AWARI, the Nigerian lifestyle discovery platform, has secured fresh bridge funding following the reported US$71.6 million revenue generated during the 2024 Detty December season. The platform says the investment will power new tools for lifestyle SMEs ahead of the 2025 festive period. 

The US$71.6 million came from transformed activity in Lagos State’s tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors in 2024. Hotels accounted for over US$44 million of that revenue, while short-let apartments contributed about US$13 million. 

The new funding round was led by the Lagos Angel Network (LAN), with support from several strategic investors. The capital raise surpasses AWARI’s previous pre-seed round, signalling growing confidence in its mission to empower lifestyle businesses. 

Founded by entrepreneur Tannaz Bahnam, AWARI connects users with local lifestyle businesses including restaurants, spas, gyms, shops and events. The platform also offers tools for visibility, bookings, loyalty management and data-driven growth. 

According to Bahnam, the new funds will be used to scale up several key functions: enhance the event ticketing platform, deepen the loyalty programme, improve business engagement, increase user downloads ahead of the Detty December 2025 season, and bolster technology and content operations. She also said AWARI plans to expand to Ghana, Morocco and Qatar within the next year, using this momentum. 

LAN’s Chairperson, Yemi Keri, described the investment as a positive marker for Africa’s SME and digital ecosystems. She emphasised that helping SMEs increase visibility, attract new customers, and thrive in urban markets remains critical for sustainable growth. 

AWARI currently lists over 2,450 businesses across Lagos and Abuja. The platform sees Detty December as a major seasonal spike in demand for lifestyle offerings, and the upcoming investment aims to help businesses benefit more from that peak period.