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Dubai-based technology startup Zbooni is all set to expand operations after scoring a hefty $1.1 million in its latest funding round. The company confirmed this new development earlier on Wednesday, further adding that the round was led by Chalhoub Group and B&Y Venture Partners.

Zbooni made its debut in 2017 as a connected chat commerce app that enables businesses to improve sales figures using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The startup had its early moments of glory when it was handpicked to be a part of Facebook’s six-month incubator program. Only seven other startups were selected and Zbooni was the sole entity from the Middle East to have made it into the program.

Noting that social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are increasingly emerging as new mediums to conduct business, Ramy Assaf, CEO of Zbooni, said: “These channels are the modern equivalent of shop windows that showcase a merchant’s products and services to the world, but consumers want to engage before they transact.”

He added: “Zbooni connects merchants with customers while providing an easy way to make payments. We see strong demand from businesses in the UAE for this service, with the transaction volumes consistently growing at above 30 percent month-on-month. Transacting millions of dirhams of sales every month was a key milestone for us as the business continues to expand.”

The Zbooni app was built from the ground by the company’s in-house team. It is currently paired to two payment gateway options including Payfort and Stripe. Businesses from across niches and industries are currently using Zbooni to sell their products and services. These include, but not limited to fashion outlets, medical and healthcare stores, sports clubs, artists, cake shops.