Project Summary
The Sakoo project delivered a comprehensive digital platform for a leading bank in Middle East subsidiary to identify and support FinTech startups across the region. The ecosystem guides entrepreneurs through a four-stage journey, from idea registration to execution, using a gamified, youth-friendly business plan interface that simplifies complex inputs through informal language and reverse engineering. Our team provided an end-to-end solution, including branding, website, integrated mentoring via video and chat, robust file management, and a custom KPI dashboard adapted to ensure transparency and progress tracking. In essence, Sakoo functions as a digital flight simulator for entrepreneurs, enabling safe experimentation and expert guidance before real-world launch
About the Client
The client is a leading bank in the Middle East that sought to expand its influence beyond traditional financial services by actively identifying and fostering innovation within the regional startup ecosystem. Their primary challenge was a lack of a structured mechanism to discover and support entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in the FinTech sector outside of the main cities. They required a scalable digital solution capable of guiding diverse talent through the complexities of business development, while providing integrated access to mentorship and banking services
The Challenge
The bank faced several difficulties in finding the right startups:
Decentralising Innovation: Identifying and supporting high-potential FinTech startups in remote areas across the region, beyond the central hubs.
Lowering Access Barriers for Young Founders: Making professional business planning approachable for a young audience (ages 20–25) who may find traditional financial documents intimidating or overwhelming.
Meeting Institutional Standards: Translating the complex requirements of banks, VCs, and accelerators such as market validation and financial planning into a clear, structured digital format.
Managing the Startup Lifecycle: Supporting a flexible, multi-stage journey that moves startups from idea registration through evaluation, market entry, and execution.
Evolving Beyond Static Business Plans: Replacing rigid, one-time documents with living plans that adapt to real-world data, feedback, and market changes.
Coordinating Expert Mentorship: Integrating mandatory coaching checkpoints and real-time communication into a multi-phase digital workflow.
Ensuring Performance Transparency: Defining and tracking relevant KPIs and progress metrics across diverse startup models for fair and objective evaluation.
Reverse-Engineering Requirements: Breaking down every element of a world-class business plan to design a comprehensive and structured data-capture system.
The Solution
Bugloos developed the Sakoo Platform, a comprehensive system designed to guide startups through ideation, business planning, market validation, and execution, ensuring every step provides high professional standards. The platform is structured around four progressive stages:
Guided Step-by-Step Planning: The platform asks simple questions to guide you through four steps from idea to launch to create a strong business plan for investors.
Engaging & Interactive UX: Designed for young entrepreneurs, the experience uses gamified elements like sliders and smileys to make the process intuitive and motivating.
Integrated Expert Coaching: Startups are never alone. They can connect with mentors and advisors for real-time guidance directly through integrated chat and video calls.
Dynamic Validation & Tracking: The system helps startups test their ideas against the real market and uses a live dashboard to track KPIs, ensuring the plan stays relevant and on track.
The Outcome
The Sakoo platform successfully streamlined the investment process.
Startup Visibility & Evaluation
The platform enabled the bank to systematically identify, assess, and compare high-potential startups from across the region, including underrepresented regional cities, significantly improving geographic reach and investment inclusivity.
Operational Efficiency Through Structured Enablement
By combining gamified workflows with embedded expert coaching, Sakoo reduced the complexity of professional business planning. Startups were able to complete sophisticated, investment-ready documentation without reliance on costly external consultants.
Accelerated Startup Readiness & Growth
Founders gained direct access to essential resources, including funding instruments, workspaces, mentorship, and core banking services, allowing them to move from idea to execution more quickly and with greater confidence.
Improved Investment Decision Quality
The use of standardised data capture, KPIs, and transparent progress tracking improved the quality and consistency of investment decisions for the bank and its partners.