Softbank, Sanabil Inject $125 Million in SMEs

Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Softbank, Sanabil Inject $125 Million in SMEs

Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia-based engagement platform Unifonic announced its half a billion Saudi riyal ($125 million) Series B funding round, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sanabil Investments.

Less than three years after raising the largest Series A funding round in the Middle East at the time, Unifonic has quadrupled in size.

Unifonic plans to continue this growth trajectory and will be accelerating product development and hiring to expand into new markets around the globe whilst bolstering its leading market share across the Middle East.

“At Unifonic our mission has always been to empower organizations to engage and communicate seamlessly with their customers," highlighted Ahmed Hamdan, founder and CEO at Unifonic.

"Our team is our anchor and together we aim to continue this journey and serve our clients in the best ways possible.”

Managing Partner for SoftBank Investment Advisers Faisal Rehman said, “Our investment team on the ground in Riyadh has followed Unifonic for some time and we have witnessed first-hand the company’s progress in establishing significant market leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

"We look forward to supporting the Unifonic team in scaling the platform across the Middle East and other emerging markets.”

A spokesperson for Sanabil Investments added: “Unifonic is poised to play a significant role in accelerating digital transformation initiatives for public and private enterprise in the Middle East. And so, we wanted to be a part of their journey, resulting in one of our largest investments in high growth, a high-impact technology company in Saudi Arabia."

"We believe we can play a significant part in strengthening their strategic position and supporting their future international growth while aligning with the country’s vision of fostering innovation.”



Bitcoin Soars Past $109,000 Ahead of Possible Early Action on Crypto by Trump

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Bitcoin Soars Past $109,000 Ahead of Possible Early Action on Crypto by Trump

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The price of bitcoin surged to over $109,000 early Monday, just hours ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as a pumped up cryptocurrency industry bets he'll take action soon after returning to the White House.
Once a skeptic who said a few years ago that bitcoin “seems like a scam,” Trump has embraced digital currencies with a convert’s zeal. He's launched a new cryptocurrency venture and vowed on the campaign trail to take steps early in his presidency to make the US into the “crypto capital” of the world.
His promises including creating a US crypto stockpile, enacting industry-friendly regulation and event appointing a crypto “czar” for his administration.
“You’re going to be very happy with me,” Trump told crypto-enthusiasts at a bitcoin conference last summer.
Bitcoin is the world’s most popular cryptocurrency and was created in 2009 as a kind of electronic cash uncontrolled by banks or governments. It and newer forms of cryptocurrencies have moved from the financial fringes to the mainstream in wild fits and starts.
The highly volatile nature of cryptocurrencies as well as their use by criminals, scammers and rogue nations, has attracted plenty of critics, who say the digital currencies have limited utility and often are just Ponzi schemes, The Associated Press reported.
But crypto has so far defied naysayers and survived multiple prolonged price drops in its short lifespan. Wealthy players in the crypto industry, which felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, spent heavily to help Trump win last November’s election. Bitcoin has surged in price since Trump's victory, topping $100,000 for the first time last month before briefly sliding down to about $90,000. On Friday, it rose about 5%. It jumped more than $9,000 early Monday, according to CoinDesk.
Two years ago, bitcoin was trading at about $20,000.
Trump’s picks for key cabinet and regulatory positions are stocked with crypto supporters, including his choice to lead the Treasury and Commerce departments and the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Key industry players held a first ever "Crypto Ball” on Friday to celebrate the first “crypto president." The event was sold out, with tickets costing several thousand dollars.