Snoonu has launched Snoonu Startup Factory, a new initiative designed to support and empower the next generation of founders and startups in Qatar and across the region.
As part of its launch, the company revealed its inaugural investment, a $100,000 pre-seed funding in Sufra AI, a Qatar-based startup transforming the dining experience with intelligent, personalized digital menus.
Founded by Ekaterina Demenkova and Jemal Velihanova, Sufra AI is building what it describes as ‘the brain behind every table.’ Through a simple QR scan, diners can access a smart menu that adapts to their preferences, recommends personalized options, and enables seamless ordering, customization, and payment.
In addition to enhancing the customer experience, Sufra provides restaurants with real-time insights into customer behavior and spending patterns, with the potential to increase average order value by 20–30 percent.
The investment reflects a strong strategic alignment. While Snoonu has built its platform around delivery and digital commerce, Sufra focuses on the in-restaurant experience, together offering a more complete view of the customer journey.
Hamad Al Hajri, Founder and CEO of Snoonu, said that, “We believe the future will be built by founders. With the new startup factory, we are investing in people, ideas, and the ambition to create something meaningful from this region, and Sufra represents exactly that.”
Ekaterina Demenkova, the co-founder of Sufra AI, noted that, “We’re in the middle of the greatest technological shift in history, the AI era. F&B hasn’t felt it yet. Snoonu backed our ambition to give restaurants a system that actually fuels their growth; we’re ready to bring that change to every restaurant in the region.”
Snoonu Startup Factory
Snoonu Startup Factory aims to provide early-stage startups with access to funding, mentorship, and market opportunities, contributing to the growth of Qatar’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and builds on its ‘From Within’ approach to empowering local ecosystems.
The program will be anchored within its new HQ, the Snoonu Technology Park, reinforcing the company’s role as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, as per the statement.
