Weekend Read
When Ameni Mansouri left her stable job in Paris to start a business in Tunisia, many thought she was making a mistake. Young professionals were leaving North Africa searching for opportunities abroad, but she did the opposite and came home to build something of her own.
She had always loved fashion and watched Tunisian women use Facebook groups to buy and sell clothes. There was something there, but Mansouri saw the need for a more structured platform where women could refresh their wardrobes, make money, and do it all sustainably. The only problem was that she had zero technical background to execute the idea.
So, over coffee with a friend, she voiced her frustration, and he quickly bought into the vision. Four days later, the first version of Dabchy was live. It wasn’t perfect, but that wasn’t the point. The goal was to test, learn, and adapt, and that’s exactly what she did.
More than a marketplace
Dabchy has always been about more than just buying and selling clothes. Launched in 2016 by Ameni Mansouri, Ghazi Ketata, and Oussema Mahjoub, it was built as a community-first platform, designed for women to connect, share, and empower each other through fashion. Affectionately called “Dabchouchas”, users are part of an ecosystem that grows on engagement, style inspiration, and sustainable fashion choices.
Recently, Dabchy secured an undisclosed seven-figure pre-series A funding round led by Fatoumata Bâ’s Janngo Capital, with additional support from investors like Karim Beguir (InstaDeep), Renew, and Village Capital. The fashion tech’s sense of community and commitment to circular fashion caught investors’ attention. Fatoumata Bâ of Janngo Capital, who led the funding, noted this investment as part of economic empowerment.
“The apparel market accounts for about 20% of Tunisia’s GDP, and 80% of the jobs created are for women in both Tunisia and Hinterland. Dabchy is truly a pioneer in the sustainable transformation of the whole apparel sector, enabling it to accelerate its growth while improving its economic, social, and environmental impact,” says Fatoumata Bâ, Founder and Executive Chair of Janngo Capital.
This recent funding is a vote of confidence in a vision reshaping fashion in North Africa.
What’s next for the Tunisian fashion startup?
With over 1.3 million registered users and 2 million+ items listed, Dabchy has already made waves in Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. And now, with this fresh investment, the startup is gearing up for its most enormous expansion yet, which will propel its expansion into Egypt and cement its place as a regional leader in circular fashion.
“We are thrilled by the confidence our investors have shown in us. This funding will accelerate our growth, enhance our user experience, and enable us to expand our reach across North Africa and the Middle East,” said Ameni Mansouri, CEO and co-founder of Dabchy.
The funding will enhance user experience, improve logistics, and ensure seamless payments.
