• Lola, a Bahrain-based foodtech, has raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed funding round from Plus VC, Vision Ventures, and angel investors.
• Founded in 2023 by Othman  Janahi, Lola offers a customisable cake ordering service for customers in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
• This investment will fuel Lola’s expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.

Press release:

Lola Do Inc. (Lola), an up-and-coming innovative tech startup  offering a highly customisable cake ordering service like never before through a mobile app, has  successfully raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed investment round in partnership with Vision  Ventures and Plus VC, the most active VCs in MENA, alongside other strategic angel investors. Lola has established itself as a key player in personalised celebrations. This investment marks a  transformative step in Lola’s journey, fuelling its expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.  

Lola has redefined the way people celebrate by offering an easy to use, fully customizable cake ordering experience through its innovative mobile app. Founded by Othman Janahi, Lola launched  in Bahrain in September 2023, quickly gained traction and expanded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in  July 2024. It further expanded its footprint by launching in the UAE in December 2024.  

"We are thrilled to have such experienced and knowledgeable investors who share our vision.  Their belief in our mission has helped us cross a significant milestone in raising this round. Beyond  capital, their strategic insights and seasoned guidance are invaluable as we drive forward," said  Othman Janahi, Founder and CEO of Lola.  

“The cake industry is vast and fiercely competitive, but Lola has always been about baking  memories, not just delivering a product. Since its launch, Lola has experienced rapid growth,  increasing 5 times its size and market share in terms of cakes baked and occasions celebrated -  and that’s just the beginning. As the demand for personalized gifting solutions continues to grow,  Lola remains committed to setting new industry standards, delivering unparalleled customization  options and ensuring that every celebration has Lola as its centerpiece.”  

With this investment, Lola will enhance its platform, expand its team, optimize logistics and  revolutionize cake customization in this highly competitive industry. While increasing market growth  and presence in Saudi Arabia remains our primary focus, we are also committed to accelerating  Lola’s expansion across the other GCC countries and beyond. The company is set to broaden its  footprint in key Saudi cities, starting with Jeddah and the Eastern Province, to reinforce its position  in the Kingdom as it builds a gifting ecosystem tailored to the region.  

In an increasingly competitive FoodTech and gifting landscape, Lola distinguishes itself by  delivering a highly personalized, tech-driven experience that seamlessly blends creativity,  convenience, and exceptional quality. Lola’s mission is not only to bake memories but also to  redefine what it means to give and receive truly meaningful, memorable gifts.  

Kais Al Essa, Founding Partner and CEO at Vision Ventures, commented, “We can all see how  ordering cake today is awkward for both the client and the bakery. Lola fixes that by delivering an  innovative ordering app through which clients can imagine and see how their cake will look through  an easy-to-use and fun experience. The bakery, on the other hand, gets an accurate design along 

with colours and details that make delivering on the client’s imagination easier than ever before. We  always love it when technology is used to solve real-life problems and make life easier for people.  We believe Lola’s approach to cakes is disruptive and therefore envision that in the future Lola will  empower cake making everywhere. We are excited to support Othman and Lola’s team and expect  Lola to be a brand to reckon with soon.”  

Commenting on Lola’s fundraising announcement, Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at +VC, said, “We are always on the lookout for disruptive startups that redefine industries, and Lola is a perfect  example. By seamlessly integrating personalisation and technology into the gifting experience,  Lola is transforming the way people celebrate. Their innovative approach not only enhances  convenience but also redefines how special moments are shared. We are excited to support  Othman and his team as they expand across the region and establish themselves as  pioneers in this space.”  

With its vision set on elevating cake customisation and enhancing the consumer experience, Lola is  ready to solidify its competitive advantage in Saudi Arabia and elevate its mission of bringing  personalised celebrations to more customers across the region and baking memories, one cake  and one celebration at a time.  

Lola embodies warmth, creativity and the joy of celebrating special occasions and moments, big  and small. Lola enables customers to design and personalise cakes with an unparalleled level of  detail, ensuring that every cake is as unique as the occasion it marks. With Lola, customers can  design their own cake in 1 minute or less, with the luxury of choosing from thousands of unique  designs, colors and customised combinations to create their perfect cake. By seamlessly blending  technology, personalization and operational efficiency, Lola is revolutionising how people  celebrate and gift, making every order a truly customised experience.