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Egyptian taxi app Ousta has launched an on-demand courier and delivery service for businesses and individuals as it looks to expand its offering.

Launched at the start of last year, Ousta raised a US$1.25 million bridge investment round from a group of angels and venture capitalists from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August.

The startup, which operates in 11 cities and claims to have a 30 per cent weekly growth rate, has now launched delivery app Oustaman, which provides customers with an instant, reliable and safe way to request a professional runner to run their errands, pay bills or deliver shipments.

Oustaman is currently crowdsourcing runners with motorcycles, and in the near future will be adding vans. The service is currently available in Greater Cairo, and will soon launch in Alexandria and other major cities.

Ousta co-founder and chairman Nader El-Batrawi said the startup plans to expand the service globally, with Saudi Arabia being the likely first stop.

“On-demand courier and delivery service is a new model and concept in Egypt, and we are creating a new trend in Egypt which is not an easy task, but in time our model will grow fast because there is a deep need for such service. Also for online retailers we are helping them to offer “same-hour” delivery to their customers which is considered as a huge benefit,” he said.

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