Raff, a Saudi-based retail technology startup, has raised $1.7 million from 500 Global, Palm VC, Oqal Group, Salla Co-Founder Salman Butt, and other investors to help digital-first consumer brands expand beyond e-commerce and into physical stores.
The company is building infrastructure that connects digital first consumer brands with physical retail, giving businesses that have traditionally sold through websites and social platforms access to offline distribution and customers.
Raff says the new funding will support its product development, market expansion and efforts to grow its network of brands and retail partners.
The company is positioning its platform as an alternative to the traditional route of launching standalone stores, which can require significant capital and operational resources.
For emerging and Black-owned brands, Raff can lower the barriers to physical retail, enabling smaller businesses to test markets, reach new customers and expand their presence without committing substantial upfront capital.
