News

UAE’s Silkhaus Secures Pre-Series A Funding For Expansion

The cash injection includes a multi-million-dollar credit line supporting the PropTech startup’s plans for growth.

Published

11 months ago

January 17, 2024

uae's silkhaus secures pre-series a funding for expansion

Silkhaus, a Dubai PropTech startup dedicated to transforming the short-term rental landscape in the Middle East and Asia, has recently announced a substantial pre-series A financing round. The funding comes via San Francisco-based Partners for Growth (PFG). The strategic partnership also grants Silkhaus access to a substantial credit line, which will facilitate its ambitious expansion plans.

Silkhaus harnesses cutting-edge technology to provide property owners with the essential infrastructure tools to manage and monetize their real estate assets. The startup oversees every aspect of the rental process, from handling bookings to property distribution and operations, ensuring an exceptional guest experience.

On average, property owners using Silkhaus platforms report earning between 20% to 40% more income compared to traditional rental models.

The significant cash injection means that Silkhaus is now poised to disrupt the global short-term rental sector, which boasts a valuation of over $100 billion.

aahan bhojani silkhaus ceo

Aahan Bhojani, the Founder and CEO of Silkhaus, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with PFG, saying, “Since our launch, Silkhaus has experienced incredible demand, growing by 120% over the past 12 months. We are thrilled to partner with the PFG team as we begin scaling Silkhaus across the GCC with a diversified capital stack and investor base”.

Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East

Meanwhile, Armineh Baghoomian, Managing Director and Head of EMEA at Partners for Growth, praised Silkhaus for its innovative approach, noting, “Through the use of technology, Silkhaus is reinventing how landlords and institutional investors are able to monetize their asset base. Silkhaus’ strong fundamentals have put them on the path to success and we are excited to be a part of their growth story”.

Established in 2021, Silkhaus has already attracted guests from over 120 countries to its properties. In 2022, the company secured $7.75 million in funding from a consortium of global investors, marking one of the most significant seed funding rounds in the history of the GCC region.

News

Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent

According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.

As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.

Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.

Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…

— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024

The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.

A Collaborative Software Effort

Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.

Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.

Feature Set And Compatibility

The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.