Egypt-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup Qme has raised $3 million in a seed funding round led by AHOY, a multi-sector technology company, alongside strategic angel investors from the GCC region. The investment aims to expand Qme’s AI-driven platform, which optimizes customer interactions for businesses and governments across Africa and the GCC. The agreement was formalized at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center during LEAP 2025 on February 12, 2025.
Beyond capital infusion, AHOY’s involvement in Qme’s expansion reflects a strategic partnership aimed at leveraging its technological expertise in logistics, aviation, and traffic management. AHOY’s support will provide Qme with access to cutting-edge technology and a deeper understanding of operational dynamics across critical industries. The collaboration is expected to accelerate the adoption of Qme’s solutions across complex markets in Africa and the GCC.
Qme is also a participant in AHOY’s Startup Builder initiative, which seeks to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs and support 30,000 software developers across the MENA region by 2030. The initiative aims to drive innovation in key infrastructure sectors such as transportation, aviation, and smart city development.
Qme’s AI-powered platform tackles inefficiencies in customer queueing and appointment booking, a significant challenge in the MENA region. Traditional systems lead to long wait times and high no-show rates, with studies indicating that individuals in the region spend an average of six months of their lives standing in queues. Additionally, approximately 92% of appointments are still booked via phone, contributing to a 31% no-show rate due to lack of customer commitment.
Since its commercial launch in late 2023, Qme has reported significant improvements in efficiency across sectors such as healthcare, banking, and government services. The company has reduced average wait times from 116 minutes to 14 minutes and lowered no-show rates for phone bookings to under 1%. Its digital queueing solutions have also replaced paper-based systems, leading to an estimated reduction of 50,000 square meters of paper waste.
Maged Negm, CEO and co-founder of Qme, emphasized the importance of the partnership with AHOY, stating: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey. AHOY’s expertise in operational efficiency and technology integration will be instrumental as we scale across vibrant markets. I am particularly excited to have Jamil Shinawi, CEO of AHOY, join Qme’s advisory committee.”
AHOY’s leadership sees transformative potential in Qme’s offering. “Qme’s platform aligns seamlessly with our mission of reducing friction in day-to-day operations,” said Shinawi. “By integrating Qme’s AI-powered customer journey solutions with our multi-sector expertise, we can help drive digital transformation across both government and private sectors in the GCC and Africa.”
With this new funding, Qme aims to enhance its technology stack, expand operations, and deepen its market presence. By refining AI-driven customer experience solutions, the company seeks to redefine how businesses and government agencies interact with customers, paving the way for a future where administrative inefficiencies become obsolete.
Founded in 2022 by former Fawry and Orange executive Maged Negm, Qme SaaS positions itself as Africa’s first AI-based customer journey platform, integrating booking, queuing, and payments into a unified digital infrastructure. As the company scales, its impact on streamlining customer experiences and improving service delivery across the MENA region is expected to grow substantially.