“Can a Jordanian SME lender become the embedded credit infrastructure for banks and platforms across the MENA region through API-first underwriting?”
Founded in 2013 as a peer-to-peer crowdfunding marketplace inspired by the Arab Spring, liwwa initially connected retail investors with Jordanian SME borrowers. As institutional capital proved more scalable, liwwa shifted its funding mix so that over 85% of its portfolio is now financed through local banks and international partners rather than retail crowd. The retail investor marketplace was formally closed to new investment, and liwwa pivoted to focus on direct SME lending, Sharia-compliant loan products, and an API-based 'Underwriting-as-a-Service' model for bank and fintech partners.
Liwwa was founded by Ahmed Moor and Samer Atiani and is founded in 2013, headquartered in Amman, Jordan.
Liwwa has raised $36.6M in total (latest round: Pre-Series B).
Get a read on where your own stack stands against Liwwa and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.