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12/27/23, 2:10 PM Unifonic Selected in First Cohort of National Technology Development Program’s Bridge Initiative
Unifonic Selected in First Cohort of National

Technology Development Program’s

Bridge Initiative

Unifonic Selected in First Cohort of National Technology Development Program’s Bridge Initiative

25 December 2023- Unifonic, the Middle East’s leading customer engagement platform, has been selected as
one of the companies in the first cohort of the Bridge Initiative by the National Technology Development
Program (NTDP). The program aims to support high-growth startups to expand into global markets by providing
various financial subsidies.

The selection of Unifonic in the initiative was announced during TechXpand, a premier technology event
organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in Riyadh. In addition to
the support provided by NTDP and the Ministry, the startup’s accomplishments further link to the significant
support from various other authorities in the country, including Saudi Unicorns.

Ahmed Hamdan, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifonic said: “We are delighted to be selected in the Bridge
Initiative’s first cohort. This accomplishment reinforces our pioneering role in the industry, recognizing our
relentless efforts to provide an affordable enterprise-grade multilingual omnichannel communications platform
across the Middle East. We extend our gratitude to our team, clients, partners, and the government for their
unwavering support, which has bolstered our position as a global market leader in the SaaS sector.”

The National Technology Development Program plays a crucial role in advancing the technology ecosystem in
Saudi Arabia. Through various interventions and support mechanisms, it enhances effectiveness and fosters
sustainable growth, aligning with the initiatives of other stakeholders. Additionally, the program empowers key
enablers in the technology market, who strive to position the country as a preferred regional hub for innovation
and industry investment.

Under the program, Bridge Initiative participants, including Unifonic, can leverage various benefits to enhance
their regional and global presence. One of the key benefits for national companies in the IT and emerging
technologies sector is the extensive support to increase local market share and global exports. Similarly, the
program encourages the local private sector to embrace IT solutions, initiatives, applications, and services. It
also helps attract both local and global companies that support innovation and research centers that are key for
the IT sector. Furthermore, NTDP contributes to the localization of the IT sector, particularly by increasing local
content in the field of emerging technologies.

Unifonic’s selection in the initiative marks a significant step in its long-standing commitment to support its client
base in the Middle East region. Since its inception in 2006, the company consistently developed its product line
and offers an affordable enterprise-grade multilingual and omnichannel communications platform across the
region. Furthermore, Unifonic achieved a groundbreaking milestone by securing over USD 21 million in the
largest-ever Series A financing for a Saudi startup in 2018. The subsequent Series B round saw an impressive
increase, with the startup raising a remarkable USD 125 million.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia experienced substantial growth in its entrepreneurial ecosystem, driven by the
Saudi Vision 2030. The growing startup community reflects the country’s commitment to diversifying its
economy and decreasing its dependence on oil trade. Currently, the Saudi startup community is well-positioned
as a hub for innovation and disruption in the region, especially with the support of the government, investors,
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