
- Business
- Wamda
Qashio closes $19.8 million round to accelerate expansion into Saudi Arabia
UAE-based fintech Qashio has raised $19.8 million in a mix of equity and non-equity funding, led by existing investor Rocketship VC, with participation from MoreThan Capital, regional banks, and family offices. Founded in 2021 by Armin Moradi, Qashio offers a spend management platform that enables businesses to gain full visibility and control of their expenses. It claims to be the first fintech startup in the UAE to issue corporate employee cards. The company will use the capital to expand into Saudi Arabia and deepen its market-leading B2B loyalty programme across MENA. In 2022, Qashio closed a $10 million seed round. Press release: Qashio, the Dubai-headquartered B2B spend management platform with operations and clients in 22 countries, including the UAE, Europe, the UK, and soon Saudi Arabia, has raised $19.8 million in its latest funding round. The capital will support further geographic expansion and scale what is already the largest B2B fintech loyalty programme in the MENA region. Despite achieving profitability with over $1.2M in Q1 2025, the additional funds will enhance regulatory compliance ahead of the company's entry into Saudi Arabia and further extend its differentiated loyalty offering. Unlike typical cashback programmes, Qashio's impressive Tier 1 partner network includes Emirates, Air France, KLM, Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Finnair), US Airways, and top hotel groups such as Jumeirah One, Accor, and IHG Intercontinental Hotel Group—benefits often unavailable to businesses through other expense management platforms. Category-Defining Momentum with a Superior and Scalable Product Suite The fundraising round, which consists of both equity and non-equity financing, was led by existing investor Rocketship, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. 'We invested in Qashio because of their bold vision to modernise spend management in the Middle East, a region ripe for financial innovation. Their rapidly growing customer base positions them as a category-defining company in the GCC's digital transformation journey. We're proud to back a team that's not just solving a pain point but transforming how companies across the region operate and grow,' said Sailesh Ramakrishnan, Managing Partner at Rocketship. With over 800% YoY revenue growth for the third consecutive year, Qashio has proven its ability to scale with discipline. Several existing investors have reaffirmed their confidence by following on their previous commitments, such as ABN Ventures, MITAA, and Oneway VC. The round also welcomed new strategic investors, such as Luxembourg-based European fund MoreThan Capital, major regional banks in MENA, and regional family offices from each market. 'MoreThan Capital chose to invest in Qashio due to its exceptional growth trajectory since launching from beta in 2022, its seasoned founding team, and its superior product suite—which is both broader and more advanced than regional competitors. Qashio's relentless innovation aligns with our vision, and we see tremendous potential in their MENA expansion strategy as well as their international ambitions. Their unique value proposition positions them strongly for success in the MENA as well as the European market, and we're excited to support their journey with 'more than' capital," says Caroline Kracht, Managing Partner at MoreThan Capital. Supporting Finance Teams and SMEs with Industry-Focused Solutions Qashio has invested heavily in developing purpose-built products that support the financial health of its clients, from SMEs with five employees to global enterprises with strict compliance and security requirements; Qashio caters to them all. Its solutions are tailored to each industry, with custom offerings that reflect local and vertical-specific requirements. For firms with highly sensitive operations such as law practices, consulting firms, and government entities, as well as specialised sectors like travel, hospitality, retail, and high-volume e-commerce companies, Qashio offers customised corporate cards and embedded financial microservices to support operational efficiency. 'At Qashio we have learnt that change often comes with resistance. We are committed to helping the companies that place their trust in us move away from the manual finance processes that slow them down. That's why we built and continue to evolve our loyalty programme—to reward the right behaviour with incentives such as air miles and hotel points that are otherwise difficult to obtain. We also offer the lowest cross-border fees and the highest cashbacks delivered transparently without lockdown periods and clawbacks because every business drives behaviour in their own way,' says Armin Moradi, CEO and co-founder of Qashio.
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE-born global fintech Qashio raises $19.8mln to scale regional expansion and B2B loyalty ecosystem
Dubai, UAE: Qashio, the Dubai-headquartered B2B spend management platform with operations and clients in 22 countries, including the UAE, Europe, the UK, and soon Saudi Arabia, has raised $19.8 million in its latest funding round. The capital will support further geographic expansion and scale what is already the largest B2B fintech loyalty program in the MENA region. Despite achieving profitability with over $1.2M in Q1 2025, the additional funds will enhance regulatory compliance ahead of the company's entry into Saudi Arabia and further extend its differentiated loyalty offering. Unlike typical cashback programs, Qashio's impressive Tier 1 partner network includes Emirates, Air France, KLM, Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Finnair), US Airways, and top hotel groups such as Jumeirah One, Accor, and IHG Intercontinental Hotel Group—benefits often unavailable to businesses through other expense management platforms. Category-Defining Momentum with a Superior and Scalable Product Suite The fundraising round, which consists of both equity and non-equity financing, was led by existing investor Rocketship, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. 'We invested in Qashio because of their bold vision to modernize spend management in the Middle East, a region ripe for financial innovation. Their rapidly growing customer base positions them as a category-defining company in the GCC's digital transformation journey. We're proud to back a team that's not just solving a pain point, but transforming how companies across the region operate and grow' said Sailesh Ramakrishnan - Managing Partner at Rocketship. With over 800% YoY revenue growth for the third consecutive year, Qashio has proven its ability to scale with discipline. Several existing investors have reaffirmed their confidence by following on their previous commitments such as ABN Ventures, MITAA, and Oneway VC. The round also welcomed new strategic investors, such as Luxembourg-based European fund MoreThan Capital, major regional banks in MENA, and regional family offices from each market. 'MoreThan Capital chose to invest in Qashio due to its exceptional growth trajectory since launching from beta in 2022, its seasoned founding team, and its superior product suite —which is both broader and more advanced than regional competitors. Qashio's relentless innovation aligns with our vision, and we see tremendous potential in their MENA expansion strategy as well as their international ambitions. Their unique value proposition positions them strongly for success in the MENA as well as European market, and we're excited to support their journey with 'more than' capital" says Caroline Kracht - Managing Partner at MoreThan Capital. Supporting Finance Teams and SMEs with Industry-Focused Solutions Qashio has invested heavily in developing purpose-built products that support the financial health of its clients, from SMEs with five employees to global enterprises with strict compliance and security requirements, Qashio caters to them all. Its solutions are tailored to each industry, with custom offerings that reflect local and vertical-specific requirements. For firms with highly sensitive operations such as law practices, consulting firms, and government entities, as well as specialized sectors like travel, hospitality, retail, and high-volume e-commerce companies, Qashio offers customized corporate cards and embedded financial microservices to support operational efficiency. 'At Qashio we have learned that change often comes with resistance. We are committed to helping the companies that place their trust in us move away from the manual finance processes that slow them down. That's why we built and continue to evolve our loyalty program—to reward the right behavior with incentives such as air miles and hotel points that are otherwise difficult to obtain. We also offer the lowest cross-border fees and the highest cashbacks delivered transparently without lockdown periods and clawbacks, because every business drives behavior in their own way,' says Armin Moradi, CEO and Co-founder of Qashio. About Qashio Qashio is the largest and most comprehensive expense management platform in the region, operating with a global footprint. It is the first and only expense management company in MENA with an in-house-built loyalty program, and currently operates the largest B2B loyalty ecosystem in the region. With specialized cards designed for industry-specific use cases and embedded financial microservices, Qashio maintains its leadership position as both market leader and category pioneer. Founded in Dubai in 2021, the company now serves thousands of users daily across 22 countries with locally issued cards in each region and also provides multi-currency cards for certain industries within the UAE.
Entrepreneur
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Entrepreneur
What Winning Companies Get Right
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Kevin Gaskell doesn't just talk about scaling success- he's done it at some of the world's most iconic brands. As the former CEO of Porsche, Lamborghini, and BMW, Gaskell has led legendary turnarounds, built high-performance cultures, and driven exponential growth. Now an active investor and founder - including in the UK's fastest-growing B2B fibre network - he's crystal clear on what it takes to scale without slipping. "Scaling a business without compromising quality requires a clear vision, disciplined execution, and an unwavering focus on culture and customer experience," he says. And in a world obsessed with speed, Gaskell offers something far more valuable: a blueprint for building greatness that lasts. From luxury car giants to high-growth tech infrastructure, Gaskell's approach is rooted in strategy that works - because he's applied it at the sharp end. "Throughout my career - leading Porsche GB back to profitability, driving BMW GB to record growth, and scaling multiple successful ventures - I've applied core strategies that deliver sustainable expansion." Strategies for efficient scaling Behind Gaskell's success lies a balancing act: innovation without chaos, structure without stagnation. "The key is balancing innovation with operational excellence," he says. At Porsche, this meant total organisational alignment. "We transformed performance by aligning the entire organisation around a common goal: customer satisfaction." That wasn't just a slogan. It translated into real systems. "We implemented structured processes to ensure efficiency, leveraged technology for data-driven decision-making, and developed scalable frameworks to maintain consistency across markets. Investing in leadership development was crucial because strong leadership ensures quality at scale." Culture as a competitive weapon Gaskell is clear that culture isn't a 'nice-to-have' - it's foundational. "Culture is the foundation of a successful organisation," he states. At BMW, that meant codifying values into the fabric of the business. "We fostered a high-performance culture by embedding shared values across teams. We encouraged transparency, rewarded innovation, and built a leadership pipeline that aligned with our core principles." Culture, Gaskell warns, must be managed - not assumed. "In a business transition, culture must be actively managed. Clear communication, employee empowerment, and leading by example are essential to maintaining alignment." Related: The Power of Slow Scaling The challenge of complexity As companies grow, so do their problems. Gaskell knows this firsthand. "One of the toughest challenges is maintaining agility as complexity increases," he says. "Expanding a business means more processes, more stakeholders, and higher expectations." At Porsche, growth came with a reputation to rebuild. "A critical challenge was rebuilding trust in the brand while growing operations. We tackled this by prioritising operational efficiency, refining our supply chain, and ensuring quality was non-negotiable in every aspect of the business." Customers first, always For Gaskell, scale without customer loyalty is a hollow victory. "Scaling is pointless without a loyal customer base," he says. "A brand must remain relevant and consistently exceed expectations." His teams invested in innovation that mattered - customer-led, not tech-for-tech's-sake. "We focused on customer-centric innovation - whether through product enhancements, superior service, or tailored experiences." At BMW, those insights were gold dust. "Customer insights drove strategic decisions, allowing us to personalise engagement and build long-term loyalty while expanding into new markets." Advice for founders ready to scale If you're building something big, Gaskell's advice is sharp, simple, and earned through hard experience. "Clarity of vision, relentless execution, and adaptability are paramount," he advises. "Define what sets your business apart, ensure your team is aligned, and stay close to your customers. Leverage technology, be disciplined about financial management, and never compromise on quality. Growth must be sustainable - short-term gains mean nothing if long-term viability is at risk." Gaskell doesn't shy away from the reality of scaling internationally in a post-Brexit world. "Trade policies can either open doors or create barriers," he says. "Navigating Brexit's complexities required agility in supply chain management, regulatory compliance, and market positioning." His recommendation for global-facing businesses? Think long and wide. "Businesses expanding internationally must stay ahead of policy shifts, establish strong local partnerships, and diversify risk across multiple regions. Flexibility and strategic foresight are essential to successful global expansion." The final word From restoring icons to reshaping industries, Gaskell's career has been a masterclass in growth with discipline, leadership with clarity, and ambition with purpose. His philosophy, forged at the highest levels of business, is as relevant to startups as it is to global giants: "Scaling is an art and a science - focus on excellence, build great teams, and never lose sight of what makes your brand exceptional." Related: Scaling Secrets
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
How RnD Marketing Is Helping SaaS and Tech Startups Scale With Performance Marketing
05/27/2025, Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv District, // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // With digital competition growing fiercer by the day, SaaS and tech startups face a familiar dilemma: how to grow quickly without burning through capital. As ad costs soar and buyer attention fragments, a growing number of founders are turning to performance marketing as a scalable, data-driven solution. Leading that charge is RnD Marketing, a performance marketing agency with a proven track record of helping tech companies achieve sustainable growth. Founded by a seasoned online marketing expert, RnD Marketing has carved out a niche by focusing exclusively on SaaS, B2B, and tech-forward startups. The agency provides end-to-end performance marketing services, including SEO, content strategy, affiliate program development, and paid media — all tailored to high-growth companies looking for real ROI. 'Startups don't need more noise - they need traction,' said the agency's founder. 'We help companies attract the right customers with measurable, conversion-focused marketing that drives revenue.' What Performance Marketing Really Means for Startups For tech founders juggling product-market fit, funding, and aggressive growth targets,traditional marketing often feels like a gamble. Performance marketing flips that model: you only scale what's working. RnD Marketing uses performance marketing principles to align every tactic — SEO, paid ads, content, and affiliates — with measurable business goals like MRR, CAC, and LTV. 'We don't chase impressions. We track how each dollar spent translates into a qualified lead, a signup, or revenue' 'This is growth marketing grounded in accountability.' Whether you're launching a SaaS platform, an AI productivity tool, or a security solution,performance marketing gives you the framework to test fast, scale smart, and reduce burn. A Portfolio Built on Tech and Growth What sets RnD Marketing apart is its focused portfolio of early-stage and scaling tech companies. The agency has worked with AI tools, B2B SaaS platforms, cybersecurity startups, eSIM providers, and fintech innovators - each requiring precise targeting, fast execution, and performance you can measure in dollars. Rather than chasing vanity metrics, RnD Marketing builds inbound machines powered by content, SEO, affiliate growth, and paid acquisition - all with one goal in mind: scalable revenue. Two Real-World Use Cases Use Case 1: Scaling a B2B SaaS Platform With Inbound SEO A fast-growing SaaS company offering automated contract management solutions approached RnD Marketing after struggling with high ad costs and a low-quality lead pipeline. RnD built an SEO and content engine that ranked the client for dozens of bottom-funnel keywords. Within six months, organic leads grew by 300%, with a 42% increase in demo bookings from search traffic alone. Use Case 2: Driving Growth for a Cybersecurity SaaS Startup A cybersecurity startup offering a cloud-based vulnerability scanning tool partnered with RnD Marketing to improve lead quality and drive targeted awareness in a crowded market. RnD launched a multi-channel strategy combining niche content, SEO, and affiliate outreach to security-focused publishers, IT blogs, and compliance consultants. In less than four months, the campaign generated 15 authoritative backlinks, secured mentions on two major industry blogs, and grew trial signups by 110% — with affiliate referrals accounting for over 18% of new pipeline revenue. The company also saw its domain authority rise,directly boosting its long-term organic visibility. A Smarter Way to Grow in 2025 Performance marketing isn't about spending more — it's about spending smarter. For tech startups, it's no longer enough to run a few ads and hope for conversions. Buyers are more sophisticated, and customer acquisition requires multi-touch, data-backed strategies that are both scalable and measurable. That's exactly what RnD Marketing delivers. To learn how RnD Marketing can help your startup scale with performance-based growth, visit m Media Contact RnD Marketing +972509795057 Original Source of the original story >> How RnD Marketing Is Helping SaaS and Tech Startups Scale With Performance Marketing
