UAE Fintech Gainz Secures Funding to Expand SME Lending Platform

UAE-based fintech startup Gainz has announced the closure of a seven-figure pre-seed funding round, combining both equity and debt. The round was led by Antler MENAP, Lithium Holdings, and Eleventh Invest Inc., with additional backing from regional high-net-worth individuals. The investment is meant to support Gainz’s efforts to broaden access to SME financing across the GCC through digital and Shariah-compliant alternatives.

Founded in December 2024 by Egyptian entrepreneurs Shehab Mokhtar and Sherif Abdelaty, Gainz seeks to address the longstanding challenges small and medium-sized enterprises face in securing funding. The platform introduces a crowdfunding model for private credit, a space historically dominated by institutional investors. By offering short-tenor, high-yield financial products with minimum investments starting at $500, Gainz opens up private credit markets to retail investors while empowering SMEs that remain underserved by traditional banking systems.

The startup uses AI-powered underwriting and fully digital onboarding processes to streamline user experiences on both sides of the platform. Where conventional lending processes often take months, Gainz enables campaigns to launch within minutes and facilitates disbursement of funds in a matter of days.

Since launching its minimum viable product, the company has closed seven deals in the second quarter of 2025 alone, disbursing nearly $400,000 in loans.