Stream, a Saudi-born payments platform redefining how businesses across MENA bill and get paid, has raised $4 million in seed funding led by Outliers VC, with participation from BYLD Ventures and angel investors including Abdullah Elyas, Co-founder of Careem.
Why it matters
Despite rapid digital adoption, most recurring payments in Saudi Arabia — such as tuition, rent, or subscriptions — still rely on manual or semi-manual processes. Stream wants to change that by automating the entire payment lifecycle for businesses.
How it works
Founded in 2024 by Ibrahim Aldlaigan, Stream offers tools that let businesses:
- Issue branded, app-free invoices
- Schedule flexible payment plans (one-time, recurring, or in parts)
- Collect payments through local rails
- Gain cash flow visibility and reconciliation tools
The platform initially targeted early childhood education businesses but has since expanded into school networks, SaaS providers, and other verticals. Stream reports 40% month-on-month growth, processing millions in payments across dozens of merchants.
The big picture
According to the Saudi Central Bank’s 2023 Payments Usage Study, the total value of payment transactions in Saudi Arabia hit $4.8 trillion, with 70% now digital. Yet only 7% of consumer transactions are recurring — a gap Stream aims to close.
💬 What they’re saying
“Most of the world’s innovation in payments has focused on how people spend. We’re focused on how businesses get paid,” said Ibrahim Aldlaigan, Founder & CEO of Stream.
“Stream gives businesses structure and control — we make payments predictable, flexible, and connected to the real flow of services.”
Sarah AlSaleh, General Partner at Outliers VC, added: “Stream is laying the foundation for the next generation of payment infrastructure in MENA. Ibrahim combines investor insight with relentless product execution.”
Youcef Oudjidane, Founder of BYLD, said: “It wouldn’t surprise me if we’re talking about the ‘Stream mafia’ in the years to come.”
What’s next
Stream plans to use the new funding to scale engineering, compliance, and user experience, and strengthen its systems to support a growing subscriber base.
