Hsoub
Hsoub is a London-domiciled technology company operating ten Arabic-language platforms serving MENA professionals, freelancers, and companies, spanning freelance marketplaces (Mostaql, Khamsat), SaaS tools (Sndian, Ana, Zaetoon), education (Hsoub Academy), and recruitment (Baaeed).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Hsoub does
Hsoub is a London-domiciled technology holding company operating an ecosystem of ten wholly-owned Arabic-language internet platforms serving professionals, freelancers, and companies across the Middle East and North Africa. The portfolio spans three layers: freelance and marketplace platforms (Mostaql for freelance hiring, Khamsat for digital services, Picalica for digital products and templates, Baaeed for remote technical recruitment); business software (Sndian website builder, Ana project management, Zaetoon CRM); and education and community (Hsoub Academy for programming/AI courses, Khbra for skills testing, Hsoub I/O developer community). All products share a unified Hsoub Accounts identity and a centralized support infrastructure, allowing user cross-flow between freelance work, software tools, and education.
Revenue is generated through a mix of marketplace commissions on Mostaql and Khamsat transactions, SaaS subscriptions for Sndian, Ana, and Zaetoon, one-time course fees on Hsoub Academy (e.g., $390 for the 103-hour AI course with a 6-month job-placement guarantee), transaction fees on Picalica digital products, and recruitment-related fees on Baaeed. The go-to-market is product-led and content-driven: each platform maintains dedicated blogs (e.g., blog.mostaql.com, blog.khamsat.com), supported by Hsoub Wiki technical documentation, organic SEO, email newsletters, and the Hsoub I/O developer community. Primary customer segments are Arab companies hiring freelancers, individual freelancers and digital service providers, programming students and career changers, and SMBs seeking affordable digital tools. The company is registered as a UK limited liability company (company number 07571594), operates with 101-250 employees, and is privately held with no external funding rounds disclosed in the available data.
Hsoub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hsoub
- Legal name
- Hsoub
- Website
- https://hsoub.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hsoub is a London-domiciled technology company operating ten Arabic-language platforms serving MENA professionals, freelancers, and companies, spanning freelance marketplaces (Mostaql, Khamsat), SaaS tools (Sndian, Ana, Zaetoon), education (Hsoub Academy), and recruitment (Baaeed).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hsoub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Marketplaces and Arabic-Language SaaS Platforms
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Office Supplies, IT & Workplace Procurement Marketplaces (CRAFAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- HRIS/HCM Implementation Services (BPAEAGAE)
Keywords
Where Hsoub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hsoub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commissions - Freelance Platforms: Mostaql (freelance platform) and Khamsat (digital services marketplace) generate revenue through commissions on transactions between clients and freelancers/service providers.
- SaaS Subscriptions: Revenue from subscription fees for software products including Sndian (website builder), Ana (project management), and Zaetoon (CRM) offered to companies and professionals.
- Education Course Fees: Hsoub Academy generates revenue from course enrollments. Courses are priced as one-time purchases (e.g., AI course at $390) with lifetime access and free updates. The AI course includes a guarantee to refund investment within 6 months if the student does not secure work.
- Digital Products Marketplace: Picalica marketplace generates revenue from sales of digital products, website templates, and creative designs.
- Remote Recruitment Services: Baaeed remote recruitment platform enables HR teams to hire technical talent for remote work, likely generating revenue through recruitment fees or subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AI Course - $390 one-time payment |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | All Academy Courses - One-time purchase with lifetime access |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Mostaql Commission - Percentage-based |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Khamsat Service Fees - Percentage-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hsoub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hsoub operates an integrated Arabic-language ecosystem of online platforms serving professionals, freelancers, and businesses. It runs freelance and digital-services marketplaces (Mostaql, Khamsat), a digital products marketplace (Picalica), and a remote recruitment platform (Baaeed), alongside business SaaS tools (Sndian website builder, Ana project management, Zaetoon CRM). It also delivers programming and AI education through Hsoub Academy, skills testing via Khbra, and a developer community through Hsoub I/O, monetizing via marketplace commissions, SaaS subscriptions, and one-time course fees.
Product overview
Hsoub is a technology company operating a platform-plus-products architecture centered on developing the Arab world through products targeting professionals, freelancers, and companies. The portfolio comprises three layers: (1) freelance and marketplace platforms — Mostaql (freelance hiring), Khamsat (digital services marketplace), Picalica (digital products/templates), and Baaeed (remote recruitment); (2) business software — Sndian (website builder), Ana (project management), and Zaetoon (CRM); and (3) education and community — Hsoub Academy (professional courses in programming, AI, and product development), Khbra (skills testing), and Hsoub I/O (social developer community). All products share a unified account system (Hsoub Accounts) and support infrastructure including a helpdesk system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mostaql (مستقل): Largest freelance platform in the Arab world enabling companies to hire verified freelancers and consultants
- Khamsat (خمسات)
- Picalica (بيكاليكا)
- Baaeed (بعيد)
- Sndian (سنديان)
- Ana (أنا)
- Zaetoon (زيتون)
- Khbra (خبرة)
- Hsoub Academy (أكاديمية حسوب)
- Hsoub I/O (حسوب I/O)
Products and services
- Mostaql (مستقل) Largest freelance platform in the Arab world, enabling companies to hire verified freelancers and consultants for project-based work.
- Khamsat (خمسات) Largest Arabic marketplace for digital services, connecting creative freelancers with entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses for micro-services and creative projects.
- Picalica (بيكاليكا) Marketplace for curated, customizable Arabic digital products, website templates, and creative designs.
- Baaeed (بعيد) Remote recruitment platform enabling HR teams to hire technical talent and skills for remote work positions.
- Sndian (سنديان) Advanced website builder enabling companies and professionals to design and publish their own websites with ease.
- Ana (أنا) Project management application enabling companies and professionals to create a virtual office for organizing team tasks in their own style.
- Zaetoon (زيتون) Customer relationship management application helping sales and support teams deliver a seamless communication experience from a single place.
- Khbra (خبرة) Skills testing platform helping experts test their skills and prove their readiness for the job market.
- Hsoub Academy (أكاديمية حسوب) Online learning platform offering advanced video courses in programming, product development, and artificial intelligence oriented toward employment and the job market, with lifetime access, instructor support, certified certificates, and portfolio-building projects.
- Hsoub I/O (حسوب I/O) Social news community enabling entrepreneurs and developers to share links, ask questions, and exchange ideas.
- Hsoub Academy AI Course A 103-hour AI course covering Python fundamentals, LLMs (GPT, LLaMA, DeepSeek), AI agents via MCP, data analysis, computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning, with lifetime access and a 6-month job-placement guarantee.
- Hsoub Academy PHP Web Development Course A 79-hour PHP course covering PHP basics, Laravel framework, RESTful APIs, social networks, CMS systems, WordPress theme development, and WooCommerce e-commerce stores.
- Hsoub Academy JavaScript Development Course A 74-hour JavaScript course covering JavaScript basics, React.js, Node.js, React Native, TypeScript, Electron.js, PWAs, Socket.IO chat apps, Next.js, and Ionic mobile apps.
- Hsoub Academy Ruby Web Development Course A 27-hour Ruby course covering Ruby basics, Ruby on Rails framework, building e-commerce stores with Stripe payment, social networks, and community platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 103 hours of AI video training with 6-month job guarantee
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hsoub
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hsoub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability14 records
Feature6 records
Hsoub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Hsoub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fiverr: Global digital services marketplace analogous to Hsoub's Khamsat. Both platforms connect creative freelancers with entrepreneurs and SMBs for packaged digital services (design, writing, programming). Fiverr's international reach and MENA expansion plans position it as the most direct competitive threat to Khamsat.
- Upwork: The global leader in freelance marketplaces, directly comparable to Hsoub's Mostaql platform. Both connect enterprises with verified freelance talent for project-based work using a commission-based marketplace model. Upwork has begun localizing for MENA markets, directly threatening Mostaql's regional dominance.
- PeoplePerHour: UK-based freelance marketplace connecting businesses with freelance talent. Directly comparable to Mostaql in business model (commission-based project marketplace) and target buyer (SMBs and enterprises seeking verified freelancers). Competes in overlapping European/MENA markets.
- Udemy: Global online learning marketplace offering programming, AI, and professional development courses. Directly comparable to Hsoub Academy in course catalog (AI, web development), pricing model (one-time course purchases with lifetime access), and target audience (career changers and upskillers).
Broad incumbents
- Asana: Global project management and team collaboration platform. Directly comparable to Hsoub's Ana product in functionality (virtual office, task organization for distributed teams). Asana's multilingual interface and enterprise features compete for the same SMB and enterprise customer base.
- Coursera: Global online education platform with extensive AI, programming, and professional development catalogs. Comparable to Hsoub Academy in subject matter and target audience, but with university partnerships, enterprise L&D, and a broader credentialing framework. Coursera's MENA partnerships with regional universities are a competitive risk.
- HubSpot: Global CRM, sales, and customer support platform. Directly comparable to Hsoub's Zaetoon product in core CRM functionality and sales/support team workflows. HubSpot's freemium model and free CRM tier have lowered the barrier to entry for global CRM competition in MENA.
- Remote: Global remote recruitment and EOR platform enabling companies to hire international talent. Comparable to Hsoub's Baaeed product in core use case (remote technical talent recruitment) and target buyer (HR teams hiring distributed workforces). Remote's compliance infrastructure and global reach outpace Baaeed's regional focus.
- Wix: Global website builder serving SMBs and professionals. Directly comparable to Hsoub's Sndian product in functionality (self-service website creation for businesses). Wix's scale, AI-powered design tools, and Arabic localization capabilities are the primary competitive threat to Sndian's regional position.
Regional players
- 99designs: Global design services marketplace connecting clients with freelance designers. Comparable to Khamsat's design and creative services category, though focused primarily on Western markets. Overlaps with Hsoub's Picalica marketplace for digital design products and creative services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hsoub social profiles
Digital presenceHsoub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hsoub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hsoub subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Hsoub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hsoub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hsoub
What does Hsoub do?
Hsoub operates an integrated Arabic-language ecosystem of online platforms serving professionals, freelancers, and businesses. It runs freelance and digital-services marketplaces (Mostaql, Khamsat), a digital products marketplace (Picalica), and a remote recruitment platform (Baaeed), alongside business SaaS tools (Sndian website builder, Ana project management, Zaetoon CRM). It also delivers programming and AI education through Hsoub Academy, skills testing via Khbra, and a developer community through Hsoub I/O, monetizing via marketplace commissions, SaaS subscriptions, and one-time course fees.
Is Hsoub a public or private company?
Hsoub is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hsoub founded?
Hsoub was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hsoub based?
Hsoub is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hsoub make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Marketplace Commissions - Freelance Platforms are the primary driver. The others are saaS Subscriptions, education Course Fees, digital Products Marketplace and remote Recruitment Services.
Who are Hsoub's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour and Udemy. Broad incumbents are Asana, Coursera, HubSpot, Remote and Wix. 99designs is listed as a regional player.
Does Hsoub have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hsoub.
What industry is Hsoub in?
Hsoub's product category is Online Marketplaces and Arabic-Language SaaS Platforms. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAF, Office Supplies, IT & Workplace Procurement Marketplaces, with a secondary code of BPAEAGAE, HRIS/HCM Implementation Services. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7361.