Opontia

Opontia is an e-commerce company headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded in February 2021 by Philip Johnston and Manfred Meyer.

The company specializes in acquiring, operating, and scaling online e-commerce brands primarily across the Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEEMEA) regions.

Opontia focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who have developed successful direct-to-consumer brands but lack the resources to grow further, providing them with operational expertise, marketing, warehousing, and logistical support to accelerate expansion.

Shortly after its inception, Opontia raised $20 million in a seed round from investors including Global Founders Capital, Presight Capital, Raed Ventures, and Kingsway Capital.

The company quickly expanded its footprint by acquiring Novimed, a UAE-based producer of consumer medical products, and opening offices in Turkey and Poland. In December 2021, it raised $42 million in a Series A funding round comprising both equity and venture debt, led by STV and supported by several other investors.

This funding round underscored Opontia’s rapid growth and ambition to become a leading digital consumer goods aggregator in the region.

With a team of over 50 employees and agreements with multiple brands, Opontia has positioned itself as a pioneer in the MENA e-commerce sector, adopting a roll-up model similar to successful US platforms like Thrasio.

The company continues to expand its presence, planning new offices in Egypt, Nigeria, and Pakistan, aiming to further scale its brand portfolio and influence in the growing digital marketplace.

Opontia’s business model and strategic growth plans have garnered significant investor confidence, setting it apart as one of the most promising new ventures in the e-commerce space in Dubai and the wider region.