Could This Startup the Middle East's Shopify?

In a world that continuously strives to present brands with easier technological solutions to help kickstart their businesses, Matjar offers an efficient shortcut for those wanting to create online stores.

Matjar is the first Arabic app that helps set up and manage online stores in minutes using only your phone, removing the need for spending higher budgets hiring developers, or using more complex services like Shopify.

Branding itself as being the easiest and fastest way to build an online store, it provides efficient omnichannel selling and sells itself as a better alternative to leading a more hectic order-managing process through Whatsapp or Facebook. 

Founded by Wissam Saleh, Sally Mohamed, and Tiara Martinez, the app is the work of Dubai-based Worcbox Technologies, a technology company specialising in software development and digital marketing services for businesses, also founded by the trio.

“We are on a mission to change the social selling in the MENA region, one store at a time,” Matjar tells us. “Most of the e-commerce out there focuses on the businesses that require fancy features that nobody actually uses. We are a consumers’ app; we allow sisters, wives and entrepreneurs to sell on their own stores without needing thousands of dollars or tech teams.”

The app also participated in Cairo’s last Riseup Summit, and has helped build online stores that have sold over 500 orders.