Omani IoT startup eMushrif raises $2.3 million Series A

Muscat-based IoT (Internet of Things) startup eMushrif has raised $2.3 million in a Series A round led by Oman’s IDO Investments, it announced in a statement today. The round was also joined by other Omani investors including Phaze Ventures and Otf Jasoor Ventures, as well as Dubai-based Dtec Ventures, Myrad Holdings, and a few angel investors. It takes the eMushirf’s total raise to date to over $3 million.

Founded in 2016 by Adnan Al Shuaili, Awadh Al Shukaili, and Issa Al Shuaili, eMushirf had started with the use of IoT to turn school buses into smart buses, enabling automatic attendance marking of the students but since the start of the pandemic has expanded into multiple other IoT based solutions.

The startup has built an IoT wearable (wristband) that helps with contact tracing. eMushirf has provided the wearable to Oman’s government that is using it to ensure quarantine compliance by Covid-19 patients and the travelers visiting Oman (with it managing the onboarding process for them through its online platform. eMushirf has provided 14,000 of these wearables to date.

It has also introduced a smart contactless attendance and asset tracking system for corporates. eMushrif currently operates in Oman and Kuwait, with its main product being used in over 800 school buses in 90 schools across these two markets. Its IoT solutions for commuting are also being used in different other industries (in addition to schools).

The Omani startup now plans to use the latest funds to expand to new verticals and markets across the region. It will also use the investment for product development.

Adnan Al Shuaili, co-founder and CEO of eMushrif, said, “With our current fundraise, we can continue to serve thousands of parents and save lives on school buses and regain parents’ trust in school transportation. We are also revolutionizing commuting services in other verticals such as oil and gas by providing intelligent commuting management system and ensuring the safety of the community by implementing COVID-19 quarantine compliance.”

Mazin Al Naamani, Portfolio Impact Lead at IDO Investments said, “eMushrif embodies the spirit of future-facing Omani startups of global potential. The company is exceeding all expectations and we are pleased to join hands in pursuing the company’s mission. IDO’s investment will be a catalyst in boosting growth and expansion for eMushrif. This capital injection will help in enriching existing jobs as well as providing new skilled job opportunities for Omanis.”

Julien Plouzeau, Investment Manager at Dubai based DTec Ventures added, “Dtec Ventures sees a great potential for eMushrif in the UAE and is ready to support the founders to get traction with local institutions.”