Cairo-based Thndr is our Startup of the Week for reimagining how everyday people in the Middle East and North Africa access financial markets. Established in 2029, the fintech builds a mobile-first, commission-free investing experience that collapses local, regional, and international products into “one wallet, one account.” Its mission is clear and inclusive: make investing simple by removing friction—no minimums, fast digital onboarding, and intuitive tools—so anyone can participate in wealth creation.
What Thndr Offers
Thndr’s core is an investing app serving Egypt and the UAE with access to Egyptian, U.S., and UAE-listed securities. Users can buy and sell stocks and ETFs, tap into mutual and savings funds, and even gain exposure to gold; fractional shares are available for U.S. securities where supported. The experience is designed for immediacy: same-day account activation, easy wallet top-ups, and digital KYC streamline the start. Education is embedded through a learning hub and an investing simulator, while product tiers meet different needs—Thndr Alpha offers guided portfolios for hands-off investors, and ThndrX caters to pro traders seeking advanced functionality.
Traction and Regional Expansion
Thndr is licensed by Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority and is a member of the Egyptian Stock Exchange, anchoring its growth with regulatory credibility. The company reports more than 4 million users and has been recognized as Egypt’s number one investing app, surpassing 3 million downloads by 2025. Operationally, it serves over 1 million monthly active users and has accounted for roughly 36% of new brokerage accounts opened in Egypt in recent years, underscoring its role in onboarding first-time retail investors.
The platform’s regional footprint expanded in May 2024 when Thndr secured an ADGM FSRA Category 3A license with a retail endorsement, enabling a UAE launch. Momentum continued in 2025: in May, the company unveiled Thndr Alpha and ThndrX alongside new funding; in July, it was named a World Economic Forum 2025 Technology Pioneer; and in August, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange onboarded Thndr as its first remote retail trading member, unlocking direct retail access to UAE equities and ETFs. Together, these steps position Thndr as a cross-border brokerage bridging Egypt, the UAE, and the U.S. markets.
Leadership with Fintech Depth
Co-founders Ahmad Hammouda (CEO) and Seif Amr (COO) bring complementary scale-up experience from high-growth technology and financial services. Hammouda, a CFA charterholder and former Uber Egypt General Manager and CI Capital VP, frames the company’s vision around democratizing access to financial products across MENA. Amr, with a background leading operations at Uber across MENA drives marketplace health and customer experience. Under their leadership, Thndr emphasizes 24/7 customer support, multi-factor authentication, and a product ethos centered on simplicity and inclusion.
Funding and Backers
Thndr has raised a over $37 million across three rounds, most recently a $15.7 million round announced on May 19, 2025. The latest financing was led by Prosus Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, BECO Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, JIMCO, Raba Partnership, and Onsi Sawiris. The broader cap table includes Tiger Global, Base Capital, Firstminute Capital, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, MSA Capital, and others. This investor mix signals confidence in both the fintech’s consumer proposition and its regional expansion thesis.
Why It Matters
Retail investing in emerging markets often stalls at the intersection of access, education, and trust. Thndr addresses all three. Its single-wallet access to Egyptian, UAE, and U.S. markets lowers barriers; built-in education and simulation tools help first-time investors build confidence; and regulatory licenses, coupled with visible exchange memberships, add institutional credibility. By introducing guided portfolios and a pro tier, the company is also widening its addressable base—serving novices and power users under one brand.
With a growing regional footprint, Thndr is evolving from Egypt’s breakout investing app into a MENA wealthtech platform. Fresh capital, marquee investors, and strategic milestones—WEF recognition and ADX remote retail membership—underscore a strong execution arc. If the company sustains its pace on product, education, and market access, its “one wallet, one account” vision could become the default on-ramp to investing for millions across the region.