KUWAIT: A group of young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs have successfully transformed their passion and innovative ideas into thriving businesses that have expanded regionally and globally, creating promising job opportunities in the private sector. Many Kuwaiti youths have become less dependent on government jobs and turned their passions and dreams from a mere idea to a success story, launching from Kuwait and then expanding regionally and internationally. KUNA interviewed ambitious young entrepreneurs in Kuwait who built local businesses, then expanded globally, establishing their brand in the Arab and Gulf regions, and occasionally in European countries.
Abdulaziz Al-Lughani, co-founder and CEO of "Floward,” said his company operates in 40 cities across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the UK, Egypt, and Jordan, employing around 1,000 people. One of the major challenges since the company’s establishment in 2017 was recruiting suitable talent to meet growing market demands and understanding customer culture to build online trust, particularly as some customers were hesitant about purchasing flowers online. Lughani explained that the company has developed its e-commerce platform to better suit local market needs, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance the shopping experience by providing precise product descriptions and personalizing browsing experiences based on customer preferences.
Floward has made numerous achievements since it was founded, like joining the Saudi Unicorns program, acquiring the company Mubkhar, and acquiring an official flower business license from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to become the first business in the championship’s history to get this advantage. Future plans for the business include expanding investment in existing branches and opening new ones and finding new acquisition opportunities in different fields similar to the gifting business.
Looking ahead, Lughani noted that the company plans to invest more in the countries it operates in, expand into new markets, and seek acquisition and merger opportunities in related sectors.
COFE App
Co-founder of COFE app Ali Al-Ibrahim said that his business launched in 2018, amidst a coffee industry boom, with the global coffee market valued at around $100 billion. He emphasized the deep-rooted coffee culture in the Middle East, which paved the way for integrating technology into this field, offering coffee enthusiasts a great way to enjoy coffee. The app has expanded to cover the entire beverage sector. The app has seen over 4.1 million downloads in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar. Ibrahim said he faced challenges in securing suitable strategic partnerships and finding technical talent to build his team, emphasizing the importance of focusing on this specialization in higher education.
He also pointed out that overseas expansion introduced additional challenges, such as aligning the company’s operations with regulations in each country. Ibrahim expressed hope for regulatory harmonization in the region to facilitate investment and expansion. In a recent funding round, COFE app raised $15 million from global investors, boosting the company’s valuation to $100 million, with plans for another investment round with influential investors to enhance the company’s value and reach.
The company’s workforce exceeds 50 employees across operations, marketing, technology, and sales departments in offices throughout Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar. Ibrahim’s current ambition is to strengthen the company’s position in technology and the beverage market while improving the supply chain in other sectors, like hospitality and airlines.
Justclean
Co-founder and CEO of the Justclean app, Athbi Al-Enezi said the idea for his business arose from the evolution of online services, which expanded from food delivery to cleaning services for homes and cars. Established in 2017, the app serves customers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with local teams in each country. The company recently raised $30 million in its latest funding round.
The company’s biggest hurdles came during the coronavirus pandemic, disrupting supply chains and services, he added. The app records thousands of orders each day in every country it is located in, reflecting the significant trust placed upon it by its customers, he exclaimed. Justclean is valued at $70 million and employs more than 80 staff working in local teams in each country, assuring the company’s willingness to grow and enter different markets. — KUNA