Kema raises $2m to transform B2B cash flow for SMEs in MENA

By Delisha Fernandes

Kema, a UAE-based FinTech, has raised $2 million in a pre-seed round to optimise its SaaS platform and support the SME segment in the region.

The pre-seed round was led by Speedinvest with participation from Dubai Foundation District Fund (DFDF). Kema will focus on optimising its suite of business-to-business (B2B) payments by digitising, automating, and streamlining the invoice-to-cash processes, also known in the industry as accounts receivable.

At the same time, the funding round is expected to allow businesses to benefit from accelerated and automated cash flows, while also having the possibility to save time, money, and resources.

“Having worked with B2B SMEs, a healthy and predictable cash flow cycle remains elusive for many. The problem is compounded by the combination of persistent payment delays, manual invoice workflows and follow-ups, multiple disconnected systems, and limited access to SME financing,” said Kema founder & CEO Michael Ghandour. “As a result, many businesses get stuck in a cycle of limited growth, increasing costs and unproductive use of their most valuable resource, their employees’ time.”

Kema offers hassle-free “no-code” plug-ins that sync with leading accounting software, such as Xero and Quickbooks. Within minutes, businesses can unlock the benefits of using Kema by generating and processing invoices, automatically embedding payment links and sending reminders, receiving payments via a variety of digital channels, and getting real-time analytics on their cash flow.

“Having been part of both the UAE and European ecosystem for a long time, we understand the impact that SME digitization can have on a market. We are incredibly excited about Kema’s potential to vastly improve the financial workflows of B2B SMEs and empower them to unlock growth and opportunity in the region,“ said Speedinvest partner Stefan Klestil.