UPFRONT Secures $10M Pre-Seed Round to Boost MENA SMB Cash Flow
Dubai-based fintech startup UPFRONT has secured a $10 million pre-seed round to tackle cash flow inefficiencies for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The funding round was led by Palm Ventures and SABAH.fund, with participation from strategic angel investors.
Founded in May 2025 by serial entrepreneurs Anas Qudah, Abdullah Alghadouni, and Mahmoud Abdel-Fattah Moursy, UPFRONT aims to reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and friction around cash flow, giving SMBs real-time visibility and faster access to credit. The startup is building a 'next-generation financial operating system' for MENA's underserved SMB sector, integrating with existing accounting software to deliver real-time financial analytics and automate receivables.
UPFRONT plans to use the new capital to grow its engineering and go-to-market teams, and expand its operations to Saudi Arabia. The funding will be used to fuel product development and hiring across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with plans to double down on building infrastructure for SMB growth. UPFRONT has attracted top regional and international investors and secured a strategic partnership with Yahoo Finance, a leading embedded finance platform.
The funding gap for SMBs in MENA sits at roughly $250 billion, largely driven by inefficient financial operations and delayed receivables. Investors Palm Ventures and SABAH.fund expressed confidence in UPFRONT's approach and potential to create lasting impact on the region's SMB landscape. With this funding, UPFRONT is well-positioned to address these challenges and support the growth of SMBs in the MENA region.
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