Salasa Secures $30M Series B for AI-Powered Logistics Expansion
Riyadh-headquartered Salasa, a prominent e-commerce fulfillment platform in Saudi Arabia, has successfully closed a $30 million Series B funding round, marking a significant milestone in its journey to revolutionize logistics through artificial intelligence and expand its global footprint. This latest investment, led by Artal Capital, brings Salasa’s total capital raised to nearly $40 million, building on its $8.6 million Series A round secured in 2020.
Founded in 2017, Salasa has rapidly established itself as a leader in Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning e-commerce sector. The company offers a comprehensive, end-to-end logistics ecosystem that includes fulfillment, shipping, inventory management, bonded zones, last-mile delivery, and even a unique dark store-powered two-hour delivery service. Catering to over 1,000 merchants, including major players like Noon and Amazon, Salasa’s platform seamlessly integrates with popular e-commerce solutions such as Salla, Zid, Shopify, and Magento, while partnering with more than 40 logistics providers, including Aramex and DHL. Since its inception, Salasa has successfully fulfilled and shipped over 50 million products, demonstrating its operational scale and efficiency.
The substantial Series B funding is earmarked for critical strategic initiatives. Salasa plans to significantly enhance its AI capabilities to create a more predictive and automated logistics system, a move that aligns with the global trend of leveraging advanced technology for supply chain optimization. Furthermore, the investment will fuel the expansion of Salasa’s fulfillment centers, dark stores, and bonded zones not only across Saudi Arabia but also into the wider GCC region, bolstering its cross-border logistics capabilities. Abdulmajeed Alyemni, co-founder and CEO of Salasa, emphasized the company’s ambition to evolve into a “tech-first logistics company” by scaling across fulfillment, technology, and talent.
The investor syndicate behind this round underscores the strategic importance and growth potential of Salasa. Lead investor Artal Capital, an independent investment management company licensed by Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority, focuses on a multi-asset platform including venture capital, aiming for exceptional returns through its extensive network and investment expertise. Joining Artal Capital are Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC), Wa’ed Ventures (Aramco’s venture capital fund), 500 Global, and Alsulaiman Group. SVC, a government-backed VC established to stimulate venture investments and bridge funding gaps for startups, has committed $1 billion in investments since 2018, playing a pivotal role in positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading VC investment destination in MENA. Wa’ed Ventures, Aramco’s venture capital arm, actively supports the Saudi startup ecosystem, with a focus on tech-based innovations across various sectors, including e-commerce and AI. Global venture capital firm 500 Global, a long-standing investor in MENA since 2012 with over 270 regional investments, recently launched a dedicated MENA fund to support high-growth tech startups beyond the seed stage. Alsulaiman Group, a diversified family conglomerate with a strong presence in retail and logistics, has been a strategic investor in Salasa since its Series A round in 2020, further solidifying its commitment to the e-commerce fulfillment sector.
This investment arrives at a time when the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s e-commerce market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to exceed $49 billion by 2025. AI is rapidly transforming the logistics landscape in MENA, offering advanced solutions for smart route planning, predictive analytics, and automated warehousing. Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030, which emphasizes smart logistics and AI adoption, provides a fertile ground for companies like Salasa to thrive as the Kingdom strives to become a global logistics hub. The integration of AI in logistics not only boosts efficiency and customer experience but also contributes to more sustainable operations through optimized routes and reduced emissions. As AI continues to evolve with innovations like generative AI and Industry 4.0, its potential to revolutionize logistics through predictive insights and sophisticated problem-solving is immense, particularly in a booming e-commerce market like MENA. Salasa’s strategic funding round positions it at the forefront of this technological and economic transformation.