April 2026 | Fintech Funding News | MENA Region – Dubai-based fintech startup Comfi has secured $65 million in a pre-Series A funding round, combining both equity and debt financing. The capital will be used to scale operations and expand into new markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The funding highlights growing investor confidence in fintech platforms solving working capital challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
Funding Breakdown: Equity + Debt Structure
The equity portion of the round was led by Iliad Partners, with participation from:
- Yango Ventures
- Raw Ventures (marking its first regional investment)
- A family office
In addition to equity, Comfi secured:
- A credit facility from Partners for Growth
- Mezzanine financing arranged by Shorooq
This blended financing approach will support the company’s rapid growth and lending capacity.
Solving a Critical SME Pain Point
Founded in 2023 by Sanjar Samiev, Alisher Akbarov, and Amal Abdullaev, Comfi focuses on addressing a major issue faced by businesses: delayed payments and cash flow constraints.
How Comfi Works:
- Suppliers can offer buyers flexible payment terms up to 90 days
- Suppliers receive payments within 24 hours
- Powered by AI-driven risk assessment and underwriting
This model enables SMEs to:
👉 Maintain steady cash flow
👉 Invest in growth
👉 Avoid operational disruptions
Growth & Market Traction
Since its launch, Comfi has demonstrated strong traction:
- Processed 15,000+ invoices
- Connected with 4,000+ finance professionals
- Served 1,000+ business clients
These numbers underline the growing demand for embedded finance solutions in the MENA region.
Leadership Perspective
According to Sanjar Samiev, traditional payment cycles often delay business growth:
SMEs waiting over 60 days for payments struggle to invest, hire, or expand.
Comfi’s approach combines embedded finance with AI-driven underwriting to deliver instant access to working capital, reducing dependency on traditional lending systems.
Investor Confidence in MENA Fintech Growth
Investors see Comfi as part of a larger shift toward digitised financial infrastructure in the GCC and MENA markets.
Iliad Partners highlighted that:
- Access to working capital remains a core challenge for SMEs
- AI-led underwriting and disciplined risk management create scalable financial platforms
Similarly, Partners for Growth and Shorooq emphasized the importance of structured credit and data-driven lending models.
Market Outlook: Rise of Embedded Finance in MENA
The funding comes at a time when:
- SME financing gaps remain significant across MENA
- Digital lending and embedded finance are gaining traction
- Businesses are demanding faster, flexible credit solutions
Platforms like Comfi are expected to play a key role in building next-generation financial infrastructure for supply chains.
Editor’s Take
This isn’t just another funding round.
It reflects a deeper shift:
👉 From traditional lending → to real-time, embedded finance solutions
As SMEs form the backbone of MENA economies, solving cash flow inefficiencies could unlock massive economic value across the region.
Read more: Kovon Raises $250K Led by TDV Partners to Revolutionize Global Mobility for Indian Workforce
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.