Saudi Arabia-based restaurant software services provider Blink has closed its $2.1m seed funding round to expedite its growth in the restaurant technology segment.

The funding round was joined by companies such as 500 Global and Global Founders Capital, as well as existing investors including Orbit Startup/SOSV.

Orbit Startup's managing general partner William Bao Bean stated: “There are many common challenges shared by different countries within emerging and frontier markets.

“We backed Sair and the team because they have what it takes to scale cross-border and create a regional leader by digitising traditional micro and SMEs, taking them online and direct to consumers.”

Established in 2020, Blink helps restaurants in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) process their orders via its direct online ordering channels.

Blink’s mechanism helps restaurants increase profit margins and minimise their dependency on delivery aggregators.

The software-as-a-service company has supported more than 1200 restaurants across the MENAP region and processed more than eight million direct orders.

In 2023 the tech company processed 4.5 million orders for its partner restaurants and surpassed $0.5m in annual recurring revenue.

Blink co-founder and CEO Syed Sair Ali stated: “Restaurants today are struggling with dependence on food delivery aggregators more than ever.

“Post-Covid, with the sharp increase in the habit of delivery, more than 90% of orders are coming through aggregators, where restaurants lose on average a 20% margin. Not to mention their inability to access valuable customer data, prohibiting them from any future marketing relationship.

“Our meaningful work has allowed restaurant brands to win back up to 40% of their aggregator orders through their direct ordering channel, increasing their profitability by 30%.”