- Company is investing in both talent and infrastructure to achieve similar growth results in a much larger market opportunity.
- Aims to hire more than 300 people in Saudi Arabia over the next 18-24 months.
Dubai: UAE-based online auto marketplace for used car sales – SellAnyCar – is spreading wings into Saudi Arabia with its Kayishha online platform.
The startup, in February this year, raised $35 million “Series C” round, led by Saudi Arabia’s Sanabil Investments, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), a sovereign financial institution-owned equally by the six GCC states, and Olayan Financing Company.
It has so far raised $50 million in the last seven years.
Kayishha will integrate the SellAnyCar.com core value proposition and advanced technology engine with an international dealer buying network and auto inspection locations to enable people across the country to sell any make, model or year car in any condition within 30 minutes at fair market value.
“We see tremendous opportunity for Kayishha to redefine how used cars are bought and sold in Saudi the same way SellAnyCar.com totally disrupted the UAE used car marketplace,” Saygin Yalcin, Founder and CEO of SellAnyCar.com and Kayishha, said.
With Kayishha, the company is investing in both talent and infrastructure to achieve similar growth results in a much larger market opportunity.
Creating a level-playing field
Kayishha is investing heavily in job creation through an expansion plan that calls for hiring more than 300 people across the country over the next 18-24 months.
“We’ve taken the pain points out of the process for both the seller and buyer and effectively levelled the playing field so both parties get what they most want and need. Dealers can get a daily list of available cars to keep their lots well stocked. At the same time, the sellers get a simple, stress-free and transparent way to immediately get fair market value for their cars. Everybody wins,” Yalcin said.
In addition, the company is building its headquarters and customer service centre in Riyadh.
While Kayishha will employ both Saudi nationals and expatriates, the company will emphasise the hiring of local citizens, particularly in the customer service centre which will be staffed entirely by Saudi nationals.
“We even chose the name Kayishha due to its unique meaning and popularity in local slang for pay me cash now,” Yalcin said.