Crowd Analyzer, the Dubai-based data intelligence provider and Arabic-focused social media monitoring platform, has received pre-Series A funding of US$1.1 million from a group of leading venture capital firms based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The group of investors was led by Wamda Capital and includes Arzan Capital, Faith Capital, and Raed VC. The funds will enable Crowd Analyzer to scale up the business and expand its operations in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

Founded in 2014 by Ahmed Saad and Bahaa Galal, Crowd Analyzer entered the market commercially in 2016. The team specializes in Arabic-focused social media monitoring, analyzing content and conversations for sentiment, relevance and Arabic dialect using groundbreaking technology including AI, Proprietary Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing.

Crowd Analyzer works closely with strategic partners and global social networks to analyze publicly available data and provide updated insights to clients. With an offering in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, Crowd Analyzer’s portfolio spans major corporations in 10 different Arab countries and features international brands including Dubai Media Group, International Committee of the Red Cross, Expo 2020, Huawei, Souq.com, DHL and Uber.

Ahmed Saad, CEO and cofounder of Crowd Analyzer, said: “For three years, Crowd Analyzer has delivered actionable intelligence and data enabling world-class companies in the region to harness the power of social media. As the only Arabic-focused social media monitoring platform, we offer our clients invaluable data that incorporates regional dialects, relevance and of course sentiment analysis. This latest round of funding will enable us to continue our growth in Saudi Arabia and allow us to explore further opportunities in the regional market.”

Crowd Analyzer has supported major regional and international events such as the World Government Summit, Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx through setting up command centers to garner real time information on the conversations surrounding the events on social media. It offers allied services including PR mapping, competitor benchmarking, brand health audits and influencer analysis.

Bahaa Galal, CTO and Co-founder of Crowd Analyzer, said: “Our use of AI and Machine Learning enables us to better monitor social media and mine data, providing brands and organizations with the most up-to-date and relevant insights.”

The startup is one of the major success stories from TECOM Group’s in5 Innovation Centres that support entrepreneurs through training and mentorship, as well as access to facilities and creative space. The data intelligence provider recently moved from the in5 Tech Innovation Centre in Dubai Knowledge Village to a new office in Dubai Media City.