Iranian CRM provider Didar is eyeing a stock market debut and regional growth after securing backing from Hamid Mohammadi, co-founder of domestic e-commerce giant Digikala.

The funding round for the Sharif University-backed company, valued at around $870,000, also attracted support from Yaser Yavari, founder of marketing start-up Direct, IntelliNews learned on September 23.

Didar, formally known as "Abar Rayanesh Didar", said the fresh capital will be used to expand its client base, integrate artificial intelligence into its platform, and advance its plans for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Tehran Stock Exchange.

Founded in 2019, Didar has emerged as Iran’s leading CRM provider, serving more than 3,000 active small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, delivering cloud-based tools that allow businesses to manage customer relationships without heavy IT infrastructure.

Mohammadi described SMEs as the “heartbeat of Iran’s economy” and told IntelliNews, “I am drawn to teams and products whose core mission is empowering small and medium-sized businesses through technology.”

He noted that Didar’s simplicity, competitive pricing and adaptability give it a “competitive edge” against international rivals, and highlighted the potential to link the platform with domestic digital ecosystems,

He argued that the software could be linked with domestic digital ecosystems such as Digikala’s marketplace, creating additional sales channels for thousands of Iranian merchants.

With SaaS models requiring far lighter operational overhead than e-commerce or logistics, Didar is seen by investors as well placed to push into regional markets.

“Expansion can be pursued quickly through targeted sales and marketing campaigns without the heavy operational burden of platforms like Digikala,” Mohammadi said, pointing to scalability and localisation as key differentiators.

Artificial intelligence will sit at the centre of that growth strategy. Didar has already connected its CRM to social platforms including Instagram and Telegram, enabling it to capture sales leads directly and convert them into paying customers with little human involvement.

“AI can effectively act as a personalised sales agent,” Mohammadi said, highlighting how automation can cut manpower costs and free up resources for SMEs.

In a LinkedIn post following the deal, Mohammadi described the investment as part of a “long-term strategy” to back talented teams with a regional outlook.

He stressed his intention to see Didar listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange as a step towards greater transparency and access to larger pools of capital.

While constrained by sanctions and foreign investment barriers, Iran's tech ecosystem has seen rapid growth in SaaS adoption as companies seek affordable digital solutions.

Mohammadi, who launched Digikala in 2006 and turned it into one of the Middle East’s largest online retailers, has rarely taken minority stakes in start-ups. His support for Didar is therefore being read by Tehran investors as a bellwether of confidence in the resilience of Iran’s software sector.

“SMEs drive employment and innovation,” Mohammadi said. “My goal is for Iran’s tech capacity to bear fruit not only at home but across the region.”