Nowlun raises additional $600,000 to close $2.3 million seed round
Egypt-based logistics startup Nowlun has raised $600,000 in a seed round extension led by Ingressive Capital, bringing total funding to $2.3 million.
Founded in 2021 by Moataz Khamis, Mahmoud Khaled, and Ahmed Emara, Nowlun is an online freight forwarding platform allowing customers to compare different services and rates that match their needs.
Funds will accelerate the development of Nowlun's Smart Logistics Assistant, expand operations in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and enable smarter, faster shipping decisions in a sector still dominated by manual processes.
In December 2024, Nowlun raised $1.7 million in seed funding, led by Nama Ventures and A15, with participation from Sanabil 500 Global and other angel investors.
Press release:
Nowlun, the digital logistics platform that simplifies global freight in the MENA region by helping businesses move full container loads (FCL) and bulk cargo with speed and simplicity—while keeping them informed with real-time tracking and instant updates—has closed its seed round at $2.3 million following a $600K extension led by Ingressive Capital, a prominent African VC.
This extension builds on Nowlun's previously announced seed round, which was led by Nama Ventures and A15, with participation from Sanabil 500 Global and other angel investors. The initial funding fuelled the company's expansion into the Saudi market and the successful launch of its Bulk product—a dynamic rates engine that enables instant access to sea freight options.
With this new capital, Nowlun will accelerate the integration of AI to redefine the logistics experience. The company aims to empower its internal team to manage more shipments with greater efficiency while equipping them with AI-driven insights across all areas of logistics.
At the same time, leveraging both AI and decades of industry expertise, Nowlun is developing a powerful logistics assistant for ocean freight shippers across MENA and Africa. This assistant will offer instant insights and recommendations to simplify decisions, reduce costs, and make global trade smarter and more reliable throughout the region.
'This is more than just funding; it's a strategic push to embed AI at the core of logistics,' said Moataz Khamis, Nowlun's CEO. 'We're building your smart Logistics Assistant—a tool that puts decades of industry expertise in the palm of your hand, helping you make faster, smarter shipping decisions every day.'
The participation of Ingressive Capital also highlights the growing role of African VCs in supporting Egypt's startup ecosystem and shaping the future of global logistics.
Positioned between Asia and Europe, Africa has long been a critical logistics hub, and investors like Ingressive are actively backing innovations that connect and empower the region.
"We believe the future of logistics in MENA and Africa will be built by founders who combine deep operational grit with cutting-edge AI," said Maya Horgan Famodu, Founding Partner at Ingressive Capital. "Nowlun is not only modernising freight; they're reimagining how trade moves across continents with speed, transparency, and precision. We're proud to back Moataz and his team as they build a category-defining platform for the region and beyond."
Nowlun is doubling down on its growth in Egypt and Saudi Arabia—two strategic markets at the heart of global trade routes. This investment extension is not just about capital; it's about accelerating the company's mission to modernise logistics in the region.
As Nowlun expands its footprint, AI will be the driving force behind this growth, delivering new levels of speed, transparency, and intelligence to an industry still constrained by manual processes and fragmented systems.
In a sector where decisions are complex and time-sensitive, AI is no longer optional; it's the backbone of the next logistics revolution.
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