CADO Secures .5 Million in Pre-Seed Funding, Paving the Way for a New Era in the Global Gifting Economy
CADO, a premium gifting platform that originated in the United Arab Emirates, has successfully completed a pre-seed funding round, securing .5 million—a significant milestone that underscores its ambition to innovate within the global gifting economy. The funding round saw participation from a variety of notable entities, including Sanabil 500, a venture capital and startup acceleration initiative active across the MENA region, as well as contributions from a German family office and a consortium of high-net-worth individuals and angel investors.
At its inception, CADO began humbly as a three-person startup operating out of Dubai. Since its launch, it has grown into a formidable player in the gifting sector, establishing a presence not only in the UAE but also expanding into Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States. The company aims to revolutionize the gifting experience by integrating creativity, logistical efficiency, and cutting-edge technology, thereby providing a smart, seamless, and emotionally engaging solution for corporate gifting.
Leila Al Marashi, the visionary founder and CEO of CADO, articulated her mission clearly: “When I started CADO, my ambition was to modernize and elevate the art of gifting. I wanted to seamlessly intertwine innovation with meaning and ensure that every gesture feels effortless yet deeply personal.” Highlighting the importance of their recent expansion into Saudi Arabia, she further elaborated, “We are not just creating a product; we’re crafting an ecosystem that brings together artisans, suppliers, and businesses all dedicated to excellence and creativity. With this new funding, we can continue to grow our footprint across the region and internationally, shaping a future where gifting reflects both intelligent thought and heartfelt emotion.”
CADO boasts an impressive roster of clients, featuring over 500 recurring partners. The list includes prestigious names such as Julius Baer, Cartier, Netflix, Van Cleef & Arpels, Gucci, Boucheron, Accor Hotels, the Jumeirah Group, Net-a-Porter, Ralph Lauren, LinkedIn, TikTok, ExecuJet, and American Express, each of whom underscores the brand’s capacity to cater to discerning tastes in the corporate sector.
The freshly acquired capital will primarily expedite CADO’s expansion in Saudi Arabia, where the company aims to cultivate a vibrant community ecosystem. This initiative will connect artists, artisans, suppliers, and investors, creating a collaborative milieu that celebrates creativity and craftsmanship. Moreover, the funding will support the brand’s foray into international markets, with plans to officially launch in New York as part of its growth strategy.
Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at Sanabil 500, expressed confidence in CADO’s potential, stating, “CADO is redefining what modern gifting means in today’s interconnected world. Their unique model seamlessly merges creativity, technology, and cultural relevance, forming a new global category that is rooted in genuine human connectivity.”
Having gained additional visibility through its participation in the popular television series Shark Tank UAE, as well as the planned establishment of operations in New York, CADO is positioning itself as a vanguard in the gifting sector. It seeks not only to address the needs of the modern market but also to serve as a bridge between local artisanal craftsmanship and global innovation, marking its place as a leading gifting powerhouse emerging from the Middle East.
This pivotal moment in CADO’s journey signals not just a triumph for the company but also reflects the broader potential of the Middle Eastern entrepreneurial ecosystem, as startups continue to innovate and compete on a global scale.
Tags: #BusinessNews, #StartupsEntrepreneurship, #UAE