This week’s version of Finovate International seems at current fintech developments in Egypt.
Egyptian fintech Sahl raised $6 million in funding
An funding of $6 million will assist Cairo-based fintech Sahl pursue its growth in Saudi Arabia. The funds – courtesy of a Collection A spherical led by Ayady for Funding and Improvement and that includes participation from current traders Egypt Pay, Delta Digital Methods, and E-Finance – can even assist help Sahl’s cellular invoice fee platform.
Sahl allows customers to pay for greater than 50 providers, together with electrical energy, water, cellular invoice funds, and extra by way of NFC-enabled, rechargeable pay as you go playing cards. The agency additionally provides B2B options: the corporate’s Companies Gateway serves as a central hub to mixture billpay providers for different fee processors and digital apps, whereas Sahl’s Acceptance answer helps companies settle for on-line funds. Based in 2020, Sahl is among the many few Egyptian firms to straight combine with authorities businesses and telecom operators.
In the end, the corporate plans to develop right into a extra complete monetary providers supplier. For now, Sahl’s progress technique includes turning into the dominant power within the funds marketplace for utilities firms – a market value EGP 250 billion a 12 months.
“At Sahl, we’re dedicated to addressing the challenges confronted by shoppers in utility funds, beginning with electrical energy and increasing to water, gasoline, telecom, and numerous different important providers,” Sahl CEO Abdullah Assal stated. “Our progressive use of NFC expertise eliminates the necessity for shoppers to go away their properties to cost pay as you go playing cards, saving beneficial effort and time.”
Sahl serves greater than 12 million prospects a month and 15 million households in Egypt.
HSBC Egypt to launch $31.5 million fund for SME-based fintechs
You don’t need to be Sahl to really feel as if good funding fortunes are coming your method. HSBC Egypt will launch a brand new $31.5 million (EGP 1.5 billion) fund devoted to small and medium-sized companies within the fintech sector. The fund, which can be managed by EFG Holding, has secured approval from the Central Financial institution of Egypt (CBE) in addition to the backing of economic establishments such because the Suez Canal Financial institution. The fund is slated to go dwell in Q3 of 2024.
The give attention to fintech is designed to benefit from the unfold of digital banking and funds within the area. However the initiative is a part of a grander technique by HSBC to encourage technological innovation and spur financial progress in Egypt.
Established in 1982, HSBC Financial institution Egypt helps a community of 100 branches and 20 mini-bank items all through the nation. The most important overseas financial institution in Egypt, HSBC Financial institution Egypt has whole property of roughly $7 billion and a market share of seven%.
Banknbox Egypt introduced a number of strategic partnerships
Digital providers and paytech supplier Banknbox Egypt has inked strategic partnerships with banks and fintechs in eight nations up to now in 2024. Backed by the Central Financial institution of Egypt, Banknbox has teamed up with corporations and monetary establishments in nations starting from Iraq and Libya to Moldova and a variety of African nations.
“We want to thank the CBE for its steady help in making certain that Banknbox achieves its imaginative and prescient of remodeling Egypt right into a regional hub,” Banknbox Chairperson and Managing Director Bassem Mahmoud stated.
Banknbox is a regional fee options and processor providing issuing and buying providers, in addition to value-added providers reminiscent of billpay and fraud administration. The corporate additionally provides built-in digital banking providers, together with cellular and web banking, digital wallets, eKYC and encoding providers, and extra. Based in 2008 and headquartered in Cairo, Banknbox started the 12 months partnering with SWFT, a banking and finance platform for SMEs. The strategic partnership will give SMEs a collection of progressive banking options and instruments for good money stream administration.
“We imagine that by uniting efforts with SWFT, we will revolutionize the best way SMEs handle their funds,” Mahmoud stated. “It’s a brand new alternative for Banknbox to supply extra providers to the Egyptian market, counting on its regional platform in Egypt to serve firms and banks within the area. This strategic cooperation enhances the corporate’s successes in reaching progress charges within the Egyptian market.”
Right here is our have a look at fintech innovation world wide.
Central and Southern Asia
Worldwide e-wallet service supplier and fee gateway STICPAY built-in with India’s real-time funds system, UPI.
Pakistan-based consultancy Dellsons Associates partnered with UAE-based NymCards to increase into Pakistan and the Center East.
Indian digital lending platform Fibe raised $90 million in Collection E funding.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Asia-Pacific
Malaysia-based digital challenger Enhance Financial institution launched its banking app.
Talino Enterprise Studios and Chemonics Worldwide unveiled an prompt fee system, Higala, within the Philippines.
Indonesian B2B fintech Paper.id closed a Collection B spherical led by Sq. Peg.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Telecommunications and cellular cash providers supplier Airtel Africa teamed up with Community Worldwide for fee processing.
Central Financial institution of Kenya to concern fee licenses to fintech startups.
Is “passporting” the important thing to serving to advance the expansion of fintech in Africa.
Central and Jap Europe
Center East and Northern Africa
Cost administration options supplier Paytiko introduced growth to Dubai.
ICYMI: Take a look at our Finovate International interview with Michal Berdugo of Israel-based Citrusx.
Oman Arab Financial institution launched its direct debit service.
Picture by Tamer Soliman
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