Seedstars, the Swiss-based investment group focused on emerging markets, has announced the selection of five startups for the MENA edition of its SHIFT 2025 Ventures program. The cohort, featuring companies from Tunisia, Morocco, and Qatar, will join the “Scaling Holistic Inclusion in Fintech Transformation” (SHIFT) initiative, designed to advance financial inclusion through technology.
Fostering Cross-Border Financial Inclusion
The SHIFT program identifies and supports high-growth fintech and embedded finance ventures that are addressing critical gaps in financial access. The 2025 MENA edition specifically targets solutions that expand access to payments, insurance, credit, and cross-border services for underserved communities.
The selected startups will participate in an on-site gathering at the RiseUp Summit in Cairo during the first week of February, where they will connect with ecosystem leaders and explore opportunities to scale their impact. The program is delivered in collaboration with iGravity, an impact investment advisory firm, emphasizing the focus on creating tangible social and economic value alongside business growth.
The SHIFT 2025 MENA Cohort
The selected ventures represent a diverse range of business models, from micro-insurance to artisan marketplaces:
- CWALLET (Qatar): A fintech startup licensed by the Qatar Central Bank that enables users to receive salaries, conduct online and offline transactions, and send cross-border remittances. Led by CEO Michael Javier, the company aligns with UN ESG goals to promote a cashless society and financial literacy.
- MyTindy (Morocco): An AI-powered marketplace and fintech bridge empowering artisans, particularly women and migrants, to sell globally. Under CEO Aida Kandil, the platform provides voice-enabled onboarding in local dialects and integrated payment solutions to turn artisans’ phones into gateways for economic inclusion.
- PayDay Takaful (Tunisia): A “FinsurTech” platform offering digital micro-insurance and salary-backed financial solutions. Led by CEO Dr. M Anouar Gadhoum, the startup provides employees with instant access to cash and insurance coverage without interest or collateral, aiming to remove financial hurdles for workers.
- Slide (Tunisia): A peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace for foreign exchange needs, matching users with opposite currency requirements. Directed by CEO Omar Guizani, the platform allows users in the Maghreb and Euro-zone to bypass high fees by replacing international transfers with two local payments.
- Fundfina: An embedded finance platform facilitating inclusive credit and financial services. The venture is part of the cohort’s mission to build infrastructure that supports underbanked populations.
About Seedstars
Seedstars is a global investment holding with a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging and frontier markets through technology and entrepreneurship. The group supports founders and startups in over 90 ecosystems, providing access to capital, knowledge, and a global network of investors and mentors.
Source: Seedstars
