logo
Money Fellows secures $13 million to expand digital saving offerings across Africa

Money Fellows secures $13 million to expand digital saving offerings across Africa

Wamda05-05-2025

Egypt-based fintech Money Fellows has raised $13 million in a strategic funding round co-led by Al Mada Ventures and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, with participation from Partech, CommerzVentures, and other investors.
Founded in 2017 by Ahmed Wadi, Money Fellows digitises traditional savings circles (ROSCA) to provide users across Africa with accessible tools for saving, borrowing, and investing.
The funding will be used to enhance the company's digital platform, expand into new markets—particularly North Africa, with a focus on Morocco—and grow the team.
In October 2022, the company finished the first close of its Series B round with a $31 million investment led by CommerzVentures, MEVP, and Arzan Venture Capital, as well as Invenfin and National Investment Company (NIC). Existing investors Partech, Sawari Ventures, 4DX, and P1Ventures also invested in the round.
Press release:
Money Fellows, Africa's leading fintech digital platform, has successfully raised $13 million in this new financing round. This strategic extension brings the total amount invested in the company to over $60 million since its inception. The new investment aims to enhance and upgrade the company's digital platform, especially as its user base expands to over 8.5 million and it continues to collaborate with more than 350 local and regional partners.
This new round of investment is co-led by Al Mada Ventures (AMV) and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, with notable contributions from Partech and CommerzVentures, all of which are dedicated to driving innovation across emerging markets. This investment is set to support the company's expansion into new markets and drive a major shift in traditional methods of saving, borrowing, and investing—by digitising these services and delivering them in a modern, secure way. The goal is to advance financial inclusion and enable millions of individuals to access innovative and efficient financial services.
'Money Fellows is a critical player in Africa's financial ecosystem, combining the power of community-based savings with cutting-edge fintech to create a seamless and scalable solution,' said Ahmed Wadi, Founder and CEO of Money Fellows. 'This investment is a testament to the potential we have to further our mission of empowering individuals, especially in underserved regions, to save, invest, and access credit in a cost-effective and impactful way.'
'ROSCA's (Rotating Savings and Credit Association) are very old financial arrangements, with roots going back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.' said Omar Laalej, Managing Director at AMV. 'AMV was impressed by the modernised version of this business that Money Fellows was able to build, positively impacting thousands of families in Egypt. We are excited to partner up with the team as they expand their horizon and capabilities.
'DPI believes that the future of financial services in Africa lies in innovation, and Money Fellows is leading the way by modernising traditional savings systems,' said Mohamed Aladdin, General Partner at DPI Venture Capital. 'We are excited to partner with such a visionary company on a mission to enable seamless access to financial management tools for consumers in Egypt and look forward to seeing them expand their impact across the Middle East and Africa.'
'We are proud to support Money Fellows in their efforts to bring digital financial services to more people across Africa,' said Cyril Collon, General Partner at Partech. 'Their platform is uniquely positioned to leverage traditional savings practices while incorporating modern technology to drive financial inclusion on a massive scale.'
Patrick Meisberger, Managing Partner at CommerzVentures, added, 'The impact that Money Fellows is making in transforming savings practices is exactly the kind of innovation we're eager to support. By digitising savings circles, they're not just changing the way people save – they're changing lives.'
Founded in 2017 by Ahmed Wadi, Money Fellows has quickly established itself as a leader in the Fintech space. With this new funding, the company is poised to expand its operations into new markets, including North Africa, with a focus on Morocco, a key market for digital financial services. This growth is expected to be bolstered by major upcoming events such as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will significantly boost digital finance adoption across the region.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bank al Etihad partners with ecolytiq and Visa to integrate carbon insights tool into mobile banking app - Jordan News
Bank al Etihad partners with ecolytiq and Visa to integrate carbon insights tool into mobile banking app - Jordan News

Jordan News

time16 hours ago

  • Jordan News

Bank al Etihad partners with ecolytiq and Visa to integrate carbon insights tool into mobile banking app - Jordan News

Bank al Etihad is excited to announce a new partnership with ecolytiq (a Berlin-based fintech providing sustainability-focused solutions to financial institutions) and Visa to introduce a carbon insights tool within its mobile banking app, reinforcing the bank's commitment to promoting sustainability through digital innovation. اضافة اعلان The tool will provide customers with their carbon footprints based on their debit and credit card transactions. Using localised data tailored to each country and covering a wide range of lifestyle categories, it offers personalised insights into customers' consumption patterns and environmental impact, enabling them to make responsible choices for a more sustainable future. "We believe that awareness is the first step towards change," said Nadia AlSaeed, CEO of Bank al Etihad. "By allowing customers to visualise the environmental impact of their activities, we hope to encourage them to make greener choices and support the global effort to mitigate climate change." Mario Makary, Vice President and Levant Cluster Manager at Visa, added: "We are excited to announce the launch of the Visa Eco bundle with Bank al Etihad in Jordan. This collaboration embodies our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing our customers with sustainable and convenient financial solutions. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our customers and the environment.' David Lais, Co-Founder and Managing Director at ecolytiq, said: 'As the leading digital bank in Jordan, Bank al Etihad recognises the need to adapt for the future, which includes the role they have in inspiring more sustainable behaviours. ecolytiq is proud to partner with Bank al Etihad to develop a carbon insights tool and help enable a more sustainable tomorrow for their community, while strengthening their leadership in the Levant region.' In addition to the carbon insights tool, Bank al Etihad customers will have access to a wealth of climate education content and sustainable living recommendations. This resource aims to nurture a climate-conscious lifestyle and facilitate a positive shift in consumer behaviour. This partnership underscores Bank al Etihad's commitment to environmental responsibility by leveraging its products, services, and brand to drive sustainable commerce. It also supports the transition to a low-carbon economy, aligning with the global goals of the Paris Agreement and local objectives of Jordan's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). About Bank al Etihad Bank al Etihad is a banking and financial institution dedicated to serving customers since 1987. With a strong presence in Jordan, the bank comprises several entities, including a financial brokerage company (Etihad Brokerage) and a financial leasing company (Etihad Leasing Company). Furthermore, Bank al Etihad holds a 10% ownership stake in the National Bank in Palestine and actively participates on its board of directors. In 2017, Bank al Etihad acquired a controlling stake in Safwa Islamic Bank. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, and @Visacemea About ecolytiq ecolytiq enables financial institutions and their customers to drive climate action. The ecolytiq product suite enriches a traditional banking experience with information to understand an individual's environmental impact, as well as personalised climate insights and actions to help measurably reduce one's carbon footprint. Having partnered with leading financial institutions such as Bank al Etihad and Visa, ecolytiq operates globally to leverage payment data for a better, more sustainable banking experience

Siemens Mobility and Egyptian National Railways Put Zagazig Station into Service as Part of Signaling System Modernization
Siemens Mobility and Egyptian National Railways Put Zagazig Station into Service as Part of Signaling System Modernization

Al Bawaba

time2 days ago

  • Al Bawaba

Siemens Mobility and Egyptian National Railways Put Zagazig Station into Service as Part of Signaling System Modernization

Siemens Mobility, in partnership with Egyptian National Railways (ENR), announces the inauguration of the new signaling Building at Zagazig Station, marking a major milestone in Egypt's nationwide railway modernization efforts. This event comes as part of the directive from H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to accelerate the upgrade of railway signaling systems and enhance overall safety and efficiency across the country's rail launch includes the main signaling building at Zagazig Station and the commissioning of three additional automatic signaling sections between Zagazig and Menia El Qamh, Zagazig and El Shabanat, and Zagazig and Hehia —covering a total of 36 kilometers. Also commissioned are 17 level crossings, 87 point machines, 144 signals, and 202 track circuits. These upgrades are part of the larger modernization of the Zagazig–Ismailia/Port Said line and the Abu Kabir branch, implemented by Siemens Mobility using advanced Electronic Interlocking Systems (EIS) certified to the highest international safety level, modernization initiative aims to replace the outdated mechanical signaling with a cutting-edge electronic system, ensuring real-time train monitoring, increased daily train frequency, and enhanced operational safety. Additionally, the system introduces automated level crossing gates and integrated control mechanisms to reduce human error and prevent accidents, while allowing train drivers to communicate with central control from any signal in emergency on the inauguration, Lieutenant General Eng. Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, stated:"Modernizing Egypt's railway signaling systems is critical for improving safety, increasing operational efficiency, and supporting the nation's development goals. The advancements at Zagazig Station represent a significant step in our efforts to transform the railway network with the help of global expertise and world-class technology."Tarek Aly, CEO of Siemens Mobility Egypt, commented: "The commissioning of the Zagazig Station signaling building marks another important step in our long-term partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Egyptian National Railways. At Siemens Mobility, we are proud to support Egypt's vision of a safer, more advanced, and digitally connected rail network. This milestone reflects our commitment to delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions that not only elevate operational performance but also contribute to the country's broader development goals." Siemens Mobility remains fully committed to supporting Egypt's transport vision through advanced engineering solutions and localized know-how. The full project spans 21 main buildings, 19 secondary towers, and 84 level crossings—demonstrating a comprehensive approach to enhancing Egypt's railway infrastructure.

MENA startups raised $289 million in May 2025, led by Egypt
MENA startups raised $289 million in May 2025, led by Egypt

Wamda

time2 days ago

  • Wamda

MENA startups raised $289 million in May 2025, led by Egypt

The startup ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) showed renewed momentum in May 2025, raising a total of $289 million across 44 deals. This marks a 25% increase from April and a slight 2% uptick year-on-year. Debt financing made up just 9% of the overall investment volume, with most capital directed toward equity deals. Egypt reclaimed its position as the region's top-funded ecosystem, largely driven by Nawy's impressive $75 million round. Beyond Nawy, seven other Egyptian startups collectively raised $50 million—activity levels not seen since July of last year. The UAE followed in second place with $86.7 million raised across 14 deals. Saudi Arabia came close behind, attracting $69 million through 15 deals. Notably, Kuwait re-emerged on the investment map, with two startups securing a combined $6 million, placing the often-overlooked GCC member in fourth position. AI buzz in the GCC fails to translate into funding Artificial intelligence drew significant attention in the Gulf last month, particularly following a visit by U.S. President Trump alongside leading AI executives from Silicon Valley. The trip prompted both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to unveil major initiatives aimed at boosting their local AI ecosystems. Despite the political fanfare and media buzz, actual investment in AI startups fell short of expectations. The sector secured just $25 million across two deals—highlighting a gap between narrative and market reality. Fintech leads; proptech and mediatech Follow Fintech once again proved its strength in the region, drawing $86.5 million through 14 funding rounds. Thanks to Nawy's raise, proptech climbed to second place in terms of sectoral funding. Meanwhile, mediatech startups raised a total of $32 million from two deals, and contech startup WakeCap brought in $28 million. Late-stage deals were notably absent from the month's activity. Only one pre-Series C round was recorded at $12 million, while early-stage investments dominated, accounting for $161 million of the total funding. B2B startups remain investor favorites Startups operating in the business-to-business (B2B) space continued to attract the lion's share of investor interest. In May, B2B startups raised $157 million across 29 deals. Companies with hybrid (B2B/B2C) models brought in $79 million, while B2C startups saw significantly less attention, with nine companies raising a total of $53 million. Gender Disparity Persists The gender gap in funding remained wide. Startups founded solely by men captured 82% of the total capital raised. In comparison, female-founded startups secured just 7%, while teams with both male and female co-founders attracted nearly 11%.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store