In the ancient alleys of Acre's Old City, Muhammad Hani struggled to order takeaway pizza due to the maze of tightly packed buildings and narrow streets that left many Arab citizens cut off from delivery services. The 27-year-old said only residents knew how to navigate these neighborhoods, and even if a driver found the house, many Arab citizens could only pay with cash, while companies like Wolt only accepted card payments. This experience led to the creation of Haat, a delivery company that combines technology with the convenience of cash.
Founded by Hasan Abasi in the Arab-majority town of Umm al-Fahm, Haat now offers services across 50 cities, working with over 10,000 restaurants and markets, and employing more than 500 couriers. The company's success has earned it a valuation of over $100 million. Abasi came up with the idea for Haat while working for Google in Switzerland and returned to Umm al-Fahm to launch the business with five others. The experience of trying to order a pizza and the courier getting lost helped Abasi recognize a wider problem and opportunity.
Haat's creative strategy helped Abasi nab a place on Globes' 40 Under 40, an annual list recognizing promising young Israelis. The company's initial goal was simple: combine technology with the old-fashioned convenience of cash. However, the technology ultimately found uses far beyond its initial goal, helping the Israeli postal service map villages and allowing small, local restaurants to grow a customer base far beyond their neighborhoods. This has enabled businesses like Krunchy Chicken to expand their reach.
Krunchy Chicken began as a single fried chicken restaurant in Baqa al-Gharbiyye and has since opened two more branches in the Israeli Triangle. Manager Sharif Masarweh said Haat's online exposure and payment options greatly helped the business. The fact that Haat offers a cash option allowed more people to use the application and order food from Krunchy Chicken and other restaurants. This has been particularly useful in neighborhoods like Jaffa, where many residents rely on cash because they do not have bank cards.
Haat has expanded its services to allow users to pay utility and phone bills with cash. The company's cash option has become one of its most significant advantages in every area where it operates. According to Aida Kaddan, Haat's PR and Communications lead, the cash option came from answering the needs of society and has now become a key part of the business. This has enabled Haat to reach those underserved by other delivery applications.
Haat has also helped redraw the map of underserved cities by tracking courier routes and using machine learning to identify roads, neighborhoods, buildings, and entrance points overlooked by conventional navigation services. The company's maps now include 30% more streets in the areas it serves than other mapping platforms. This has been particularly useful for residents in Umm al-Fahm, where many lower-income families do not have access to electronic payment options.
Haat recently expanded into Tel Aviv, taking on Finland's Wolt, the dominant player in Israel's food delivery market. The local competitor is trying to build its own foothold in Tel Aviv using its strengths. According to Kaddan, Haat reads the needs of local people because it is local and operates from within, seeing what is missing and trying to fill those gaps with tailored services.
Key points
- Haat's valuation has exceeded $100 million.
- The company operates in 50 cities, working with over 10,000 restaurants and markets.
- Haat's cash payment option has become a key advantage in its operations.
