Zain’s internal innovation program, ZAINIAC, just made a power move by investing in Actly, a rising AI startup founded by one of their own — Ahmad AlObaid, a Zain Kuwait employee turned entrepreneur.
This investment is more than just funding — it’s a celebration of homegrown innovation, proving that Zain doesn’t just talk about empowering talent — it acts on it.
Meet Actly: AI With Real Impact
Actly is an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionize the way businesses interact with customers. It combines:
- ✅ Real-time insights
- ✅ Behavioral analytics
- ✅ Predictive reporting
With the ability to automate over 20,000 customer conversations per month, Actly helps businesses deliver personalized, scalable, and intelligent customer experiences like never before.
Whether it’s resolving queries or predicting customer needs, Actly’s AI agents are built to elevate service quality while keeping operational efficiency high.
Innovation From Within
What makes this story truly unique? Ahmad AlObaid, the founder and now CEO of Actly, began his journey inside Zain Kuwait. His leap from employee to founder is exactly what ZAINIAC was created to support.
ZAINIAC is Zain’s innovation engine, built to:
- Nurture bold ideas from employees
- Fund and guide internal startups
- Turn intrapreneurs into industry changemakers
This initiative is part of Zain’s broader ‘4WARD – Progress with Purpose’ strategy — promoting inclusive growth, tech innovation, and real-world impact across the digital economy.
What the Leaders Are Saying
Malek Hammoud, Chief Digital & Investment Officer at Zain Group, shared:
“We don’t just talk about innovation — we invest in it, especially when it comes from our own people. This deal is a strong vote of confidence in our employees’ potential to become the region’s next tech pioneers.”
Ahmad AlObaid, CEO of Actly, said:
“AI is reshaping the world. With Zain’s support and belief in local talent, we have a huge opportunity ahead. The future for Actly is bright, and we’re just getting started.”
What’s Next for Actly?
Actly has already begun pilot testing with select enterprise customers who have shared positive feedback and shown interest in adopting the platform.
Next steps include:
- Final development phase
- Launch within Zain Kuwait
- Future expansion to other Zain operations in the region
Why This Matters
This investment marks a major milestone for ZAINIAC’s mission to turn internal ideas into external impact. It’s also a shining example of how corporations can harness intrapreneurship to drive tech-forward growth and build a smarter digital future — from the inside out.