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Cairo-Based Foundation Ventures Secures $25M To Back Egypt’s Startups

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 3, 2025

Cairo-based venture capital firm Foundation Ventures has successfully raised $25 million for its second fund, FVFII, aimed at supporting early and growth-stage startups in Egypt.

Key Highlights

The new fund has attracted key investors such as the Egyptian American Enterprise Fund (EAEF), the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), and businessman Onsi Sawiris.

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FVFII targets early- and growth-stage Egyptian startups with plans for regional and global expansion. While the primary focus is on Egypt, the fund will also allocate capital to high-potential startups across Africa. It plans to invest in ventures with initial ticket sizes ranging from $750,000 to $1 million.

The fund’s strategy is theme-driven, rather than sector-specific, ensuring flexibility in investment decisions while maintaining a primary focus on the Egyptian market and secondary opportunities in Africa.

Foundation Ventures’ Growth

Foundation Ventures launched its first fund, FVF1 Vintage, in 2019. The firm is led by Mazen Nadim, managing partner, with partners Omar Barakat and Ziyad Hamdy. The company also has a strategic partnership with HOF, a US-based VC firm managing over $1.5 billion in assets under management, serving as a General Partner.

The firm’s portfolio includes promising startups such as Rabbit, Flextock, Swypex, Aydi, Trella, and Abwaab.

Opportunities In Egypt’s Startup Landscape

Nadim noted that Egypt’s devalued currency offers a unique opportunity for startups to leverage the country’s skilled tech talent while positioning Egypt as a cost-efficient testing ground for new ventures.

In 2024, Egypt attracted $334 million across 84 deals, with the fintech sector leading with $237 million invested across 17 fintech startups, according to Wamda and Digital Digest. The logistics sector secured $23.5 million, while e-commerce raised $22.5 million.

Most of the capital came from local investors, with Saudi investors following closely behind. Notable recent investments include a $13 million funding round for Simplex, a CNC machine manufacturing startup, and $22 million raised by Paymob in a Series B extension round, bringing its total Series B funding to $72 million.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Truecaller Expands Strategic Portfolio With New Esim Services For Global Travelers

Innovative Expansion In Mobile Connectivity

Truecaller, the renowned caller ID service provider, has launched a new suite of eSIM services tailored for global travelers. This move is a critical component of the company’s broader strategy to diversify revenue streams amid a challenging advertising market.

Strategic Diversification And Robust Product Offerings

New eSIM plans range from 1 GB packages valid for seven days to larger 20 GB plans covering a 30-day period. Services are initially available across 29 countries, including Italy, Sweden, Spain, France and Germany. International travellers are the primary target audience, particularly users seeking alternatives to traditional roaming services.

Targeted Global Rollout And Regulatory Nuances

Despite being one of Truecaller’s largest markets, India was excluded from the initial rollout because of local telecom regulations. Management’s approach reflects a focus on markets with more accessible regulatory frameworks for digital telecom services.

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Leveraging Established Partnerships And Trust

Support for the platform comes through partnerships with Telna and Telness Tech. Truecaller Chief Operating Officer Fredrik Kjell said the company’s existing user base provides a major advantage in the growing travel eSIM segment. More than 500 million people already use the platform each month, allowing Truecaller to introduce additional services directly within its existing ecosystem, according to Kjell.

Positioning For Resilient Revenue Streams

Recent expansion efforts follow weaker advertising performance and workforce reductions at the company. Subscription products and premium services, including AI Assistant and Family Protection, have become increasingly important as Truecaller seeks to diversify monetisation channels.

Competitive Landscape And Future Outlook

Competition in the eSIM market continues to intensify with companies such as Airalo, Holafly, Roamless and NordVPN’s Saily service expanding globally. Truecaller’s strategy focuses on leveraging its large international user base while broadening its role beyond caller identification into mobile connectivity and digital communication services.