Egyptian startup Shobly is a specialised e-commerce enabler that empowers SMEs in the MENA region to establish and manage their independent online stores effectively.
Founded in October 2021 by CEO Abdulrehman Ahmed and CTO Ali Dawood, Shobly makes it easy for SME owners to launch an online store to sell their products and services, and then manage that store going forward.
“We identified a significant gap in the market specifically related to companies targeting the Middle East and the Arab world. Most of these companies focus on the GCC region for short-term return on investment. However, we recognised that Egypt is a unique market with distinct on-the-ground and payment needs that have yet to be adequately addressed,” Ahmed told Disrupt Africa.
To validate this opportunity, Shobly launched an MVP in early-2021, and successfully gathered over 1,000 interested sellers who expressed their desire to establish an Arabic online store, with some even making payments for the MVP.
“Our primary focus is on the Egyptian market, where we are currently operating. However, our platform supports all currencies, allowing Arab users from any country to leverage our arabic services effectively. While expanding into other markets is not an immediate priority, it remains a consideration for our future growth,” Ahmed said.
Shobly is self-funded, and is hoping to bootstrap its way to financial independence as a startup. Its business model revolves around a SaaS approach, with the main source of revenue being user subscriptions.
“Currently, we are not generating substantial income, as our primary focus has been on developing the product. However, our costs have been minimal as we invest our own time and expertise into the development process,” Ahmed said.
“We remain open to potential investors who share our vision and appreciate our passion for what we are building.”
Launching Shobly has presented several significant challenges, he said.
“The complexity of the UX and development process and the intricate details involved have proven to be demanding. It requires careful consideration to build a product that effectively solves the unique problems of the local market. We cannot simply replicate the success of platforms like Shopify and expect them to work seamlessly in the MENA region,” said Ahmed.
