Gainz, a UAE-based fintech firm specializing in debt financing for SMEs, and Beban Crowdfunding, Bahrain’s leading equity crowdfunding platform licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, have entered into a strategic partnership to launch an integrated crowdfunding experience across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, combining equity and debt-based financing for startups and small businesses.
The partnership brings together the complementary expertise of both entities—Gainz with its automated Sharia-compliant SME lending platform, and Beban with its regulated crowdfunding operations—to deliver flexible funding solutions tailored to different growth stages and capital needs.
Shehab Mohamed, CEO of Gainz, stated:
“This partnership is built on a shared vision: to offer founders across the GCC a more complete and accessible capital journey.“
Karim Saleh, CEO of Beban Crowdfunding, added:
“This collaboration reflects the evolving needs of modern businesses and sets a new benchmark for how crowdfunding platforms collaborate within the ecosystem.“
Key Objectives of the Partnership:
- Hybrid Fundraising Model: Offering both equity and debt options tailored to company needs.
- Shared Investor Access: Enabling reach to diverse investor pools for passive and high-growth returns.
- Regional Capital Enablement: Integrated access to major GCC markets including Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain.
- Collaborative Ecosystem Initiatives: Joint investor events, co-branded pitch days, and educational programs for founders.
This partnership aligns with growing regulatory support across the GCC for non-bank SME financing through structured crowdfunding models. Gainz and Beban aim to lead this transformation with a technology-first, ecosystem-driven approach that opens new pathways for underserved businesses in the region.
