MakeO acquires Dubai-based health tech startup Smileneo

MakeO acquires Dubai-based health tech startup Smileneo

Dubai, United Arab Emirates / India: The use of telehealth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South Asia is surging with consumers and healthcare providers rapidly embracing digital-healthcare technologies. In response to the growing tech adoption for orthodontic care, Asia's makeO and MENA's Smileneo, both leading direct-to-consumer teeth-straightening platforms in their respective markets are joining forces. The combined entity will become the largest clinical beauty technology platform across the markets, with the scale to match consumers' demand. The acquisition amount has not been disclosed.

The deal is a significant milestone for the MENA and India entrepreneurship ecosystems since it is one of the first ever acquisitions of a GCC venture capital-backed startup by an Indian company. Additionally, the acquisition is one of the first examples of closer startup ecosystem cooperation between the MENA and India catalyzed by the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2022.

Founded by Dr. Jonathan Doerr, Smileneo and its orthodontic partners offer safe and effective doctor-prescribed and monitored clear aligners to straighten teeth for beautiful smiles. Launched in 2020, Smileneo has served thousands of patients through a network of more than 30 licensed partner orthodontists in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain