Ebrahim Al-Jassim (Ninja)
Overview
Ebrahim Al-Jassim, commonly referred to as "Ninja," is a prominent entrepreneur and business leader from Saudi Arabia, renowned for founding HungerStation, the first online food delivery platform in Saudi Arabia. Established in 2012, HungerStation catalyzed the food delivery industry in the Middle East, eventually growing into a household name before being acquired by Delivery Hero. Al-Jassim later founded Ninja, a quick commerce startup that has quickly established itself as a leading player in the Middle Eastern market.
Recent Developments
In recent years, Ebrahim Al-Jassim has continued to make headlines with his entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in the fast-evolving sector of quick commerce technology:
- March 2025: Ninja, founded by Al-Jassim, was in discussions to raise over $1 billion, positioning the startup as one of the fastest-growing unicorns in the Middle East. The funding round was primarily led by Riyad Capital, aiming to bolster Ninja's expansion and solidify its market position.
- 2024: Ninja expanded its services to include food delivery, increasing competition with other market giants like Delivery Hero’s HungerStation. With operational reach extending across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, Ninja solidified its status as the largest grocery delivery service by gross merchandise volume (GMV) in the region.
- December 2022: Ninja successfully closed a seed funding round of $30 million, which valued the company between $180 million to $200 million at that time. This rapid growth set the stage for further expansion and a potential public listing by 2027.
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ebrahim Al-Jassim |
| Born | Not publicly disclosed, Saudi Arabia |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Occupation | Founder and CEO of Ninja, Former Founder & Managing Director of HungerStation |
| Known For | Founding HungerStation and Ninja |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | Bachelor's in Islamic Finance from UCB |
Early Life and Education
Ebrahim Al-Jassim hails from a background in Saudi Arabia that afforded him a robust educational foundation. He pursued higher education at the University College of Bahrain (UCB), where he earned a bachelor's degree in Islamic Finance. This academic grounding in finance and management undoubtedly aided in his later ventures in the business world.
Career and Notable Achievements
Ebrahim Al-Jassim's career is marked by significant achievements and pioneering ventures which took the Middle East’s digital economy by storm:
- 2012: Founded HungerStation, the first online food delivery platform in Saudi Arabia, which quickly became a leader in the market and paved the way for numerous other digital and tech-based services in the region.
- 2019: Following internal disputes with its parent company, Delivery Hero, Al-Jassim exited HungerStation, which sparked a notable arbitration case regarding the use of company resources to create competing platforms.
- 2022: Launched Ninja, a quick commerce startup. Within a short span, Ninja achieved unicorn status, marking Al-Jassim’s second major success in the digital commerce industry.
Current Work and Impact
Currently, Ebrahim Al-Jassim is the driving force behind Ninja, a rapidly growing quick commerce platform. His work with Ninja continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the digital retail sector across MENA, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which intends to enhance the country’s technology and entrepreneurial landscape significantly.
Ebrahim Al-Jassim Net Worth
While Al-Jassim's exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, it is likely substantial given his role in founding and exiting lucrative businesses like HungerStation, and the rapid valuation growth of his latest venture, Ninja.
Hungerstation Owner Country
While originating in Saudi Arabia under Al-Jassim’s leadership, HungerStation was acquired by Delivery Hero, a German multinational online food-delivery service operating in multiple countries, indicating its substantial transformation from a local to a globally integrated company.
Conclusion
Ebrahim Al-Jassim's ventures have significantly impacted digital commerce in the Middle East, particularly in the realm of online and app-based services. As the founder of HungerStation and Ninja, he has demonstrated a keen ability to identify market opportunities, capitalize on digital trends, and drive substantial growth. His continuing contributions, especially via Ninja, signal ongoing influence in shaping the quick commerce and digital delivery sectors in the MENA region. Moving forward, Al-Jassim’s strategies and business models could well influence future technological advancements and entrepreneurial endeavors in the region.