Saudi e-commerce delivery intermediary Torod secures $11.2 million during pre-Series A funding round
Torod, Oto, and Voo are three ecommerce shipping aggregators making waves in the Middle East. While Torod's funding and details remain relatively scarce, Oto and Voo have been garnering attention for their growth and innovative logistics solutions.
Oto: A Saudi-based Ecommerce Shipping Aggregator
Oto, based in Saudi Arabia, has secured an $8 million Series A funding round led by Sanabil Investments, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. This funding has enabled Oto to expand its operations beyond its home country into the UAE and Türkiye.
Currently, Oto serves over 10,000 merchants and is reportedly doubling its business size. The company leverages AI and machine learning to optimize routing, load prediction, and fulfillment processes within Saudi Arabia and across the GCC region, including the UAE.
Voo: A Cairo-based Ecommerce Shipping Aggregator (Assumed)
Less information is available about Voo, another ecommerce shipping aggregator in the region. It is assumed to be based in Cairo, but no further details have been disclosed.
Torod: A Newcomer in the Market
Torod, an ecommerce shipping aggregator founded in 2022 by Faisal Almaklas and Ammar Almaatouq, has raised $11.2 million in a pre-Series A round. The platform enables online store owners to ship their products using various third-party logistics providers from a single interface. Torod also offers businesses the ability to track their orders from the same interface and provides different automation features.
Torod integrates with shipping partners such as Smsa, Aramex, and iMile, and major store builders like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Salla, and Zid. However, further details about Torod's market presence, funding, and technology usage are currently unavailable.
A Comparative Overview
| Feature/Aspect | Oto | Voo | Torod | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------| | Base Location | Saudi Arabia | Cairo-based (assumed) | Saudi Arabia (assumed) | | Market Presence | Serving 10,000+ merchants; expanding regionally | Not detailed | No info available | | Funding | $8M Series A from Sanabil Investments | No data | No data | | Technology Usage | AI and machine learning for routing & fulfillment | Not specified | Not specified | | Expansion | UAE and Türkiye | Not detailed | Unknown |
With limited information available on Voo and Torod, a detailed comparison is not feasible at this time. However, Oto stands out as a leading Saudi-based ecommerce shipping aggregator scaling rapidly with tech-driven logistics and funding support.
[1] Source: Saudi Arabia's Oto raises $8 million Series A led by Sanabil Investments
[2] Source: Oto, the Saudi e-commerce shipping startup, raises $8 million Series A
- Oto's funding from Sanabil Investments and their focus on utilizing AI and machine learning for logistics solutions in the Middle East show a strong overlap between business, finance, and technology.
- While Torod and Voo are also making strides in the ecommerce shipping arena, their markets, financing, and technological approaches remain less established compared to Oto, creating an opportunity for curiosity and further exploration in the intersection of finance, business, and technology.
