Saudi-based social media platform Bubbl has successfully raised $350,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by angel investor Abdullah Al Dosari, which was announced on Sunday. Aya Alhamoud, an entrepreneur, started Bubbl in March 2024 to change how people use social media in the Kingdom by giving them a platform tailored to their culture and social life.

The recent funding will enable Bubbl to enhance its technological capabilities, expand its feature set, and broaden its reach within Saudi Arabia and international markets. With a vision to create a vibrant online community that fosters genuine connections, Bubbl is poised to challenge existing global social media giants while promoting local innovation.

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Bubbl: Local innovation with global ambition

Bubbl is positioned as a platform with the potential to rival established global social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. These competitors dominate the market with their extensive user bases and diverse features, but Bubbl aims to carve out its niche by focusing on intimate connections among a limited circle of friends, allowing users to share thoughts without the pressures of likes and follower counts. 

Abdullah Al Dosari, the lead investor, recognises the app’s unique approach, which includes localised features tailored to Saudi users.This strategic focus on local needs allows Bubbl to scale effectively in international markets, representing a significant shift in a space previously dominated by a few major players.

The platform sets itself apart by offering a distinctive social media experience. It integrates a widget that displays live text feeds from close friends directly on users’ home screens, fostering a sense of immediacy and intimacy in interactions. Users can share thoughts and statuses with a limited circle of up to 20 people, allowing for genuine connections without the pressures of follower counts commonly seen on other platforms.

Bubbl surges to 60,000 daily users, tops App Store charts

Since its launch in March, Bubbl has experienced remarkable user growth, attracting 60,000 active users daily. This surge has propelled the app to top the Apple App Store rankings in Saudi Arabia. Alhamoud has expressed his goal to reach 1 million daily active users, with plans to use the newly acquired funding to enhance app features and broaden market presence.

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Elevate your connections with Bubbl

Bubbl’s innovative features contribute significantly to its appeal. The app allows users to send custom notes that appear instantly on their friends’ widgets, creating an engaging and interactive experience. Users can react to notes without worrying about likes or follower counts, promoting authenticity in communication.

Bubbl also lets users preserve shared notes as images of key times. This feature promotes personal ties while ensuring privacy in a close group.

As Bubbl looks toward future growth, it remains committed to preserving its local essence while expanding its global footprint. The recent funding is crucial for realising these ambitions, ensuring that Bubbl continues to innovate and effectively meet its users’ needs.