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Saudi-Based Sadq Raises $1.46M to Expand E-Signature Services
Saudi-Based Sadq Raises $1.46M to Expand E-Signature Services

CairoScene

time16-04-2025

  • Business
  • CairoScene

Saudi-Based Sadq Raises $1.46M to Expand E-Signature Services

Sadq plans to expand its secure digital signature platform across Saudi Arabia's growing digital trust ecosystem. Apr 16, 2025 Sadq, a Riyadh-based provider of digital signatures and workflow documentation solutions, has raised $1.46 million (SAR 5.5 million) in a Pre-Series A round led by X by Unifonic, the early-stage venture arm of Unifonic. The round included participation from other strategic investors as the company looks to deepen its reach in Saudi Arabia's evolving digital trust sector. Founded in 2022 by Abdullah Al-Lahou and Salem Al-Badawi, Sadq offers electronic signature tools that comply with local digital trust standards and are designed to streamline documentation processes for businesses and government entities. The startup gained significant traction after securing a Digital Trust Services license from the Saudi Digital Government Authority in 2023—a key credential enabling it to operate as a verified provider in the Kingdom's rapidly digitising public and private sectors. With this latest investment, Sadq aims to scale its infrastructure, enhance security features, and improve system performance through technologies such as auto-scaling architecture. These upgrades are intended to support increased demand as more institutions transition to paperless workflows under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 digital transformation agenda.

Saudi digital signature platform Sadq raises $1.46mln funding round
Saudi digital signature platform Sadq raises $1.46mln funding round

Zawya

time16-04-2025

  • Business
  • Zawya

Saudi digital signature platform Sadq raises $1.46mln funding round

Riyadh – Sadq, a Saudi platform for digital signatures and integrated workflow authentication solutions, has secured SAR 5.50 million in a Pre-Series A funding round, according to a press release. The fundraising transaction was led by X by Unifonic Fund, with participation from a group of investors and a strategic investment from Unifonic. The investment reinforces Sadq's position in the Kingdom's fast-growing digital authentication sector. Founded in 2022 by Abdullah Allahuo and Salem Al Badawi, Sadq has emerged as a trusted name in the Kingdom's digital transformation landscape. Abdullah Allahuo, Co-Founder and CEO of Sadq, commented: 'This investment comes at a pivotal time as Saudi Arabia witnesses a transformative shift in the digital trust landscape.' 'Obtaining the DGA license was a turning point, significantly increasing the credibility of our platform and elevating the legal weight of digitally signed documents, especially under Article 58 of the Saudi Evidence Law,' Allahuo highlighted. Ayman Hamdan, Founding Partner of X by Unifonic Fund, noted: 'As a fund, we are deeply committed to driving digital transformation by backing B2B SaaS companies that deliver mission-critical solutions for evolving markets.' Ahmed Hamdan, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifonic, noted: 'This strategic investment reinforces the role of both Sadq and Unifonic in shaping the Kingdom's emerging digital trust and identity ecosystem.' 'Through our close collaboration, we aim to drive innovation and set new standards for secure digital transactions across all sectors in Saudi Arabia,' Hamdan indicated. Source: Mubasher

Sadq Raises SAR 5.5 million in Pre-Series A Round Led by 'X by Unifonic Fund' to Accelerate Growth in the Kingdom's Digital Authentication Sector
Sadq Raises SAR 5.5 million in Pre-Series A Round Led by 'X by Unifonic Fund' to Accelerate Growth in the Kingdom's Digital Authentication Sector

Mid East Info

time15-04-2025

  • Business
  • Mid East Info

Sadq Raises SAR 5.5 million in Pre-Series A Round Led by 'X by Unifonic Fund' to Accelerate Growth in the Kingdom's Digital Authentication Sector

Sadq , the leading Saudi platform for digital signatures and integrated workflow authentication solutions, has announced the successful close of its Pre-Series A funding round, raising SAR 5.5 million. The round was led by X by Unifonic Fund, with participation from a group of investors and a strategic investment from Unifonic. This investment marks a significant step in cementing Sadq's leadership and innovation in the Kingdom's fast-growing digital authentication sector. Founded in 2022 by Abdullah Allahuo and Salem Al-Badawi, Sadq has quickly emerged as a trusted name in the Kingdom's digital transformation landscape. The company first gained traction through a seed round led by Sanabil 500 in 2023 and later achieved a major milestone by obtaining the Digital Trust Services License from the Digital Government Authority (DGA) — a regulatory breakthrough that elevated Sadq's legal credibility and enabled its adoption across public and private sectors. 'This investment comes at a pivotal time as Saudi Arabia witnesses a transformative shift in the digital trust landscape,' said Abdullah Allahuo, Co-Founder and CEO of Sadq. 'It enables us to enhance our technology, forge strategic partnerships, and attract top-tier talent — reinforcing our position as a key provider of secure and legally recognized digital signature solutions. Obtaining the DGA license was a turning point, significantly increasing the credibility of our platform and elevating the legal weight of digitally signed documents, especially under Article 58 of the Saudi Evidence Law.' Ayman Hamdan, Founding Partner of X by Unifonic Fund , added: 'Sadq is uniquely positioned to lead the digital trust ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The company holds tremendous potential to transform the way digital authentication and signatures are managed. Through this funding round, we are proud to support Sadq's journey as it scales its service offerings, strengthens its market presence, and innovates across the digital trust space. As a fund, we are deeply committed to driving digital transformation by backing B2B SaaS companies that deliver mission-critical solutions for evolving markets.' Salem Al-Badawi, Co-Founder and CTO of Sadq, said: 'We're proud of how far we've come. This new funding will allow us to further strengthen our robust, multi-layered technical infrastructure, enabling us to scale with agility and respond efficiently to growing demand. We've also integrated advanced auto-scaling systems, portable and consistent deployment environments, and global-grade security protocols — all of which ensure our platform is resilient, reliable, and secure against cyber threats. Our partnership with Unifonic will help us continue expanding our service portfolio in the digital authentication space.' Ahmed Hamdan, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifonic , noted: 'This strategic investment reinforces the role of both Sadq and Unifonic in shaping the Kingdom's emerging digital trust and identity ecosystem. Through our close collaboration, we aim to drive innovation and set new standards for secure digital transactions across all sectors in Saudi Arabia.'

Sadq raises SAR 5.5mln in pre-series A round led by "X by Unifonic Fund"
Sadq raises SAR 5.5mln in pre-series A round led by "X by Unifonic Fund"

Zawya

time15-04-2025

  • Business
  • Zawya

Sadq raises SAR 5.5mln in pre-series A round led by "X by Unifonic Fund"

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Sadq, the leading Saudi platform for digital signatures and integrated workflow authentication solutions, has announced the successful close of its Pre-Series A funding round, raising SAR 5.5 million. The round was led by X by Unifonic Fund, with participation from a group of investors and a strategic investment from Unifonic. This investment marks a significant step in cementing Sadq's leadership and innovation in the Kingdom's fast-growing digital authentication sector. Founded in 2022 by Abdullah Allahuo and Salem Al-Badawi, Sadq has quickly emerged as a trusted name in the Kingdom's digital transformation landscape. The company first gained traction through a seed round led by Sanabil 500 in 2023 and later achieved a major milestone by obtaining the Digital Trust Services License from the Digital Government Authority (DGA) — a regulatory breakthrough that elevated Sadq's legal credibility and enabled its adoption across public and private sectors. 'This investment comes at a pivotal time as Saudi Arabia witnesses a transformative shift in the digital trust landscape,' said Abdullah Allahuo, Co-Founder and CEO of Sadq. 'It enables us to enhance our technology, forge strategic partnerships, and attract top-tier talent — reinforcing our position as a key provider of secure and legally recognized digital signature solutions. Obtaining the DGA license was a turning point, significantly increasing the credibility of our platform and elevating the legal weight of digitally signed documents, especially under Article 58 of the Saudi Evidence Law.' Ayman Hamdan, Founding Partner of X by Unifonic Fund, added: 'Sadq is uniquely positioned to lead the digital trust ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The company holds tremendous potential to transform the way digital authentication and signatures are managed. Through this funding round, we are proud to support Sadq's journey as it scales its service offerings, strengthens its market presence, and innovates across the digital trust space. As a fund, we are deeply committed to driving digital transformation by backing B2B SaaS companies that deliver mission-critical solutions for evolving markets.' Salem Al-Badawi, Co-Founder and CTO of Sadq, said: 'We're proud of how far we've come. This new funding will allow us to further strengthen our robust, multi-layered technical infrastructure, enabling us to scale with agility and respond efficiently to growing demand. We've also integrated advanced auto-scaling systems, portable and consistent deployment environments, and global-grade security protocols — all of which ensure our platform is resilient, reliable, and secure against cyber threats. Our partnership with Unifonic will help us continue expanding our service portfolio in the digital authentication space.' Ahmed Hamdan, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifonic, noted: 'This strategic investment reinforces the role of both Sadq and Unifonic in shaping the Kingdom's emerging digital trust and identity ecosystem. Through our close collaboration, we aim to drive innovation and set new standards for secure digital transactions across all sectors in Saudi Arabia.' About Sadq Sadq is a Saudi-born digital signature and document authentication platform designed to meet national legal and compliance standards. Serving over 3,500 users, including major entities such as Foodics, Ninja, Maharah, and D360 Bank, Sadq addresses one of the key challenges in digital transformation: legally verifiable electronic identity. Unlike unregulated providers, Sadq integrates with Saudi Arabia's National Single Sign-On (SSO) "NAFATH" and offers government-recognized, court-admissible digital signatures. The platform provides a full-stack digital signing solution for organizations of all sizes, with robust API capabilities that integrate seamlessly into any enterprise infrastructure. Sadq serves sectors including finance, technology, healthcare, and education, with plans to expand its service offering through the use of AI-driven workflows and strategic market partnerships within Saudi Arabia. With this new funding, Sadq is poised to lead the digital documentation space across the Kingdom — building a reliable, secure foundation for the future of digital transactions. About X by UNIFONIC X by Unifonic is a seed venture fund dedicated to empowering innovative SaaS B2B startups in the MENAPT region. We combine financial investment with hands-on support, leveraging Unifonic's proven expertise as a leading SaaS scale-up. Our mission is to drive growth for high-potential startups by providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to an extensive network of industry experts, government programs, and investors. For further information, please contact: Orient Planet Group (OPG) Email: media@ Website:

AI-driven communication is revolutionizing customer engagement — Unifonic CEO Ahmed Hamdan
AI-driven communication is revolutionizing customer engagement — Unifonic CEO Ahmed Hamdan

Saudi Gazette

time19-02-2025

  • Business
  • Saudi Gazette

AI-driven communication is revolutionizing customer engagement — Unifonic CEO Ahmed Hamdan

Unifonic is at the forefront of AI-driven communication solutions, playing a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia's digital transformation journey. With the Kingdom's Vision 2030 accelerating technological advancements, Unifonic has established itself as a dominant player in the SaaS industry. In this interview, Ahmed Hamdan, Co-founder & CEO of Unifonic, discusses the current SaaS market dynamics, the future of AI-powered engagement, and Unifonic's latest innovations. Q: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is significantly driving digital transformation. How would you describe the current SaaS market dynamics in this region, and what role does Unifonic play in this ecosystem? A: The market for Software as a Service (SaaS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expanding significantly due to the increased adoption of new-generation digital models. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is driving digital transformation across various sectors, with AI playing a central role in fostering innovation. This focus on smart cities, e-governance, and cloud computing is accelerating the adoption of SaaS solutions across both public and private sectors, making it an exciting time for technology and entrepreneurship. Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in cloud infrastructure and encouraging local companies to adopt SaaS platforms. The Saudi Cloud First Policy mandates government institutions to prioritize cloud-based solutions, creating a favorable environment for SaaS providers. Under the leadership of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the Kingdom is positioning itself as a global hub for AI and data-driven innovation. SDAIA's initiatives have accelerated the adoption of AI, cloud computing, and digital transformation in fintech, e-commerce, and smart payments. Unifonic's AI-driven communication solutions support these efforts by enhancing engagement, security, and operational efficiency for businesses, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals. As a key player in Saudi Arabia's digital transformation, we directly support Vision 2030 by enhancing business efficiency, improving customer engagement, and fostering innovation. With over 5,000 business customers, Unifonic enables over ten billion interactions in more than 190 countries annually. By leveraging our innovative technology and robust cloud infrastructure, we help businesses streamline operations and drive growth. Q: In your view, will SaaS solutions become an indispensable tool for industries undergoing digital transformation? A: SaaS solutions are already playing a crucial role in digital transformation, and their importance will only grow. With our commitment to innovation and customer-centricity, we witness firsthand how SaaS is revolutionizing industries by offering scalability, cost-effectiveness, and agility. Embracing SaaS is a strategic imperative for businesses navigating the digital landscape. Customer expectations are constantly evolving, demanding seamless and personalized digital experiences. By leveraging SaaS solutions, industries can innovate faster, provide real-time engagement, and build stronger customer relationships, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly advancing digital world. Q: What upcoming innovations is Unifonic introducing in AI-driven solutions to reshape the way brands engage with their customers? A: We are transforming brand-customer interactions through our conversational AI automation solutions. Our customer engagement platform automates end-to-end, personalized, omnichannel customer journeys seamlessly. The platform empowers businesses with innovative solutions such as multichannel campaigns, Chatbot, Agent Console, and Flow Studio, enabling them to connect with customers on their preferred channels. Unifonic Chatbot offers an always-on conversational experience for first-line support, combining automation with human interaction by allowing seamless handover to live agents when necessary. Flow Studio, a no-code drag-and-drop visual designer, allows businesses to build personalized customer journeys effortlessly. Our 2FA service, Authenticate, enhances security by safeguarding customer identity and transactions. Additionally, we offer over 100+ native integrations with platforms such as HubSpot, NetSuite, Shopify, Microsoft Office, Mailchimp, Slack, and SAP. At LEAP, Unifonic is showcasing Conversational Marketing capabilities, including targeted marketing campaigns, abandoned cart recovery, and direct engagement through WhatsApp. Our Customer Support solutions enhance customer satisfaction, send notifications, and provide multi-language support. As part of our commitment to customer experience, we also offer a complimentary Customer Experience (CX) Maturity Assessment, helping businesses refine their strategies for better performance. Q: Can you comment on Sestek, Unifonic's acquired AI arm, and how the acquisition has impacted Unifonic's evolution in AI-powered conversational automation solutions? A: The acquisition of Sestek has been instrumental in advancing Unifonic's AI-powered conversational automation solutions. Sestek's AI-driven technologies, including text-to-speech, speech recognition, natural language processing, and voice biometrics, have significantly enhanced our capabilities. In today's multibillion-dollar Internet of Things (IoT) industry, AI is widely used for everything from industrial anomaly detection to speech-based user interfaces. With Sestek, Unifonic has positioned itself as a pioneering force in AI-powered conversational automation. We are committed to leading the AI revolution by continuously innovating and evolving our solutions to meet the dynamic needs of our clients and their customers. Q: What does the LEAP event represent in terms of showcasing innovation and supporting the Kingdom's digital transformation goals? A: LEAP represents a pivotal platform for showcasing Saudi Arabia's digital transformation and innovation efforts. As the Kingdom accelerates its Vision 2030 goals, there is a strong push to diversify the economy by focusing on emerging sectors like fintech, e-commerce, payments, and digital identity solutions. These sectors are crucial in building a technology-driven economy, with significant investments driving growth. Unifonic has played a key role in this journey, delivering AI-driven communication solutions that empower businesses in fintech and e-commerce. Our services enhance customer engagement, security, and operational efficiency, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader goals of fostering entrepreneurship and building a tech-driven economy. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has cultivated a thriving ecosystem for tech startups and digital solutions, accelerating entrepreneurship and empowering a new generation of innovators. LEAP is more than just an exhibition; it is a platform for advancing key priorities such as fintech innovation, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and smart payments. The event champions inclusivity by driving foreign investment, empowering women in tech, and inspiring Saudi youth to shape the future of business and technology. LEAP has emerged as an essential platform for diversifying entrepreneurship and fostering innovation in emerging sectors across the region.

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