Israeli Delivery Startup Haat Expands to Tel Aviv to Challenge Wolt
Israeli delivery startup Haat is expanding from Arab localities to Tel Aviv to compete with Wolt. Valued at over 100 million dollars, Haat solves unmapped address and cash payment challenges using advanced technology.
The Israeli delivery startup Haat, founded in Umm al-Fahm to meet the needs of Israel's Arab population, is now expanding to Tel Aviv to compete directly with Wolt. The surprising expansion has also garnered international attention, culminating in a CNN feature highlighting how Haat solved delivery challenges in areas lacking properly mapped streets and addresses.
The idea for the company was born out of founder Hasan Abasi's personal experience. After working for Google in Switzerland, he returned to Umm al-Fahm and tried ordering a pizza to his home. The courier struggled to find the address, and Abasi realized this was a broader issue affecting entire neighborhoods and localities. In 2019, he founded Haat with five partners, initially operating in Umm al-Fahm before expanding to other Arab localities.
Solving Payment and Navigation Challenges
One of the main problems the company set out to solve was payment methods. In areas where some residents do not hold bank cards, Haat allowed ordering through the app with cash payments. According to Aida Kadan, the company's PR and communications manager, the cash option emerged as a response to societal needs and later became a major advantage for Haat across all operational regions.
"The fact that there is a cash option also allowed more people to use the app and order food from the restaurant and others," said Sharif Masarwa, manager of the Krunchy Chicken restaurant in Baqa al-Gharbiyye.
In addition to payments, Haat focused on navigation. Many neighborhoods feature streets without official names and buildings without numbers, complicating deliveries and postal services. Haat began utilizing courier route data and machine learning tools to identify streets, neighborhoods, and entrances missing from standard maps. According to the company, its maps include roughly 30% more streets in its operational zones compared to conventional mapping services.
Rapid Growth and Tel Aviv Expansion
Today, Haat operates in 50 cities, collaborates with over 10,000 restaurants and stores, and employs more than 500 couriers. According to company representatives, Haat's valuation already exceeds 100 million dollars. The company is now entering Tel Aviv, a market dominated by Wolt, aiming to introduce the advantages developed over years of serving diverse communities.
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