Orcas, an Egyptian online tutoring startup, has been acquired by Baims, a prominent Kuwaiti ed-tech company, in a strategic move to capitalize on the growing education market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), estimated at US$100 billion. Founded by Hossam Taher and Amira El Gharib, Orcas specializes in personalized one-on-one tutoring to improve the learning experience for students. After securing pre-Series A funding and expanding its presence in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Orcas has now been fully acquired by Baims.

Baims, known for its focus on high school and university education, aims to become a comprehensive ed-tech platform serving both K12 and university learning needs. With this acquisition, Baims intends to establish itself as a leading player in the MENA region’s ed-tech landscape. Backed by substantial funding of over US$11 million from key investors, including Access Bridge Ventures, Algebra Ventures, and others, the newly consolidated company is poised to dominate the market.

Yousef AlHusaini, CEO of Baims, highlighted that acquiring Orcas Tutoring isn’t just about expanding their reach but redefining the ed-tech scene in MENA. This consolidation will enable the combined entity to offer a holistic learning experience by merging Baims’ online recorded courses with Orcas Tutoring’s personalized one-to-one tutoring platform.

Hossam Taher, CEO of Orcas, expressed their goal to create synergies by introducing personalized K12 tutoring services initially in the GCC and later expanding their offerings to cater to the diverse needs of university students. This acquisition positions the newly formed company to innovate and offer a comprehensive suite of educational services in the region.