Saudi Arabia-based operational AI startup RIME has raised more than $2 million in a Seed funding round led by SEEDRA Ventures, with participation from Athla Investment, Unity Invest Partners, and a group of angel investors. The investment will support the company’s expansion across Saudi Arabia, accelerate the development of its proprietary AI platform, and enable enterprises to deploy scalable AI applications across day-to-day operations.
Founded in 2024 by Mohammed Almarshidi and Arif Alotaibi, RIME develops a Physical AI platform that enables organizations to deploy autonomous AI Agents directly within operational environments such as retail stores, branches, warehouses, and service centers. Rather than relying on cloud-based processing, the platform leverages Edge Computing and the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) to process data locally, allowing AI systems to make real-time decisions where events actually occur.
Today, RIME connects more than 6,000 cameras with AI agents across 2,000 operational sites throughout the GCC, making it one of the region’s fastest-growing Physical AI platforms. By combining visual data from cameras with information collected from onsite sensors, the platform enables organizations to improve operational efficiency, strengthen compliance, reduce waste, and minimize operational losses through instant, automated responses.
Mohammed Almarshidi, Co-founder of RIME, believes the industry is entering a new phase where artificial intelligence moves beyond digital interfaces into real-world environments.
“We are moving into a new era of Physical AI, where systems move beyond screens to interact and make decisions directly within operational environments. Processing data on-site through edge computing enables ultra-fast response times, seamless integration with existing infrastructure, and highly reliable AI deployments.”
The funding follows RIME’s earlier Pre-Seed round, which was also led by SEEDRA Ventures, highlighting the investor’s continued confidence in the company’s vision and execution. According to Abdullah Al Munif, Co-founder of SEEDRA Ventures, the opportunity lies not in building larger AI models but in transforming existing enterprise infrastructure into intelligent operational systems capable of making decisions in real time.
RIME plans to use the new capital to strengthen its market presence in Saudi Arabia, enhance its AI platform, and expand enterprise adoption across multiple industries. The company’s growth aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Data and AI, both of which seek to position the Kingdom as a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
