Manama / Dammam: Bahrain-founded D2C foodtech startup Lola has raised $3 million in a seed funding round led by Vision Ventures, with participation from Aljazira Capital, Seedra Ventures, and Plus VC, alongside other investors.
Founded in 2023 by Othman Janahi, Lola offers a digital-first platform that allows users to design and order fully customised cakes through an interactive and seamless experience. The startup is currently operational across Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, driven by growing regional demand for personalised celebration experiences.
The company previously raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed round in February 2025 from Plus VC, Vision Ventures, and angel investors.
Scaling Through Infrastructure and Cloud Kitchens
The newly secured capital will be used to establish a central production facility in Dammam, alongside a distributed network of cloud bakeries across key markets. This hybrid model aims to enhance consistency, operational control, and scalability while maintaining fast delivery and product quality.
Initially, Lola relied on local bakery partnerships to fulfil orders, enabling rapid early expansion. However, the company is now shifting toward a more controlled and scalable infrastructure to meet rising demand.
Addressing a Fragmented Market
Lola was created to address a common consumer pain point: the difficulty of ordering customised cakes that accurately reflect customer expectations. Its platform allows users to visually design cakes in real-time, reducing the need for back-and-forth communication with traditional bakeries.
Commenting on the investment, Kais Al Essa, Founding Partner and CEO at Vision Ventures, said the startup is solving a widespread problem in a large and growing market.
“We all experience pain trying to describe how we want our cake to look for an occasion, only to get something totally different. Lola solves this issue through technology.”
He added that the cakes and celebration market in the region is projected to grow from $9.5 billion in 2025 to over $12 billion by 2030, highlighting the scale of the opportunity.
Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner at Plus VC, noted that Lola is setting a new benchmark by digitising a traditionally fragmented industry.
“The platform has already demonstrated strong value creation for customers, reflected in its rapid and enthusiastic demand growth across markets.”
Vision Beyond Cakes
Founder Othman Janahi emphasized that the company’s ambition extends beyond cake customisation.
“What we’re building at Lola goes far beyond cakes — it’s a new way to create and experience celebrations.”
Looking ahead, Lola plans to evolve into a broader celebrations platform, expanding into gifting, decorations, and related services, positioning itself to capture a larger share of the MENA celebrations market.
With strong investor backing and a clear roadmap, the company is aiming to scale its operations while redefining how consumers experience celebrations across the region.
