Posted by Egypt-based logistics startup OneOrder has raised $16 million in a Series A funding round, combining equity and debt, to fuel its expansion into the GCC region by late 2024. The round was led by Delivery Hero Ventures, with participation from Norrsken22 and existing investors Nclude and A15.
Founded in 2022 by Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice, OneOrder has gained traction as a tech-enabled supplier and wholesale distributor for the F&B industry, offering quality goods with embedded financing. This latest investment follows a $1 million pre-seed and a $3 million seed round in early and late 2022, respectively.
Like many supply chains across Africa and the MENA region, HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés) is extremely fragmented and relies on manual processes involving multiple stakeholders. This results in businesses having limited price transparency, a lack of access to quality stock-keeping units (SKUs), high waste and storage costs, and limited financing to grow their businesses. Currently, restaurants and hotels must work with hundreds of suppliers to maintain stock, receiving 10 to 20 deliveries each day, which disrupts operations without eliminating shortages.
Through its web-based platform and mobile app, OneOrder provides a virtual warehouse for over 700 SKUs, detailed analytics, and embedded financing, transforming the food procurement process for over 1,370 customers.
The startup’s approach extends beyond logistics to include integrated financing and payments solutions, working with Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) to enable variable payments by direct debit. This integration with ERP/POS systems ensures seamless operations for its customers. The recent funding will support OneOrder’s expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council region, the development of financing solutions, and further enhancements to its platform, including AI-assisted systems that have already saved customers significant time and money.
Egypt HoReCa
The size of the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés) market in Egypt is significant and growing. In 2024, the hospitality industry in Egypt is projected to reach USD 3.78 billion and is expected to grow to USD 4.65 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.25%, according to Mordor Intel. Additionally, the broader food service market in Egypt is expected to grow to USD 18.14 billion by 2029, driven by the increasing adoption of e-commerce platforms and a rise in international tourist arrivals.
The restaurant segment alone is substantial, estimated at approximately USD 17 billion annually, according to Mordor Intel. This growth is propelled by the increasing number of restaurants and the booming tourism sector in Egypt, which contributes significantly to the overall expansion of the HoReCa market.
The Supply Chain Lab 