Retailo
Retailo is a B2B online grocer for grocery stores in the MENAP region.
Summary
Retailo is aims to technologically supercharge retail supply chains in the MENAP region by providing SMEs a curated, reliable list of suppliers through which they can order a variety of products that are delivered the following day. This platform also allows manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors to get access to a wide range of retailers that are outside of their existing target markets. Retailo essentially operates as an online grocery store for grocery stores. Their growth has been phenomenal.
Why We Invested
- Outstanding management team that all worked together and held senior positions at Careem, the Uber of the MENAP region.
- Rapid GMV growth.
- Large potential market.
Team
Muhammad Talha Ansari
Cofounder
Talha Ansari has over 7 years of experience in launching and scaling multiple profitable startups in the MENAP region. Talha led Careem’s last-mile business (Careem Now) operations for the MENAP region, scaling the operation to $70m in fourteen months in seven countries. Before leading Careem Now, Talha scaled Careem’s ride-hailing business in Saudi Arabia as Director of Operations, where he led the team responsible for Growth and Experience of 300k drivers in 11 cities in Pakistan. Prior to his role at Careem, Talha was the youngest Rocket Internet CEO in the region at Foodpanda Pakistan at age 25, turning the $40m topline venture profitable in 2 years and tripling sales in the first year after taking over the business in 2014. Talha was a Venture Development Manager at Rocket Internet, as well. Talha received his Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from the Institute of Business Administration.
Wahaj Ahmed
Cofounder
Wahaj was the fastest Associate designate in McKinsey Pakistan's in history. Prior to his role at McKinsey, Wahaj was the youngest Careem GM in the region at age 25, managing growth for the entire city of Karachi with annual revenue of $100m. As GM, Wahaj grew the city revenues and transactions by 150% in five months and managed a team of over 80 people. Before Careem, Wahaj was a Regional Channel Marketing Manager at Rocket Internet, working with startups Daraz, Kaymu, and Tripda. Wahaj received his BSc in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Computer Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences
Muhammad Nowkhaiz
Cofounder
Muhammad Nowkhaiz was promoted four times in two years at Careem to ultimately become Head of Strategy for the MENAP region at age 29. At Careem, Muhammad led the strategy team that worked on Careem’s Super App strategy post-Uber acquisition. Prior to his role at Careem, Muhammad was Head of Strategy at Shopistan.pk, a B2B retail tech startup, where he grew the company from $0 to $10m in topline revenue in three years as a founding member. Muhammad received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences.