Dubai – Sharikat Mubasher: International Holding Company (IHC)  announced the acquisition of eFunder, the UAE’s first private SME financing platform, rebranding it as Zelo as part of a strategic push to expand access to capital for the region’s small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fully licensed by the ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Zelo provides receivables-based financing that enables businesses to convert approved invoices into working capital within 24 to 48 hours. Since its launch in 2020, the platform has processed over 9,000 transactions and deployed more than $200 million in funding, according to a recent press release.

The rebrand marks a new growth phase for Zelo under IHC’s stewardship, with the aim of addressing the MENA region’s estimated $250 billion SME credit gap. SMEs represent more than 95% of registered businesses in the UAE but often face long payment delays that strain cash flow and hinder growth.

Now backed by IHC, Zelo plans to scale its reach across key sectors such as logistics, construction, healthcare, and oil & gas. The platform remains led by co-founders Dhanush Arjun (CEO) and Deepak Sekar (COO), and continues to offer fast, digital-first solutions to accelerate reinvestment and fuel business growth.