AI Trade Finance Platform Raises US$3M Seed Round
Small exporters rejected by banks gain an investor-backed settlement option, though mamun's track record is still early.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Startups
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mamun, a Sharia-compliant platform building capital infrastructure for trade finance, raised a US$3 million seed round led by Phaze Ventures through its Oman Fund, with Jasoor Ventures participating. The round targets trade finance firms and exporters along the Greater Bay Area, Oman and UAE corridor.
Why it matters
Banks rarely bridge the payment gap for exporters because they typically rely on a long financial track record that many small exporters lack, leaving trade finance gaps that the Asian Development Bank puts at US$2.5 trillion globally. For small exporters and trade-finance-dependent operators, the funding signals a push toward alternative, investor-backed capital for trade settlement.
The Asian Development Bank estimates the global trade finance gap at US$2.5 trillion, and 41% of SME trade finance applications are turned down. Oman's non-oil exports rose about 10% and re-exports 13.6% year-on-year through July 2026, and 84% of banks in the ADB's January 2026 survey apply AI to trade finance risk.
The players
Phaze Ventures
An Oman-based venture investor that led mamun's seed round through its Oman Fund.
Jasoor Ventures
A venture investor that participated in mamun's seed round.
Financial Services Authority of Oman
Oman's financial regulator, which licenses and supervises mamun's platform under FSA Licence CMI051.
Asian Development Bank
A multilateral development bank whose January 2026 survey and US$2.5 trillion trade finance gap estimate frame the market.
The details
mamun's AI-native underwriting assesses the company, the contract, the buyer, the trade documents and the trading history together, rather than relying on a long financial track record. Its origination engine finds and screens trades as they form, and investors on the platform then finance the gap. The platform is licensed and regulated by Oman's Financial Services Authority (FSA Licence CMI051), and roughly 40% of its settlements clear through Hong Kong-based institutions and businesses.
Timeline
The Asian Development Bank survey on AI in trade finance was published in January 2026.
Oman's non-oil and re-export growth figures were recorded across the first seven months of 2026.
The mamun seed round was announced on November 4, 2026.
Market Landscape
The Asian Development Bank's US$2.5 trillion trade finance gap estimate frames the market mamun is entering, and its January 2026 survey shows 84% of banks already applying AI to trade finance risk. mamun's approach positions it as an AI-native, investor-funded alternative in a segment where banks have historically been the main source of bridge financing.
Small exporters that struggle to qualify for bank trade finance should monitor whether investor-backed platforms like mamun expand access to settlement financing. Operators in trade-dependent sectors may want to compare alternative financing options with their current bank arrangements, and should take advice from a qualified accountant or financial adviser on any financing decision.
The takeaway
Trade finance is a documented pressure point for small exporters, and funding rounds like mamun's signal investor interest in alternative capital for that gap. Operators who depend on trade credit should track whether such platforms gain the licensing and settlement track record needed to become a practical option.
Further reading
For related coverage of early-stage funding rounds and the companies behind them, see the Startups section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Macau Business.
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