Saudi Arabia-based fintech Nayla Finance has closed a Pre-Series A funding round worth $17.9 million, combining equity and debt financing. The announcement was made during LEAP 26, where the company highlighted plans to expand digital lending for micro businesses across the Kingdom. The new capital is intended to accelerate artificial intelligence powered lending solutions and broaden access to financing in line with Vision 2030.
Funding Structure and Investor Backing
The equity portion of the round was led by Idrisi Ventures, with participation from Suhail Ventures and other strategic investors. BLOMINVEST led the debt facility, providing additional capacity to support Nayla's lending portfolio. This mix of equity and debt gives the company both growth capital and the ability to scale financing for underserved micro enterprises.
Closing a Critical Financing Gap
Micro businesses form the largest segment of Saudi Arabia's private sector, yet they frequently face limited access to financing because they lack audited financial statements or traditional collateral. Nayla addresses this challenge through a digital lending model that uses alternative data and proprietary credit assessment capabilities instead of conventional requirements alone. The company aims to serve entrepreneurs who are often excluded from traditional credit channels.
Market Opportunity and Early Traction
Saudi Arabia's micro business segment is central to private sector employment and economic activity, making fast digital financing a priority for inclusive growth. Nayla began operations in 2025 and has already received thousands of financing requests, reflecting strong demand for its services. The company has also provided tens of millions of riyals in financing, demonstrating early traction in the Kingdom's micro lending market.
Technology and Expansion Roadmap
Nayla plans to use the capital to increase financing for micro businesses across different regions of Saudi Arabia and to serve new customer categories. The company will also invest in enhancing its AI-powered credit intelligence platform, which supports faster and more accurate lending decisions. The platform uses alternative data and advanced analytics to evaluate creditworthiness without relying solely on financial statements and guarantees.
Regulatory Foundation and Strategic Origins
Founded by Shaqran Alyahya and Khalid Naili, Nayla is a fintech licensed by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, to provide microfinancing solutions. The company was built in partnership with Sanabil Studio, the venture building arm of Sanabil Investments, and it identifies as the first Sanabil Studio venture to close an institutional round. Co-founder and CEO Shaqran Alyahya stated that the capital enables significant expansion of financing access and continued investment in the firm's proprietary credit engine.
Vision 2030 and Ecosystem Impact
Nayla's expansion comes as Saudi Arabia continues to promote financial inclusion and entrepreneurship under Vision 2030. Its focus on alternative data could shape how lenders evaluate smaller businesses that do not fit conventional lending criteria. The participation of institutional investors and a dedicated debt provider signals growing confidence in financial infrastructure designed for small enterprises and entrepreneurs.
The successful close of Nayla's Pre-Series A round marks a meaningful step for Saudi Arabia's fintech ecosystem and for micro business financing. The company's next phase will depend on how quickly it can convert the new capital into a larger lending portfolio while maintaining disciplined credit performance. Continued development of its credit intelligence platform will also test whether its alternative data approach can scale beyond the current focus.