UAE-based Paquik raises $85K in pre-seed funding to expand its crowdshipping platform connecting parcel senders with travelers across GCC routes.
UAE-based startup Paquik has raised $85,000 in a fully subscribed pre-seed funding round backed by angel investors, closing the raise in November 2025.
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The capital will support the expansion of its crowdshipping marketplace, a digital platform that matches parcel senders with travelers who have spare luggage capacity on cross-border routes.
Founded by George Antakis, the startup operates an asset-light logistics model, positioning itself within the growing peer-to-peer shipping segment. Instead of owning aircraft space, vehicle fleets or warehouses, the company focuses on digital coordination, verification and payment processing.
Paquik initially launched along the UAE–Egypt corridor, one of the region’s busiest passenger routes. The lane sees strong demand for personal parcel delivery, particularly among expatriate communities maintaining cross-border ties.
The platform enables travelers to list upcoming trips, while senders request shipment space. Paquik facilitates matching, escrow-based payments and delivery confirmation.
To mitigate risk, the company integrates identity verification, rating systems, and transaction safeguards aimed at formalizing what has traditionally been an informal, traveler-based shipping process.
Unlike conventional freight operators, Paquik does not manage physical logistics infrastructure. Its model centers on coordinating digital marketplaces, reducing overhead while leveraging existing passenger travel flows.
The approach reflects a broader shift toward platform-driven logistics solutions, particularly for small parcels that may not require full freight capacity.
With fresh funding secured, Paquik plans to enhance its product, strengthen verification systems and expand its engineering and customer operations teams. The company is also increasing user acquisition efforts along its initial corridor.
Looking ahead to 2026, Paquik aims to expand into additional GCC travel routes, focusing on high-frequency corridors where passenger traffic overlaps with consistent small-parcel demand.
Why Paquik Pre-Seed Matters to MENA
This raise may be modest in size, but it signals several important trends in the region:
Cross-border parcel delivery via travelers has long existed informally across MENA corridors. Platforms like Paquik are formalizing this behavior through verification, escrow payments and ratings.
In capital-intensive sectors like logistics, asset-light marketplace models reduce operational risk while leveraging existing infrastructure, in this case, commercial passenger travel.
The UAE–Egypt route highlights how expatriate flows create steady small-parcel demand. This is a replicable model across GCC corridors such as UAE–Lebanon, Saudi Arabia–Egypt and Qatar–Jordan.
