Six Months in Line? Qme Says Not Anymore!
In a major boost for the region’s tech scene, Egypt-based B2B SaaS startup Qme has just raised US$3 million in seed funding. The round was led by AHOY, a multi-sector technology company known for its cutting-edge work in logistics, aviation, and traffic management, alongside several angel investors from the GCC. This funding comes at a pivotal moment for Qme, as it looks to expand its operations and tackle an issue that affects millions across the MENA: inefficient queuing and outdated appointment booking systems.
Imagine losing six months of your life just standing in line. Sounds frustrating, right? Well, that’s the reality for many in MENA, where traditional queuing systems lead to long wait times and inefficiencies. Even worse, 92 percent of appointments in key sectors like healthcare and banking are still being booked over the phone, leading to a no-show rate of 31 percent. These are problems Qme is addressing head-on with its AI-driven platform.
Qme isn’t just another app trying to streamline queues; it’s creating a revolution in how businesses and governments manage customer appointments and services. The company, which launched commercially in Q4 2023, has already served over 100,000 customers in sectors like healthcare, banking, and government, slashing waiting times from 116 minutes to just 14 minutes on average. Even more impressive, their platform has reduced no-show rates from 31 percent to under 1 percent, a massive leap in efficiency.
A big part of what makes this possible is Qme’s new partnership with AHOY. For those unfamiliar with AHOY, they are a regional tech powerhouse, providing advanced solutions across multiple sectors, including logistics and traffic management. AHOY's involvement in Qme means that the startup will now have access to AHOY's extensive tech expertise and market knowledge. Maged Negm, Qme’s CEO and Co-Founder, couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration. In his words, “Our partnership with AHOY is a major milestone, as it strengthens our ability to optimise movement in dynamic, real-world scenarios while transforming customer experiences.”
A significant aspect of this partnership is that Jamil Shinawi, AHOY's CEO and Co-Founder, will join Qme’s Advisors Committee, offering strategic insight to help the company scale. Speaking about the partnership, Jamil commented, “Qme’s platform aligns perfectly with our ethos of reducing friction in everyday processes. Their ability to streamline the customer journey resonates with AHOY’s mission of solving real-world inefficiencies through innovation.”
Since its launch, Qme has also helped transition paper-based queuing systems to digital alternatives, saving around 50,000 square meters of paper. These achievements signal the start of something much bigger as the company eyes further expansion across the GCC and African markets. With AHOY’s support, Qme has the potential to reshape how businesses and governments interact with customers, turning inefficiencies into streamlined, digital processes.
But there’s more to this story. Qme is also part of AHOY’s ambitious Startup Builder Initiative, a program aimed at empowering 10,000 entrepreneurs and supporting 30,000 software developers across the MENA region by 2030. This initiative focuses on fostering innovation in key infrastructure sectors such as transportation, aviation, and smart city development, areas where Qme’s technology could play a significant role.
So, what’s next for Qme? With the new funding in hand, they plan to enhance their technology stack, expand their operational reach, and build deeper partnerships. The goal is clear: redefine how businesses and governments manage customer interactions and move towards a future where waiting in line becomes a thing of the past.
For the MENA region, this collaboration between Qme and AHOY could be a game-changer, setting the stage for a future where inefficient systems are replaced with smarter, more streamlined solutions.
