In a bold move to reshape the region’s logistics landscape, ShipBee, an AI-powered digital logistics marketplace, has announced the successful close of its Pre-Seed funding round, raising QAR 855,000 (approx. $235,000) from institutional and angel investors.
The round, which values the startup at QAR 3.57 million, is a vote of confidence in ShipBee’s mission to offer end-to-end, tech-driven logistics solutions across Qatar and MENA.
Backed by Qatar Development Bank’s mobility incubator and the Digital Incubation Center, the startup is the brainchild of co-founders Tamer Raafat and Amer Azani, who have also contributed over QAR 150,000 in bootstrapped funding.
The round was led by GrowthX, with participation from two angel investors. In a major governance milestone, Dr. Allan Villegas, board member at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), joins ShipBee’s board.
“This funding empowers us to scale our vision of simplifying logistics through cutting-edge technology,” said Tamer Raafat, CEO of ShipBee. “ShipBee’s vision is to build a smart logistics ecosystem in Qatar and MENA using the power of AI and new technologies.”
The capital injection will be channeled into technology development, team expansion, marketing, and strategic scaling efforts, especially targeting partnerships and government contracts.
ShipBee’s Rapid Rise
Founded in March 2024, the company offers a comprehensive logistics platform, including a logistics marketplace, driver and user mobile apps, and SaaS tools for businesses managing local and international deliveries.
In less than a year, the company has built key alliances with DHL, Snoonu, Qatar Post, NEXX (a Chinese AI logistics firm), and a growing network of local retail and service providers.
The startup’s innovation-first model is already turning heads. The startup clinched 1st place at the QDB Innovation Hackathon for Mobility, and was selected for incubation by QDB-QBIC and DIC’s Idea Camp 8th Edition.
“ShipBee aligns perfectly with Qatar’s Vision 2030 and its push toward a digital economy,” said Hamad Al Hajri, CEO of GrowthX and Snoonu. “I firmly believe ShipBee has the potential to become a leading technology-driven logistics platform, both regionally and globally.”
For startup founders, tech employees, and logistics operators across the MENA region, ShipBee represents the next frontier, where AI, local insight, and scalable logistics solutions meet to unlock smarter delivery infrastructure. The momentum has begun and the road ahead looks promising.
