Saudi YouTube start-up Telfaz11 raises $9m

Saudi digital media start-up Telfaz11 has raised $9m in a series A funding round led by Saudi Technology Ventures.

Other participants in the round included VentureSouq.

Telfaz11 has built its reputation by creating a series of successful YouTube shows including Temsa7LY, Khambalah, Alkhallat, and Telfaz11 Top 5.

It now has 20 million followers and and 2 billion views on YouTube, according to the announcement.

The company said it would use the funds to grow its creative and advertising offerings and expand into neighbouring markets.

“Saudi Arabia’s ongoing wave of economic diversification has unlocked a new era of entertainment in the country, opening doors to a whole new world of opportunities for local players like Telfaz11 and attracting tremendous investor interest in the Saudi market,” said CEO Alaa Yousef Fadan.

“In our pursuit to become the definitive media technology company for the social age, these investments will help accelerate our long-term growth plans, as we channel the funds towards expanding our team and exploring new platforms and verticals.”

Telfaz11 will be participating at the Cannes Film Festival next month as part of Saudi Arabia’s first official delegation.

Read: Saudi to establish national opera, orchestra, participate in Cannes

The plans come as the conservative kingdom loosens restrictions on entertainment to capture money spent by Saudi tourists abroad.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman launched a multi-billion-dollar entertainment resort outside of Riyadh that is expected to welcome 1.5 million visitors annually.

Read: Saudi launches multi-billion dollar entertainment resort

The event came little more than a week after the kingdom welcomed its first new cinema in decades after the lifting of a ban earlier this year.

Read: Saudi launches multi-billion dollar entertainment resort