RIFD, the first Saudi-born platform focused on institutional securitisation of SME trade receivables, has secured a strategic investment from global early-stage VC firm Antler.
The move marks a major milestone in the startup’s mission to build Saudi Arabia’s first Shariah-compliant securitisation infrastructure, offering a new capital pathway for SMEs while opening a high-yield, risk-adjusted asset class for institutional investors.
The investment strengthens RIFD’s push to reduce SME financing costs in the Kingdom, where receivables-based financing remains vastly underutilised, despite a credit market exceeding SAR 351.7 billion as of Q4 2024, and year-on-year growth of over 27.6%.
RIFD: Bridging a Billion-Riyal Gap
“Receivables-based finance accounts for less than 6% of SME credit,” said Abdulrahman Aldakheel, CEO of RIFD. “This billion-riyal gap is a massive opportunity. With Antler’s backing, we’re not just plugging the gap, we’re building a new investment infrastructure aligned with Shariah principles and institutional-grade standards.”
The platform allows institutions to access securitised SME receivables in a compliant and structured way, enabling SMEs to unlock working capital without relying on expensive short-term loans or traditional invoice factoring.
Global Validation, Local Momentum
Antler’s investment into the platform is not just financial, it also brings global validation, strategic networks, and deep operational expertise to one of Saudi’s most promising fintechs.
As part of Antler’s global portfolio, RIFD gains access to follow-on investors, venture scaling guidance, and potential international partnerships.
The announcement follows RIFD’s recent selection into the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s Tech Champions 5 program, a prestigious national accelerator designed to back transformative Saudi startups.
With its first pilot securitisation transaction underway and multiple institutional partnerships in progress, the firm is rapidly positioning itself at the intersection of fintech innovation and Islamic finance.
“RIFD is about enabling capital to flow where it’s most impactful,” Aldakheel added. “We’re aligning SME growth with institutional investment in a way that’s never been done before in the region.”
