Born Interactive

What Born Interactive does

Born Interactive is an integrated digital communications agency founded in 1996 in Beirut, Lebanon, operating across the Middle East and Gulf region with an 80+ person specialist team and a second regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The firm is structured around four business units — BI•P2 (performance marketing and data-driven customer acquisition), BI•XP (omnichannel experience, UX/UI design, and e-commerce platform builds), BI•DX (digital transformation, workplace modernization, and business process automation on Microsoft 365/SharePoint), and BI•STUDIO (brand storytelling and creative content) — enabling clients to engage a single integrated partner or individual units. The agency builds on a proprietary in-house content and experience management system called SKWID, supports multi-language and RTL/LTR platform delivery (including a pentalingual deployment for Rudaw Media Network), and implements e-commerce on Adobe Commerce/Magento, WooCommerce, and OpenCart alongside Klaviyo marketing automation and Optimizely experimentation tooling. Its core technology partnerships span Google (Premier Partner for 11+ consecutive years, top 3% of regional partners), Klaviyo, Optimizely, Adobe Commerce, Microsoft, Meta, and Shopify, providing both tooling and co-marketing reach.

Revenue is generated through professional services arrangements — project-based fees, retainer engagements, and ongoing performance marketing campaign management — sold primarily through direct enterprise field sales to corporate and institutional clients. The client base is diversified across retail and grocery (Spinneys, Al Rimaya, GS, Zarina Tableware, Abdulwahed), build materials (Saudi Ceramics), banking and finance (Bank Audi, Ahlibank, AhliPay, Yallacompare, Dar Al Tamleek), education (Saint Georges University of Beirut), media (Rudaw, An-Nahar), and transport (ELC Transport), with engagements spanning Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait. The firm operates as an independent, privately held, founder-controlled business (Fadi Sabbagha, Founder/CEO) with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or external ownership changes.

Name

Born Interactive

Legal name

Born Interactive

Website

https://borninteractive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Born Interactive is a Beirut-founded, independent integrated digital communications agency operating across the Middle East and Gulf, delivering branding, e-commerce, performance marketing, and digital transformation services to enterprise clients in retail, banking, media, and other verticals through four business units and proprietary technology partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAAAAAD

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Advertising Agencies (Full-Service/Creative)

SECONDARYBPAEAFAA

Custom Application Development (Web/Mobile/Desktop)

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Application Development & Modernization

Keywords

• Digital marketing services
• Web development agency
• Performance marketing solutions
• E-commerce platform development
• Brand strategy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Integrated Digital Agency Services: Full-service integrated communications agency providing branding, web/mobile development, e-commerce, performance marketing, UX/UI design, content creation, and business process transformation services. Revenue generated through project-based fees, retainer arrangements, and ongoing campaign management for enterprise and corporate clients across the Middle East.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Born Interactive is an integrated communications agency operating four specialized business units—BI•P2 (performance marketing), BI•XP (experience and e-commerce), BI•DX (digital transformation and workplace solutions), and BI•STUDIO (brand storytelling). The agency delivers end-to-end digital services including strategy, branding, web and mobile application development, performance marketing, UX/UI design, content creation, and business process transformation for enterprise clients. Its proprietary SKWID content management system underpins many client platforms.

Product overview

Born Interactive is an integrated communications agency operating four core business units: BI•P2 (Performance & Potential) for data-driven marketing and customer acquisition, BI•XP (Experience) for UX/UI design and e-commerce solutions, BI•DX (Digital Transformation) for workplace optimization and business process automation, and BI•STUDIO for brand storytelling and creative content. The agency also maintains proprietary platforms including SKWID, their in-house CMS. Services span performance marketing, web/mobile development, branding, and digital transformation, delivered across 35+ countries with 80+ experts. The modular structure allows clients to engage individual units or leverage the integrated offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BI•P2: Performance marketing and data-driven solutions unit focused on results, returns, and retention.
• BI•XP
• BI•DX
• BI•STUDIO

Products and services

• BI•P2 (Performance & Potential) Performance marketing unit providing data-driven customer acquisition strategies, performance consulting, and ROI-focused solutions for enterprise clients across the Middle East.
• BI•XP (Experience) Customer experience and digital presence unit specializing in seamless omnichannel experiences, UX/UI design, web and mobile applications, and e-commerce platform solutions.
• BI•DX (Digital Transformation) Digital transformation unit focused on workplace and business process optimization, modern intranet solutions, team collaboration, and managed IT services using Microsoft 365 and SharePoint.
• BI•STUDIO Creative agency unit for brand storytelling and creative content, offering marketing strategy, content campaigns, social media engagement, and content creation services.
• SKWID Content Management System Proprietary in-house experience and content management system used for building feature-rich, responsive, multi-language websites and digital platforms for client engagements.
• E-commerce Platform Solutions Custom e-commerce solutions built on platforms including Adobe Commerce (Magento), OpenCart, and WooCommerce, with ERP integration for retail and grocery clients such as Spinneys.
• Mobile Application Development Custom mobile application development using Flutter and native platforms, featuring e-commerce capabilities, customer management tools, and operational efficiency applications for enterprise clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% revenue growth QoQ for Saudi Ceramics through always-on marketing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OptimizelycoreTechnology or Integration · 13 May 2024Renewed partnership with Optimizely, the leading optimization platform. Provides access to A/B testing, personalization, and experimentation capabilities. Access to network of experts, training, and discounts.
• KlaviyocoreTechnology or Integration · 2 April 2024Third-year partnership providing Born Interactive clients with Klaviyo's leading email marketing platform. Enables personalized campaign creation, automated workflows, and customer data platform capabilities for e-commerce and performance marketing.
• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 8 March 2024Google Premier Partner status for 11+ consecutive years. Provides access to cutting-edge Google Ads tools, BETAs, advanced support, dedicated Google staff for top accounts, and global consumer insights. Born Interactive is among the top 3% of Google Partners in their operating regions.
• EmbraceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2024Mental health partnership offering employees tailored programs like 'The Eye Opener' to foster workplace wellbeing, awareness, and support culture.
• International Advertising Association (IAA) - Lebanon ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Digital partnership with IAA Lebanon Chapter. Born Interactive served as digital partner for IAA events recognizing outstanding Lebanese marketing and advertising professionals across Lebanon and the Gulf region.
• Adobe Commerce (Magento)coreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe Commerce (Magento) partner for e-commerce platform implementations. Powers enterprise e-commerce solutions including Spinneys' Magento Commerce deployment with ERP integration.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft partner for M365, SharePoint Online/On-Premise, and business process automation solutions using Power Automate. Used for intranet and workplace transformation projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Publicis Groupe (Leo Burnett MEA / Publicis Sapient): Global communications and digital transformation holding company with major MENA presence through Leo Burnett and Publicis Sapient. Competes head-to-head for the same enterprise digital mandates (banking, retail, government) Born Interactive serves across the Gulf and Levant.
• Accenture Song: Accenture's interactive and digital transformation arm offering end-to-end experience, commerce, and marketing services globally with growing MENA capability. Overlaps directly with Born Interactive's BI•DX and BI•XP offerings for enterprise transformation programs.
• VMLY&R: Global brand and customer experience agency (now VML) with established MENA operations. Competes on integrated digital experience, commerce, and brand storytelling for enterprise regional clients in retail, finance, and government.
• Wunderman Thompson (WPP): Global creative, experience, and commerce network under WPP with significant Middle East operations. Overlaps with Born Interactive on digital transformation, e-commerce, performance marketing, and brand storytelling but at much larger scale and with global resources.
• MullenLowe MENA (FP7 McCann / MullenLowe): Global creative network with deep Middle East heritage (FP7/MullenLowe MENA) offering integrated advertising, digital, and commerce services. Comparable competitor for marquee regional accounts across banking, FMCG, and retail verticals.

Regional players

• Impact BBDO: MENA-headquartered creative and digital agency within the BBDO/Omnicom network. Closest peer on regional scale and enterprise client roster across the Levant and Gulf; competes for similar advertising and digital transformation mandates.

Direct peers

• Kijamii: Egypt-based integrated digital agency serving enterprise clients across MENA with web, mobile, e-commerce, performance marketing and digital transformation services. Directly comparable on regional positioning, four-pillar service structure, and enterprise client base in retail and financial services.
• Socialeyez: MENA digital and social media agency with offices across the region, providing integrated communications, content, and performance services to enterprise brands. Comparable as a regional digital peer targeting the same enterprise buyer profile and competing for similar digital transformation mandates.
• Chain Reaction: MENA-headquartered digital performance agency offering integrated digital marketing, e-commerce, and creative services across the Gulf. Closest comparable on operating geography (Beirut/Amman-rooted, Gulf-expanded), service mix (digital transformation, performance, e-commerce), and target client profile (enterprise/regional brands).

Others

• Adobe (Adobe Commerce / Experience Cloud): Ecosystem partner through which Born Interactive delivers Adobe Commerce (Magento) and Adobe Experience Cloud implementations for clients like Spinneys. Relevant as both a referral source and a competing platform-vendor capability in the MENA digital services landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/@borninteractive
• YouTubeyoutube.com/borninteractive
• Facebookfacebook.com/borninteractive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/born-interactive
• Instagraminstagram.com/borninteractive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Born Interactive