Gobi-backed $20m round paves way for SG Islamic lifestyle app’s expansion plans

Bitsmedia managing director Nafees Khundker / Photo credit: Bitsmedia

After over a decade of operations, Bitsmedia, the Singapore-based firm behind Islam-focused lifestyle app Muslim Pro, has finally raised external funding, securing US$20 million in a series A round.

Previously, the company was primarily backed by internal shareholders CMIA Capital Partners and Bintang Capital Partners, which jointly acquired a controlling stake in Bitsmedia in 2017. The two VC firms participated in the latest funding, with the former co-leading the round alongside new investor Gobi Partners.

Founded in 2009, Bitsmedia helps Muslims across 190 countries track prayer times and provides other features on its app such as a qibla compass – to help locate the direction of the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, toward which Muslims face during their prayers – and audio recordings of the Quran in various languages.

With the new funding, the company plans to expand into new markets, going deeper into the Middle East and North Africa, Bitsmedia’s managing director Nafees Khundker tells Tech in Asia.

Gobi Partners’ investment is part of the VC firm’s TaqwaTech initiative, which supports tech-driven growth for companies meeting the needs of Muslim consumers globally.

Khundker says that Gobi Partners is also joining Bitsmedia’s cap table, indicating that it has acquired a stake in the startup. Moreover, the investor will appoint a director to the board of Bitsmedia.

Venturing into AI

In 2024, Bitsmedia aims to offer several new features, including an AI-based search engine that is set to roll out before the Ramadan month.

This AI feature serves as a place where users can seek detailed answers and analyses from credible sources on questions related to Islam.

“Let’s say someone wants to understand the difference between Islamic finance and traditional finance,” Khundker explains. “If you Google [it] or if you go into any other platform, you’ll probably get a lot of information from unverified sources.”

At the same time, Bitsmedia will also expand the content on its Quran reading feature, as well as on its streaming service Qalbox, which was launched last year.

Qalbox is a subscription-based video-on-demand platform offering Muslim lifestyle content, including movies, animations, documentaries, and Quran recitations.

Bitsmedia’s leadership team, including co-CEOs Nik Emir Din and Fara Abdullah (second and third from left), along with Qalbox-featured stars during a press conference about Qalbox’s partnership with Malaysia’s Astro / Photo credit: Bitsmedia

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