Beirut-based digital dental startup Basma has raised $1.2 million in a seed funding round led by B&Y Venture Partners and Cedar Mundi Ventures, with joint participation from iSME and various business angels.

The startup plans to use the funding to further push its technology base and fuel expansion in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

Basma is a direct-to-consumer digital healthcare company that aims to give customers straighter and brighter teeth. The startup allows customers to order an impression kit at home and then have invisible aligners customised and delivered back to them. The whole process is completed online, with no need to visit an orthodontist.

“Seven out of 10 people in the Arab world can benefit from straighter teeth. But we think that everyone deserves to smile confidently. Aligners are the best alternative to braces, by changing the distribution channel and putting everything online, Basma cuts the treatment cost by up to 65 per cent. Patients are constantly connected to doctors on our advanced telemedicine platform and are able to receive the treatment kit that will have a series of clear custom fitted aligners, straight to their homes,” said Cherif Massoud, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Basma.

Bassel Attieh, chairman and managing partner of Cedar Mundi Ventures said: “We see much appetite for HealthTech and cosmetics services in the Middle East, both from consumers and professionals. And the teeth aligner industry is only getting started here. We believe in Basma’s bright future, building on local entrepreneurial and tech talents, and leveraging internationally-acclaimed remote professional initiatives for and from the region.”