Iraqi startup Lezzoo expands with purchase of Saydo
The delivery startup is one of several in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, and the autonomous government is hoping to spur more startup growth.
The Erbil-based delivery startup Lezzoo announced a new acquisition Wednesday.
Lezzoo's purchase of the Iraqi online marketplace Saydo will help its efforts to “digitize Iraq's food supply chain” and expand beyond Iraq. Saydo’s founder will now work for Lezzoo, according to a press release.
Lezzoo delivers food, groceries, pharmacy products and more via couriers. Saydo has a small online footprint, but is also based in the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil.
Why it matters: Unlike the Gulf states or Egypt, Iraq does not have a thriving startup scene, but a culture is developing. Delivery apps in the autonomous Kurdistan Region in particular exhibit growth potential. TipTop raised $5 million in January, and Talabat is also widely used. Lezzoo raised more than $1 million in funding in 2020.
