(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) One woman's pain has helped ease many women's lives. Dubai-based Amira Rashad's agenda in life is to make a living out of lightening the bulk burden in your life. The ambitious entrepreneur offers big size shopping with big savings through BulkWhiz, her startup venture.
The startup offers a simple and intuitive interface that anyone can use easily - even people who do not feel comfortable with technology. It makes a recurring shopping list that puts your grocery needs on autopilot.
"Moms in the region are busy and need all the help they can get, especially with that dreaded weekly grocery shopping chore. They are buying grocery items in large quantities, but not realising bulk value savings. Not to mention constantly having to hunt for the best value for the family, worry about running out of essentials and endure the hassle of dragging heavy items through long lines and crowded parking lots," says Rashad.
"I am one of those moms. I felt the pain and thought to myself there has to be a better way. Having lived in the US and shopped regularly at bulk retailers such as Costco, I was acutely aware of the need for such value for families in the region," recalls Rashad.
BulkWhiz has raised to date $500,000 and has the backing of names like Antoine Massad, chairman of AJM International, a DIFC incorporated single family office focused on alternative investments; Women Angel Investment Network (WAIN); and 500 Startups. The firm is also in discussion with various accelerators and venture capitalists to close the current seed round soon.
BulkWhiz is currently in beta testing in Dubai and will be launched across the UAE in the autumn.
"We are planning a Series A round before the year end to continue to build our technology roadmap and pave the way for a launch in Saudi Arabia in 2018," Rashad says.
The success of BulkWhiz was evident as customers, especially moms, have been quick to applaud it directly and on social media. Suppliers have been welcoming and quick to sign marketing and favourable agreements with it.
"Brand owners have embraced a data-driven approach to business. Government entities, especially the DMCC, have been supportive and easy to deal with during incorporation and as we grow. Talent from all over the world has approached us to be a part of this journey," adds the founder of BulkWhiz.
Says Heather Henyon, founder and director of Wain: "Wain invested in BulkWhiz because of the strong operating history and experience brought by the founders and management team as well as the market opportunity in the region for a discounted bulk goods ecommerce platform. We are pleased to back BulkWhiz and look forward to continued growth and scale as the company ramps up. As moms, many of us experience the problem of access to bulk goods delivered to our doors with a focus on customer service - solved by BulkWhiz."
On the B2B front, having lead the brand business at Facebook in the region, Rashad was aware that brand owners are eager to grow their e-commerce business and are looking for new players to deliver on that promise. Traditional trade marketing and advertising spend has a long way to go in order to realise the efficiencies that e-commerce can deliver on in terms of returns on investment.
Massad, who is a supporter of BulkWhiz, bets on Rashad's career over the past 25 years with companies such as Pepsi, Booz, LB, Yahoo and Facebook where she earned knowledge of consumers, manufacturers and promoters, making her the ideal founder for such a venture.
"The business proposition fills a specific gap and a need for the users unlike most other e-commerce businesses which have come and most have gone. It also uses real technology and AI. The regional ecosystem which is still an emerging one and needs our support, especially for such new ventures," adds Massad.
Mahmoud Sayedahmed, CMO, BulkWhiz, said: "Our technology is unparalleled in the region. Our team hails from Harvard, MIT, Columbia and ETH Zurich with degrees in business, data science and machine learning. We have experience in global FMCG sales, strategy consulting, marketing, operations, logistics, digital media and e-commerce, with the likes of Facebook, Booz Allen, Pepsico, Mars, Kraft, Motorola, as well as various tech startups. I believe in the need to empower women to do more by simplifying key chores like grocery shopping through the use of technology."
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Sandhya D'Mello Journalist. Period. My interests are Economics, Finance and Information Technology. Prior to joining Khaleej Times, I have worked with some leading publications in India, including the Economic Times.
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