Saudi Arabia's Mush Social Secures US$1.2 Million Pre-Seed
"Our aim is to establish Mush in various regions, enhancing our virtual world-focused, culturally adaptable features to create meaningful, localized connections worldwide.”
Mush Social, a Saudi Arabia-based social media platform, has raised US$1.2 million in pre-seed funding, led by Nifal Consulting and supported by Nahr Al-Jazeera Holding and other angel investors.
Founded in 2022 by Abdulhadi Alasmi, Mush Social sets itself apart from other social media platforms with a model that allows users to earn points that unlock exclusive benefits, driving greater interaction and involvement. Its innovative “map feature” allows users to acquire virtual assets as they navigate the platform, enabling them to turn their online interactions into financial rewards.
Although Mush Social ranked last among 109 global and regional competitors, it competes directly with companies such as MyHeritage, Cluster, and Ginni. 10 of its competitors have raised funds and five have exited, while another five companies in the sector have been acquired, highlighting the highly competitive nature of the industry. Together, the platform and its rivals have secured over $120 million in 34 funding rounds from 42 investors.
In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Abdulhadi Alasmi, CEO and founder of Mush Social, said, “We’re excited to deliver a fresh user experience by integrating advanced map features on Mush. This map will allow users to trade, cash out, and engage in community activities more interactively. The funding will help us grow our development team, enhance platform functionality, and drive user acquisition to make Mush an engaging, localized platform where community connections and user-driven experiences come to life.”
Regarding Mush Social’s unique value proposition and how it differentiates itself from the competition in the social media space, Alasmi told Inc. Arabia, "We offer a unique experience by focusing on hyperlocal connectivity, enabling users to engage more deeply within their communities through a localized feed, which enhances relevance and fosters a close-knit atmosphere. When foreigners visit Saudi Arabia, their options to interact with locals or discover trending spots are often limited. Our feature 'Reach,' launched a few months ago, bridges this gap. Reach auto-translates posts into each user’s preferred language, making Mush a seamless and interactive platform for connecting across languages and cultures.”
Having already attracted a diverse user base from countries like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, the UK, Portugal, and France, Mush is setting its sights on strategic global expansion. “Now, with a solid foundation, we’re moving toward a strategic, global expansion," Alasmi said. "Our aim is to establish Mush in various regions, enhancing our virtual world-focused, culturally adaptable features to create meaningful, localized connections worldwide."
