Wittify.ai, a fast-growing AI-native startup, has secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to launch its Arabic-first conversational AI platform. The round was backed by prominent angel investors and business leaders in Saudi Arabia and will fuel the startup’s product development, regional scaling, and deeper investment in Arabic speech technology.
Founded in 2024 and based in Riyadh, with offices in Dubai and Cairo, Wittify is building intelligent AI agents that don’t just talk but also listen, act, and integrate into business workflows. Their beta platform is now live, allowing companies to create voice, text, or hybrid AI agents optimized for the Arabic-speaking market.
Bridging the Language Gap in AI
According to Founder & CEO Nader El-Batrawi, Wittify is addressing a critical gap in the AI ecosystem: the underrepresentation of Arabic as a primary language in global conversational platforms.
“We’re not just filling a gap,” said El-Batrawi. “We’re building global-grade Arabic AI that empowers businesses to operate intelligently in their native tongue.”
With over 20 years of international experience, El-Batrawi brings strong strategic and technical leadership to Wittify. He’s joined by Co-founder Dr. Sarah Alhumoud, a leading authority in Arabic AI and the company’s Chief AI Officer.
Built for the Arab World, And Beyond
Wittify’s AI agents are:
- âś… Arabic-native, not just translations of global models
- âś… Built on proprietary ASR and TTS engines, trained on over 25 Arabic dialects
- âś… Developed using a no-code/low-code interface, making setup easy
- âś… Capable of handling real-world business tasks, not just chatbot replies
- âś… Fully integrated into tools like CRMs, websites, telephony systems, and social platforms
Dr. Sarah Alhumoud emphasized the importance of creating technology that mirrors the cultural and linguistic depth of Arabic speakers.
“We’re designing AI that understands the human nuances of Arabic communication, from dialects to tone to intent,” she said.
With a background that includes a PhD from the University of Glasgow, a postdoc at MIT, and leadership roles such as Head of AI at King Salman’s Arabic Language Complex, Dr. Alhumoud’s influence is central to Wittify’s innovation.
Gaining Early Momentum
Wittify is already making waves in the MENA region. It has secured enterprise and government clients and is currently part of three major accelerator programs:
- âś… inspireU by stc
- âś… MISK Entrepreneurship Foundation (with Plug and Play)
- âś… TikTok x Blossom Accelerator
These programs are giving Wittify the traction and exposure it needs to scale rapidly and prepare for global competition.
A Regional Leader with Global Vision
Wittify’s ultimate mission is to become the go-to conversational AI platform for Arabic speakers. It wants to achieve all that while maintaining the tech muscle to compete globally. By blending regional language depth with international AI best practices, the startup is setting a new standard for localized, intelligent customer interaction.