Woliz Raises USD 2.2 M To Digitise Morocco’s Neighbourhood Retail Economy

Moroccan retail-tech startup Woliz has raised USD 2.2 M in equity from Sanlam Maroc, marking the insurer’s first long-term private equity investment in Morocco’s startup ecosystem. The deal backs Woliz’s push to digitise the country’s vast but largely informal network of neighbourhood shops, known locally as the hanout economy.

Woliz provides connected point-of-sale terminals and software that help small retailers manage inventory, accept digital payments, and plug into a wider ecosystem of distributors, manufacturers, telecoms operators, and financial institutions.

Founded in 2024 by  co-founded by Kamal El Hardouzi (CEO), Ismail Amri (CFO/CPO), and Othman Jabrane (CTO), the platform also aims to structure retail data to improve access to formal financial services for shop owners typically excluded by banks.

The investment follows Woliz’s framework agreement with Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, under which 20,000 shops are expected to be digitised in the first phase. The fresh capital will support product development and nationwide rollout.