Mezza
Mezza is a UAE startup that gives restaurants upfront capital in exchange for future food and beverage credit, launched in March 2026 with an undisclosed seed round.
Industry: Hospitality financing | Location: United Arab Emirates | Founded: 2025 | Total Funding: Undisclosed
About Mezza
Mezza is a hospitality technology startup that launched in the United Arab Emirates in March 2026. It provides capital to restaurants and hospitality operators through a model that links financing to future customer spending. The company was founded in 2025 by Kevin Boubil, whose surname is also spelled Boublil in some databases. Crunchbase lists him as based in Dubai. Under the model, a restaurant receives upfront capital of roughly USD 5,300 to USD 2.7 million, and in return provides food and beverage credits that customers can redeem over a 12-month period. According to coverage of the launch, Mezza buys the credit at a wholesale rate and distributes it to members of its app. The company says the structure gives operators immediate liquidity without debt or dilution, while creating built-in incentives to drive foot traffic and repeat visits. The capital can be directed to operating expenses, growth projects or stabilising revenue. Press coverage contrasts the structure with traditional debt, which it describes as inflexible and often mismatched with seasonal or cyclical cash flow. Mezza has raised a seed round from a group of angel investors. The value was not disclosed. The company's press release said backers include the founders of Property Finder and Jellysmack and the chairman of Deel. No lead investor or round date has been published beyond the late-March 2026 announcement. At launch the company named hospitality partners including Gates Hospitality, Rosy Hospitality, Chic Nonna and Fab Food Co. The seed financing will support expansion across the UAE's hospitality sector. As the platform rolls out across the country's major cities, Mezza says it aims to refine its product, build partnerships with restaurateurs and explore adjacent markets. The launch comes amid growth in UAE startup funding and fintech innovation, and a wave of platforms offering tailored financial tools to small and medium-sized businesses in competitive sectors such as food and beverage.
Leadership
- Kevin Boubil, Founder