Cairo-Based Tagaddod Secures US$26.3 Million To Scale Its Renewable Feedstocks Platform

Tagaddod, a Cairo-based renewable feedstocks platform operating across Africa, Asia, and Europe, has successfully closed a US$26.3 million Series A funding round, led by The Arab Energy Fund (TAEF), a leading multilateral impact financial institution focused on sustainable energy and regional energy security.

The investment, which marks TAEF’s first direct investment in the biofuel feedstocks space, also saw participation from Tagaddod's previous investors, including the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO, the pan-African VC Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV), and the MENA-based early-stage venture capital firm A15 Ventures, among others. 

Co-founded by Nour El Assal and Mariam Afifi in Cairo in 2013, Tagaddod has built a proprietary, technology-enabled platform that collects, aggregates, and tracks renewable, waste-based feedstocks—including used cooking oil, acid oils, and animal fats—from a wide network of suppliers, including households, restaurants, food producers, and collectors across its markets. By combining ground-level sourcing with technology and compliance infrastructure, Tagaddod bridges fragmented waste supply networks with large-scale industrial demand for biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with the aim of creating sustainable supply chains for global off-takers and refineries.  

Speaking with Inc. Arabia, El Assal, who also serves as the CEO of Tagaddod, told us that the company's proprietary model is designed to specifically address challenges around feedstock availability for SAF and renewable diesel markets. “Our tech-driven platform aggregates fragmented waste streams, digitizes collection, ensures traceability, and delivers certified, scalable feedstock directly into global supply chains,” he explained. According to El Assal, securing TAEF’s backing will further support the company as it looks to establish itself as a leader in the sustainable biofuels space. “TAEF’s backing validates our model and opens strategic policy and industry networks," he said.

The Tagaddod team. Image courtesy Tagaddod.

El Assal added that the latest funding round will be deployed to enhance Tagaddod's technology stack, including integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-powered logistics optimization, predictive analytics, and automated traceability systems. It will also go toward increasing the company's operational capacity and building partnerships to support larger volumes of certified, export-grade renewable feedstocks. “We’ll fund Tagaddod’s continued regional expansion, tech enhancements, and operational scale-up, reinforcing our role as MENA’s leading renewable feedstocks platform and vital contributor to global supply,” he said. 

Additionally, Tagaddod, which has regional hubs in Egypt, Jordan, and the Netherlands, as well as a growing footprint in Saudi Arabia, will use the new funding to strengthen its presence in existing regions while moving into new markets and waste streams. “We’re looking to expand our market share in our existing collection markets in Africa/MENA and tapping into new key European markets, and select Asian and African markets, while diversifying into more SAF feedstock," El Assal shared. "This funding helps in building the infrastructure to capture and deliver at scale."

As climatetech continues to gain momentum across the region, El Assal also shared advice for the next generation of founders in this space. “Focus on solving global bottlenecks locally," he said. "Embed compliance and traceability from day one, and seek strategic partners from the industry who bring both capital and long-term alignment." 

Pictured in the lead image is Nour Al Assal, co-founder and CEO of Tagaddod. Courtesy of Tagaddod.