Saudi Arabian On-Demand Workforce Startup Sabbar Scores $1 Million in Seed Round

Saudi-based tech startup Sabbar raises $1.5 million in seed round to be the platform of choice for connecting job seekers with businesses for on-demand work opportunities in the region. The seed round was led by Dubai-based Venture Souq, backed by 500 Startups, Derayah VC, and Super Angels, an angel investment firm from Saudi Arabia. As revealed in a statement, the startup is planning to use the funds for their engineering and operations teams to further develop the platform for gig job market, including enhancing its match-making algorithm, operations automation, and scheduling management.

Since its inception in mid-2019, Sabbar has received over 100,000 job applications and is currently connecting hundreds of workers to businesses on a monthly basis. Established by Mohamed T. Ibrahim, Abdul Rahman AlMudaiheem, Afnan Sherbeeni, and Sara Alshimemri, Sabbar leverages their proprietary software, which builds user and role profiles, and uses geospatial analytics to match workers with job opportunities near them, in roles which to date have included cashiers, baristas, sales associates, allowing businesses in retail, entertainment and hospitality industries to book casual staff during peak hours or high seasons from a roster of pre-qualified professionals.

“Global trends reveal a shift towards employing more hourly workers and the gig economy is estimated to be valued at nearly $2.7 trillion by 2025. In some developed markets, more than 40% of workers in the retail industry are on hourly basis, and we are already observing similar trends in the MENA region,” says Mohamed Ibrahim, founder and CEO of Sabbar.

In Saudi Arabia, employee turnover is estimated at 70% in the retail and service industries, placing several businesses at financial risk. Additionally, the region has a significant workforce of students that are unutilised. Sabbar aims to bridge this gap by leveraging technology to provide businesses the opportunity to fulfill shift on-demand with temporary workers, while simultaneously reliving businesses from associated administrative costs by streamlining a lengthy process that typically includes interviews, training, placement, shift scheduling, worker payments, and everything in-between.

 “We are on a mission to build and support a community of highly qualified individuals in the region that goes beyond finding flexible work opportunities. We are deeply committed to helping qualified & willing workers to access immediate income generating opportunities and secure benefits that are not typically offered to short-term workers,” adds Ibrahim.