CADO, a premium gifting platform founded in the UAE, has successfully secured $4.5 million in a pre-seed funding round to enhance its regional and international presence. The funding round saw contributions from Sanabil 500, a venture capital initiative in the MENA region, a German family office, and several high-net-worth and angel investors.
Established by Leila Al Marashi, CADO started as a small startup in Dubai and has grown into a regional leader, operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States. The platform aims to revolutionize the gifting experience by integrating creativity, logistics, and technology, making corporate gifting both intelligent and emotionally meaningful.
Leila Al Marashi, Founder and CEO, emphasized the company’s mission to modernize gifting, blending innovation with personal touch. The expansion into Saudi Arabia has been a significant milestone, fostering a network that connects artisans, suppliers, and businesses committed to excellence. The recent funding will further accelerate CADO’s growth in Saudi Arabia and support its international expansion, beginning with a launch in New York.
CADO boasts a client roster of over 500 repeat partners, including notable names like Julius Baer, Cartier, Netflix, and Gucci. Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at Sanabil 500, highlighted CADO’s innovative approach to modern gifting, merging creativity, technology, and cultural relevance.
With its appearance on Shark Tank UAE and the initiation of its New York operations, CADO is set to become a global leader in the gifting industry, bridging local craftsmanship with global innovation.
