Thndr, MENA-based retail investment platform, has secured US$15.7 million in its latest funding round, increasing its total capital to US$37.76 million.

The round was led by Prosus Ventures, with contributions from The Rabacap Partnership, BECO Capital, JIMCO Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Y Combinator, and other global investors.

Thndr plans to use the funds to expand its operations in the UAE and enter the Saudi Arabian market. Thndr aims to replicate its success in Egypt by creating localized investment platforms in both countries.

In 2024, Thndr became Egypt’s leading retail brokerage on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). It achieved US$3.5 billion in total traded value and captured 11% of the retail traded value.

🔗 Source: Thndr

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ MENA’s investment gap represents a massive untapped opportunity

The remarkably low 2% investment participation rate cited by Thndr’s CEO reflects a broader underdevelopment of retail financial services across the region.

This pattern extends beyond investments. For example, e-commerce penetration in MENA was just 1.9% of total retail sales in 2017, far below global averages, despite the region’s $8.3 billion e-commerce market growing at 25% annually 1.

Even in leading markets like the UAE (4.2% e-commerce penetration) and Saudi Arabia (3.8%), financial service adoption remains significantly behind developed economies 1.

This gap creates substantial growth opportunities for fintech platforms, particularly as rising smartphone adoption (77% in GCC countries) enables direct-to-consumer financial services that bypass traditional infrastructure limitations 2.

Thndr’s rapid growth, capturing 82% of new investors on the Egyptian exchange, demonstrates how quickly digital platforms can scale when addressing these structural gaps.

2️⃣ Demographic shifts are reshaping MENA’s investment landscape

Thndr’s success in growing female participation from 3% to 12% and attracting users from outside major cities (40% of their base) illustrates how digital platforms are unlocking previously underserved segments.

These shifts reflect broader regional demographic patterns. For instance, 60% of the MENA population is under 30, creating a generational opportunity for digital-first financial services 2.

Young consumers across MENA are demonstrating different financial behaviors than previous generations, with mobile becoming the primary channel for financial discovery. For example, 70% of shopping-related searches in the region are conducted via smartphones 1.