Syria-based professional services marketplace Salehli has raised $100,000 in pre-seed funding to expand its operations and develop offerings for businesses and institutions. The round was led by EBLA Ventures, with participation from Maynger Ventures and investors from Syria, the Gulf region, and East Asia. Co-founder and CEO Abdulrahman Arnawout announced the financing during the SYNC conference, outlining plans to reach more Syrian cities and broaden the platform’s services.
Funding to Support Platform Expansion
Salehli intends to direct the new capital toward enlarging its network of available professional services while developing a business-to-business offering. The planned expansion includes preventive maintenance services for organizations, alongside a wider range of services for individual customers. By pursuing both markets, the company aims to increase the number of customers and service providers using its digital marketplace.
The investment follows approximately ten months of operations since Salehli’s official launch, which received support from the Thimar program. The startup has since begun generating revenue, according to Arnawout, although it has not disclosed revenue figures or other financial performance indicators. The funding announcement marks a move from establishing its initial marketplace toward developing additional services and entering new geographic markets.
Simplifying Access to Professional Services
Salehli operates a platform that connects customers seeking professional services with verified providers working across different specialties. Instead of contacting individual workers separately, users can submit a request and receive multiple offers through the platform. The model is designed to make comparing available service providers more convenient and to provide a structured alternative to informal searches.
The company also addresses challenges faced by skilled professionals who have difficulty finding customers through conventional channels. Arnawout highlighted workers with professional qualifications and practical experience who may lack the resources to establish or rent their own workshops. Salehli seeks to give those providers another way to access demand, secure assignments, and develop more consistent sources of income.
Early Adoption and Marketplace Activity
Since its launch, Salehli reports attracting more than 15,000 users and building a network of over 3,500 verified professionals. The platform has also received more than 10,000 service requests, reflecting activity on both sides of its marketplace. These figures were shared by Arnawout in his funding announcement and describe the company’s early operational progress rather than independently audited performance.
The company views those figures as evidence of demand for a more organized approach to finding professional services in Syria. For customers, the platform offers a way to review competing proposals without undertaking separate searches for each provider. For participating professionals, the marketplace creates a channel through which their skills can reach individuals looking for specific services.
Developing Services for Businesses
A central priority after the fundraising is the activation of Salehli’s business-to-business model, extending its customer base beyond households. The proposed offering will target companies and institutions seeking professional support, particularly for ongoing maintenance and preventive maintenance requirements. This approach would allow the startup to serve organizational needs alongside the individual service requests already handled through its marketplace.
Salehli also plans to add further professional service categories and bring its platform to additional Syrian cities. Expanding supply and geographic coverage could help it accommodate different customer needs, although the company has not announced a timetable or identified its next launch locations. Its immediate challenge will be to translate early adoption into sustainable growth while maintaining an accessible marketplace for both customers and providers.
Salehli’s $100,000 pre-seed round provides new resources for its transition from a consumer-focused service marketplace toward a platform serving organizations as well. With more than 15,000 reported users and a network of thousands of verified professionals, the company enters this phase with an established base of marketplace activity. Its next stage will center on introducing business services, widening professional coverage, and extending its reach across Syria.