Flend, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, is pioneering digital SME lending as the country’s first licensed Digital NBFI. With a lean team, the fintech provides fair, fast, flexible, and collateral-free capital to small and medium enterprises. Backed by $3 million in seed funding led by Egypt Ventures and supported by key regional investors, Flend is building the infrastructure to help close Egypt’s $50 billion SME financing gap.
Transforming SME Financing
At its core, Flend offers fully digital short-term working capital loans, covering the entire process from onboarding and risk assessment to disbursement and collections. By embedding directly into more than 20 supply chain platforms across agri-food, healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing, retail, and export sectors, Flend enables SMEs to access financing seamlessly where they already do business.
Streamlining Capital Access Through Technology
The platform replaces weeks of paperwork with a data-driven infrastructure, reducing approval times to just days. Legally binding digital contracts and e-signatures form the foundation of Flend’s approach, ensuring transparency, robust governance, and borrower protection. This technological edge allows the startup to deliver competitive financing rates, affordable access to local bank funding, and efficient loan servicing.
Born From Firsthand Experience
Flend was co-founded by a diverse leadership team:
- Ahmed Zaki (CEO), a seasoned banker with prior roles at Arab Bank and CIB Egypt, blending expertise in market risk, credit, and commercial analysis.
- Nehal Helmy (Chief Strategy & Communications Officer), with experience at IFC, the World Bank, and Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation, brings strong strategy and communications insight.
- Saif Edeen El Bendari (COO), a green entrepreneur and innovation leader with a background in entrepreneurship and social enterprises recognized across MENA.
- Dr. Mohamed El Beltagy (CTO), a deep-tech innovator, professor, and entrepreneur whose patents and optimization research contributed to the Airbus A380 and multiple AI-driven ventures.
Funding and Investor Backing
In July 2025, Flend closed a $3 million seed round through a blend of equity and debt. The equity round was led by Egypt Ventures, with participation from Camel Ventures, Sukna Ventures, Plus VC, Banque Misr, and family offices El Sewedy and Baalbaki. Debt financing came from MSMEDA and local banking partners. This capital is fueling Flend’s mission to inject EGP 1 billion into SME loans within a year.
Scaling Reach Through Recognition
Flend’s rise has been marked by key milestones. In December 2024, it became Egypt’s first FRA-licensed Digital NBFI for SMEs, gaining credibility, governance backing, and new funding channels. In August 2025, it was selected for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator (Cohort 4), putting it on a pan-African stage and reinforcing its role as a homegrown innovator addressing structural financing challenges.
With a strong leadership team, regulatory approvals, and investor support, Flend is reshaping SME finance in Egypt. By embedding digital loans directly into the supply chains that power the economy, the company is making capital more accessible, affordable, and efficient. Positioned at the intersection of fintech and economic development, Flend is on track to become a cornerstone of Egypt’s digital financial ecosystem.