Telda
Telda is an Egypt-based mobile-first challenger bank serving Gen Z and unbanked consumers with a single app that combines P2P transfers, Mastercard prepaid cards, Apple Pay, EGX securities trading, and Beltone mutual fund subscriptions under a Central Bank of Egypt and FRA-regulated custodian platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersCairo, Egypt
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Telda does
Telda is an Egypt-based mobile-first challenger bank founded in April 2021 by ex-Swvl engineers Ahmed Sabbah and Youssef Shalqami, headquartered in Cairo and operated through Telda, Inc. The company serves Egyptian consumers, primarily Gen Z and the unbanked and underbanked population, through a single iOS and Android application that enables P2P money transfers, prepaid Mastercard payments (physical and virtual cards issued in partnership with Banque Du Caire), Apple Pay, automated spending analytics, and biometric-secured account controls. Account opening requires only a national ID and is permitted from age 15, lowering onboarding friction for first-time banking customers.
The platform's underlying architecture combines a CBE-regulated payment stack, a Mastercard-issued card program, biometric identity verification, and a unified app layer that now also integrates securities trading on the Egyptian Exchange (enabled through the March 2025 acquisition of City Capital) and investment fund subscriptions distributed through a partnership with Beltone Asset Management. Telda holds a custodian license from Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority, making it the first Egyptian app to unify payments, card issuance, and securities trading under a single regulated platform.
Telda's business model is a freemium consumer fintech with limited direct fees: P2P transfers from unrestricted accounts are free, securities trading launched at zero commissions, and Beltone funds are commission-free excluding precious metals. Revenue is currently driven primarily by card-related fees shared with Banque Du Caire and Mastercard, ATM withdrawal fees, and future premium or transaction-based monetization on its investment products. The company has raised $25M in disclosed funding ($5M pre-seed in May 2021 led by Sequoia Capital and $20M seed in October 2022 led by Global Founders Capital) and reached 500,000 active users with over $300M in processed payments by mid-2025, distributing exclusively through its mobile app.
Telda firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Telda
- Legal name
- Telda, Inc.
- Website
- https://telda.app
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Telda is an Egypt-based mobile-first challenger bank serving Gen Z and unbanked consumers with a single app that combines P2P transfers, Mastercard prepaid cards, Apple Pay, EGX securities trading, and Beltone mutual fund subscriptions under a Central Bank of Egypt and FRA-regulated custodian platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Telda industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Banking
- NAICS
- Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)
- SIC
- Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Banking & Neobank Platforms (BPAMAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alternative Payment Methods (APM) Enablement (Wallets, A2A, Local Rails) (FSAGABAJ), Embedded Deposit Accounts & Digital Wallet Infrastructure (FSAGALAE)
Keywords
Where Telda is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairo
- HQ country
- Egypt
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Telda business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- P2P Transfer Fees: P2P transfers are currently free for senders using an Eligible Transaction Account (Unrestricted Account). Fees may be charged for credit card-funded P2P transfers. The company reserves the right to introduce fees in the future.
- ATM Withdrawal Fees: Fees may be charged by Telda or by ATM operators for withdrawals, balance inquiries, and transactions. This applies to both domestic and international ATM usage.
- Securities and Fund Trading: Telda earns revenue from securities investment services, including stock trading on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) and investment fund subscriptions. The service launched with zero commissions or subscription fees for users.
- Card Issuance and Maintenance: Revenue generated from physical and virtual Mastercard card issuance, as well as ongoing card-related services, though specific fee structures are subject to Banque Du Caire terms.
- Investment Fund Distribution: Partnership with Beltone Asset Management enables Telda users to invest in Beltone-managed funds, including Meya Meya, Sabayek gold fund, B-Secure liquidity fund, and Wafra EGX 33 Shariah-compliant equity fund, with zero commission fees (excluding precious metals).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Basic Account (Restricted) — Free with limited features |
| Freemium | Monthly | Unrestricted Account — Full P2P and card features |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Investment Services — Zero commission securities and fund trading |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Telda product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Telda operates a mobile-first digital banking platform in Egypt that lets consumers open accounts with just a national ID (from age 15), order physical and virtual Mastercard-powered debit cards, send and receive P2P payments, track spending, and (post-pivot) trade stocks on the Egyptian Exchange and subscribe to Beltone-managed investment funds directly inside the app. The platform is regulated by the Central Bank of Egypt and operates under a custodian license from the Financial Regulatory Authority, having acquired City Capital in March 2025 for stock market access.
Product overview
Telda is a unified digital financial platform in Egypt that offers a mobile banking app as its core product, supplemented by physical and virtual Mastercard-powered cards issued in partnership with Banque Du Caire. The platform expanded beyond core P2P transfers and spending management to include investment services—acquiring a custodian license and EGX stock market access—to become Egypt's first app unifying payments, card issuance, securities trading, and investment fund subscriptions within a single digital platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Telda Mobile Banking App Telda's flagship mobile application (iOS and Android) enabling Egyptian consumers aged 15+ to open an account with just a national ID, send and receive P2P payments for free, order physical and virtual Mastercard-powered cards, track spending by category, and access in-app customer support. Self-serve, branchless, and regulated by the Central Bank of Egypt.
- Telda Mastercard Debit Card (Physical and Virtual) Prepaid Mastercard debit cards issued in partnership with Banque Du Caire under the MasterCard Foundation, available as physical cards (delivered by mail) or virtual cards for online transactions. Supports contactless payments, worldwide ATM withdrawals, Apple Pay tokenization, and customizable card controls including instant lock/unlock from the app.
- In-App Securities Trading on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) In-app retail brokerage service enabling users to trade stocks listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) with real-time stock tracking and buy/sell order execution, with no commissions, subscription fees, or account charges. Account opening requires only a national ID and is completed within the Telda app. Enabled by Telda's March 2025 acquisition of City Capital and its FRA custodian license.
- Beltone Investment Fund Subscriptions Distribution of Beltone Asset Management's investment fund products within the Telda app, including the Meya Meya fund, Sabayek gold fund, B-Secure liquidity fund, and Wafra EGX 33 Shariah-compliant equity fund. Available with zero commission fees (excluding precious metals) and national-ID-only account opening; redeemed proceeds transfer directly to Telda cards.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000 active users and over $300 million in payments processed
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Telda
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Telda technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Telda partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Beltone Asset ManagementcoreTelda partnered with Beltone Asset Management, a subsidiary of Beltone Holding, to expand access to Beltone's investment products and mutual funds through Telda's app. Users can invest in Beltone funds including Meya Meya, Sabayek gold fund, B-Secure liquidity fund, and Wafra EGX 33 Shariah-compliant equity fund, with zero commission fees (excluding precious metals). Users can open investment accounts using only their national ID without paperwork or physical branch visits. Beltone gains expanded digital distribution channels, and Telda broadens its financial services ecosystem.
- MastercardcoreTelda announced a partnership with Mastercard to launch an integrated financial services solution combining payments and investment features within its mobile app for Egyptian consumers. The partnership enables card issuance and payment processing capabilities, integrating everyday payments with investment management within the Telda app. Telda and Mastercard introduced a unified financial platform connecting everyday payments with investment access.
- Banque Du CairecoreTelda issues its physical and virtual Mastercard cards through a partnership with Banque Du Caire under the MasterCard Foundation. The 'Telda X Banque Du Caire' card is requested through the Telda mobile app and linked to the user's account. Banque Du Caire handles the underlying card infrastructure and is the issuing bank, while Telda manages the user experience and app layer.
- Apple (Apple Pay)coreTelda launched Apple Pay support for its customers in Egypt, allowing them to make contactless and secure transactions using iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple Pay integration provides enhanced security through Face ID, Touch ID, and device passcode authentication, with card numbers never shared with merchants or stored on Apple servers.
- City CapitalflagshipTelda acquired City Capital in March 2025 to gain access to the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) for its securities trading and investment services. This acquisition was a key pillar of Telda's pivot from P2P-only to a full custodian platform, enabling it to offer retail stock trading within its app.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Telda competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Block (Cash App): Block Inc. (formerly Square) operates Cash App, a mobile-first P2P, banking, and investing platform serving underbanked US consumers. Telda is a direct investment of Block, and Cash App serves as the strategic global reference product for Telda's P2P + investing vision.
- Nubank: Latin America's largest digital bank offering cards, accounts, P2P, and investments to underbanked consumers via a mobile app. Highly comparable to Telda in targeting emerging-market unbanked populations with a mobile-first unified platform.
- Fawry: Egypt's largest digital payments network offering bill payments, mobile top-ups, and financial services via a massive agent network. A broader incumbent in Egyptian digital payments that competes with Telda's payment services and serves the same unbanked customer base.
- Orange Money Egypt: Orange Egypt's mobile financial services arm offering P2P transfers, payments, and savings to unbanked users. Telecom-led mobile money competitor operating in the same Egyptian unbanked segment as Telda.
- Vodafone Cash (Egypt): Vodafone Egypt's mobile money service enabling P2P transfers, bill payments, and merchant payments. A major incumbent in Egyptian mobile money with vast telecom distribution, directly competing with Telda's core P2P/wallet value proposition.
- Revolut: Global digital banking super-app offering payments, cards, P2P, and increasingly brokerage and investment products. Comparable to Telda's vision of a unified consumer financial super-app, though operating at much larger scale across geographies.
Direct peers
- MNT-Halan: Egyptian fintech providing digital payments, lending, and savings to the unbanked via a mobile app. Directly comparable to Telda in targeting Egypt's unbanked Gen Z with consumer fintech services, though MNT-Halan has stronger lending exposure while Telda emphasizes payments + investments.
- Khazna: Egyptian digital financial services platform offering payments, lending, and insurance to underbanked users via mobile app. Directly competes with Telda for Egypt's unbanked population with similar product breadth.
- valU: Egyptian consumer finance and BNPL fintech offering installment-based purchasing and digital payments. Competes with Telda in Egypt for digital-first financial services targeting mass-market consumers.
Regional players
- Mashreq Neo: UAE-based digital-only bank from Mashreq offering cards, payments, and investments via mobile app. A regional MENA digital banking peer operating in a more mature market than Egypt, providing a relevant comparison for Telda's product roadmap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Telda social profiles
Digital presenceTelda compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Telda financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Telda leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Telda subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Telda funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Telda M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Telda
What does Telda do?
Telda operates a mobile-first digital banking platform in Egypt that lets consumers open accounts with just a national ID (from age 15), order physical and virtual Mastercard-powered debit cards, send and receive P2P payments, track spending, and (post-pivot) trade stocks on the Egyptian Exchange and subscribe to Beltone-managed investment funds directly inside the app. The platform is regulated by the Central Bank of Egypt and operates under a custodian license from the Financial Regulatory Authority, having acquired City Capital in March 2025 for stock market access.
Is Telda a public or private company?
Telda is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Telda founded?
Telda was founded in 2021. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Telda based?
Telda is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, in the Africa region.
How does Telda make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. P2P Transfer Fees are the primary driver. The others are ATM Withdrawal Fees, securities and Fund Trading, card Issuance and Maintenance and investment Fund Distribution.
Who are Telda's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Block (Cash App), Nubank, Fawry, Orange Money Egypt, Vodafone Cash (Egypt) and Revolut. Direct peers are MNT-Halan, Khazna and valU. Mashreq Neo is listed as a regional player.
Does Telda have an API?
No public API is recorded for Telda.
What industry is Telda in?
Telda's product category is Digital Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAFAD, Digital Banking & Neobank Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAGABAJ, Alternative Payment Methods (APM) Enablement (Wallets, A2A, Local Rails). Its NAICS code is 5221 and its SIC code is 6099.