Prime Highlights:
- Former Scale AI executive Bilal Abu-Ghazalehhas launched 1001, a new startup focused on modernizing major industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
- The company has raised $9 million in seed fundingto build smart systems that automate operations and cut inefficiencies in sectors like aviation, logistics, construction, and oil & gas.
Key Background:
- 1001is based in London and Dubai, backed by investors including CIV, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and prominent figures such as Chris Ré, Amjad Masad, Amira Sajwani, and Hisham Alfalih.
- Founded just two months ago, the startup is already in talks with major construction firms and airports in the Gulf, with its first project expected by the end of the year.
Background
Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, a former Scale AI executive, has started a new company called 1001, focused on improving key industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The startup, based in London and Dubai, has raised $9 million in seed funding led by CIV, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital, with support from well-known global and regional investors such as Chris Ré, Amjad Masad (Replit), Amira Sajwani (DAMAC), and Hisham Alfalih (Lean Technologies).
Founded just two months ago, 1001 aims to reduce inefficiencies in major sectors like aviation, logistics, construction, and oil and gas by building smarter systems for faster and better decision-making. According to Abu-Ghazaleh, these industries collectively face over $10 billion in inefficiencies across the Gulf region, representing a massive opportunity for optimization and digital transformation.
The company’s technology will use real-time data to improve and automate important operations. For example, instead of managers giving tasks like rerouting vehicles or moving crews, 1001’s system will do it automatically, helping work get done faster and at lower cost.
The company is already talking with big construction firms and airports in the Gulf for its first project, which is set to start by the end of the year. Backers believe that by focusing on physical-world problem-solving, 1001 AI can revolutionize how infrastructure-heavy sectors operate in the region.
“The MENA region offers immense potential with mission-critical industries that are under-digitized and ready for AI transformation,” said Deena Shakir, Partner at Lux Capital.
Abu-Ghazaleh, who previously led Scale AI’s GenAI operations and worked in computer vision startups in the U.S., brings years of experience in building and scaling AI-driven systems. With operations expanding across Dubai and London, 1001 AI plans to become the Gulf’s go-to AI orchestration platform for critical sectors before pursuing global expansion.
