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Empowering Millions: Thndr’s $15.7M Raise Sets the Stage for Accelerated GCC Growth

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Serving an entry point for 82% of all new registered investors in Egypt, the platform now looks to expand its success to UAE and Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi, UAE — 19 May 2025 — Thndr, the leading retail investment platform in the MENA region, announced during its debut keynote event, its second major investment round, raising an additional $15.7 million, bringing its total current capital to $37.76 million. The round was led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from BECO Capital, JIMCO Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Y Combinator, and a prominent U.S. university endowment, among other new global investors.
These funds will now be strategically deployed to support Thndr’s regional expansion — with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia as key priority markets. Thndr is currently focused on deepening its operational presence in the UAE, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for entry into Saudi Arabia. The goal is to replicate its success in Egypt across the broader region by building locally relevant, trusted investment platforms.
Since inception, Thndr has been on a mission to democratize investing and improve financial literacy across MENA. The platform provides seamless access to a range of investment instruments including local and U.S. stocks, gold, mutual funds, and savings products, helping millions take control of their financial futures.
In 2024, Thndr solidified its position as Egypt’s leading retail brokerage on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX), achieving a total traded value of $3.5BN, accounting for 11% of the retail traded value. The platform served as the entry point for 82% of all newly registered investors on the EGX, adding 190.1K new investors to the market. In gold mutual funds, Thndr now accounts for 47% of all assets under management. Notably, female participation on the platform increased from 3% to 12%, and 40% of users now come from outside of major cities—marking a clear success in reaching underserved populations.
Speaking about the investment, Sandeep Bakshi, Head of Investments, Europe at Prosus, said, “Hammouda and the Thndr team have demonstrated incredible execution over the past few years, and we are thrilled to be doubling down on our investment in the company. Thndr is transforming access to investing across MENA by empowering first-time investors with the tools and confidence to participate in the financial system—building a product that resonates deeply with a new generation and is becoming increasingly important. Their rapid growth, particularly among young and underserved populations, underscores both the strength of their leadership and the company’s broader mission. As early backers, we’re thrilled to support Thndr as they scale into Saudi Arabia and beyond.”
“Our mission is to provide access to local, regional, and international investment products through one wallet and one account—making investing as seamless and inclusive as possible,” said Ahmad Hammouda, CEO of Thndr. “With only 2% of individuals in MENA investing, we believe the time is now to build the region’s leading investment-first money app—a platform that helps people build wealth, make confident decisions, and live life on their own terms.”
Thndr has already built a strong regulatory foundation, holding a license from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) in Egypt and a Category 3A license with retail endorsement from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).

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Netflix releases the legacy trailer and key art for Squid Game Season 3

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Netflix released the legacy trailer for Squid Game S3. This marks the final trailer to be released ahead of the season finale launching on June 27.

The Key Art of player 456 (Lee Jung-jae) and Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) was also released a day before the trailer.

Logline:
The third and final season of Squid Game follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after losing his best friend in the game and being driven to utter despair by The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was hiding his true identity to infiltrate the game. Gi-hun persists with his goal to put an end to the game, while the Front Man continues onto his next move and the surviving players’ choices will lead to graver consequences with each round. The world eagerly awaits to see the grand finale written and directed by Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has vowed to bring the epic story to its deserved closure. Can we hope for humanity in the cruelest of realities? Fans all over the world are counting the days until the final answer is revealed.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history at the 74th Primetime Emmys®, becoming the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, once again helms the series as director, writer, and producer. Season 3 stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri, Chae Kuk-hee, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jun Suk-ho, with special appearance by Park Hee-soon.

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Hwang Dong-hyuk
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Kim Ji-yeon, Hwang Dong-hyuk
PRODUCED BY: Firstman Studio

KEY CAST: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo, Yu-ri, Won Ji-an, Lee Seo-hwan, with Gong Yoo

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flynas Celebrates Launching Direct Flights Between Riyadh and Damascus

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flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, celebrated launching direct flights Between Riyadh and Damascus on Thursday, June 5, becoming the first Saudi airline to connect the two countries in 12 years, further expanding its network in line with flynas growth and expansion plan, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030 and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques.
An inaugural ceremony was held at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh on Thursday, June 5, attended by the Syrian Charge d’Affaires Hussain Abdulaziz and representatives from flynas and the Riyadh Airports Company, which manages and operates KKIA, as well as media representatives. Travelling guests on the departing inaugural flight to Damascus were welcomed with giveaways, and the aircraft was received with a “water salute” upon its arrival at Damascus International Airport, in the presence of the Saudi Charge d’Affaires Abdullah Al-Haris, and representatives from the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation, flynas, and Damascus International Airport.
Resuming flights to the Syrian capital confirms flynas’ commitment to strengthening ties between the two brotherly nations, as the leading LCC has been a pioneer in providing air routes between the Kingdom and various Syrian cities. flynas previously operated direct flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia.
flynas operates 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries with more than 2000 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, and in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents.

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Yango Ads and Dr Nutrition partner to personalise health retail through AI-powered ad solution

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Yango Ads, the ad tech division of Yango Group, has announced a strategic partnership with Dr. Nutrition, one of the Middle East’s leading health and wellness retailers. The collaboration brings Yango Ads’ 360° Retail Media platform to Dr. Nutrition’s digital ecosystem, unlocking new revenue streams while delivering hyper-personalised customer engagement in a fast-growing, data-driven healthcare retail market.
Powered by first-party data and real-time targeting, the full-stack integration includes ad management, ad serving, inventory support, audience augmentation, user analytics and exclusive operational oversight by Yango Ads. The solution ensures customers receive product recommendations, content, and highly relevant offers on their online wellness shopping journey.
“In today’s research-driven consumer market, precise timing and highly relevant messaging make all the difference. Retail media can help brands connect with today’s health-conscious consumers,” said Evgenii Pavlov, General Manager at Yango Ads MEA. “With Dr. Nutrition, we’re combining AI-driven precision and deep consumer insight to create a smarter, more meaningful advertising experience. Through our partnership, the brand can better meet its customers’ needs, offering the most relevant recommendations and support at the right moment. The Middle East is one of the most exciting markets for this transformation, with 44% of consumers now shopping online daily or weekly, well above the global average.”
Dr. Nutrition, with over 200 stores across 10 countries in the GCC and North Africa, is increasingly focused on personalisation to meet the evolving expectations of today’s consumer. The new solution will allow the brand to deliver targeted product suggestions and wellness advice in real time, enhancing each user’s experience while reinforcing its leadership in the health and supplements sector. As the UAE’s eCommerce revenue is projected to reach $8 billion in 2025, the partnership puts Dr. Nutrition in a strong position to leverage this growth with highly tailored digital engagement.
“In a competitive and rapidly changing health sector, retail media gives us the tools to differentiate in a more personalised way,” said Ashraf Gamal, Head of E-commerce at Dr. Nutrition. “At Dr Nutrition, our mission is to make health and wellness more accessible, relevant, and tailored to each individual. Instead of broad messaging, Yango Ads’ data-driven insights enable us to connect with people based on real interest and intent. It helps us reinforce our role as a trusted wellness partner who understands the unique goals of every customer and supports them across every stage of their health journey.”
Also commenting on the partnership, Yuliya Kim, Head of Partnerships at Yango Ads MEA, added: “We’re seeing more regional brands adopt retail media to bridge the gap between awareness and conversion. With Dr. Nutrition, the focus is on building a high-performance customer-centric advertising experience, turning data into actionable insights to drive long-term value for both the brand and its users.”
The collaboration also aligns with public health initiatives like the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which emphasises the importance of personalised wellness approaches. As investment in retail media networks is expected to reach $140 billion globally by 2026, Yango Ads is positioned to offer retailers a single platform that integrates ad serving, audience segmentation, measurement, and creative management.
By harnessing Yango Ads’ advanced adtech capabilities, Dr. Nutrition can dynamically adjust messaging to suit individual customer goals, whether they’re starting a new supplement plan or optimising their fitness routine.

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