KSA-Based Kilow Nets US$2.5 Million In Seed Round
Inc. Arabia spoke with founder and CEO Fahed Al-Essa about his healthtech startup’s approach to personalized weight management, and the challenges of scaling tailored care through technology.
Saudi Arabia-based healthtech startup Kilow has raised US$2.5 million in seed funding in a round led by the Saudi-based early-stage enabler Sanabil Venture Studio, a subsidiary of Sanabil Investments, in partnership with Germany-based venture builder Stryber.
Founded by Fahed Al-Essa in KSA in 2024, Kilow offers artificial intelligence (AI)-driven treatment plans for weight management, combining medical consultations, at-home lab testing, and continuous health monitoring via smart devices. The new investment will be used to grow Kilow’s operations, expand its health analytics capabilities, and roll out new features aimed at enhancing its personalized approach to weight management.
In a conversation with Inc. Arabia, Al-Essa, who’s also the CEO of Kilow, noted how Kilow’s approach to healthcare is part of a wider transformation in how people across the region engage with their health—one accelerated by recent global events. “The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted digital health adoption across the MENA,” Al-Essa said. “What was once a nice-to-have became essential—and that urgency has now turned into lasting behavior change. We're finally reaping the benefits of this shift, and the window of opportunity is wide open.”
According to Al-Essa, Kilow has been built on the core belief that weight loss and metabolic health need to be approached with the same level of precision and personalization that is transforming other areas of medicine. “In weight management, the change is even more dramatic,” he added. “People are tired of the same recycled advice: ‘eat less, move more.’ We now understand that weight is not just about willpower—it's about biology, hormones, genes, sleep, stress, and environment. Patients are no longer looking for a generic diet plan; they’re looking for a program that fits them. Personalized care isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s an expectation.”
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Such a principle aligns with broader trends shaping the future of healthcare, Al-Essa pointed out. “We’re already seeing this in other areas of medicine, like oncology with CAR-T therapy,” he explained. “The same philosophy—precision, personalization, integration—is now coming to metabolic health. And this is where the future lies: a connected, predictive health assurance model. One that continuously monitors, learns, and adapts to your body in real time. Not just healthcare, but health assurance—proactive, preventive, and deeply personalized.”
Sanabil Venture Studio’s investment in Kilow also reflects a growing institutional appetite for platforms that tackle complex health issues through scalable technology. But building such a system at scale comes with unique challenges. “Personalization and scale have traditionally been at opposite ends of the spectrum,” Al-Essa said. “But digital health—and now artificial intelligence (AI)—is bridging that gap. We’re finally at a tipping point where we can personalize care in ways that are scalable, affordable, and actionable.”
However, Al-Essa noted that turning such a vision into a practical, scalable solution involves navigating several complex realities. “First, trust is critical,” he said. “Especially in weight management, people need to feel seen, safe, and supported. That requires more than good user experience—it requires emotional intelligence in your product. Second, true personalization depends on data—and most health data today is fragmented. Integrating wearables, labs, behavior, and clinical input into a cohesive experience is a huge technical and regulatory challenge. And finally, engagement. It’s easy to start strong and lose steam. Keeping users engaged over time is one of the hardest—and most important—things to get right.”
Now, as Kilow sets out to scale its offering, Al-Essa hopes to inspire other founders exploring digital health in the region, with his advice to entrepreneurs grounded in hard-earned perspective. “First, solve a real problem, not a trend,” he said. “Healthcare is messy, emotional, and complex. If you’re not deeply committed to the problem, you’ll burn out quickly. Second, involve clinicians and patients early. Don’t wait until launch—co-create from the start. You’ll avoid major blind spots. Third, remember that technology alone doesn’t change lives. Behavior change does. Focus on helping people do the hard thing more easily and consistently.”
Pictured in the lead image is Kilow founder Fahed Al-Essa. Image courtesy Kilow.
