• Blnk

  Participated · Debt Financing · Jun 2026

  Blnk offers point-of-sale consumer financing through a merchant network of more than 3,000 stores across categories such as electronics, home appliances, automotive services, and furniture, enabling consumers to access loans with minimal documentation in as little as three minutes and repayment terms of 6 to 36 months. The company uses proprietary algorithms and machine learning models to perform localized, real-time credit risk assessments and price loans based on predicted default probabilities. Since its seed round in November 2022, Blnk has onboarded over one million customers, grown a loan portfolio exceeding EGP 1 billion, and reported reaching profitability in 2025 driven by a 173% year-on-year revenue increase. Around 75% of its users were previously unbanked or underbanked, and women make up more than 35% of its customer base. Blnk plans to expand its product suite, enhance its technology, explore geographic expansion, and launch a credit card program that allows customers to use credit limits outside its merchant network. The company leverages both equity and local debt capital to scale operations and broaden access to consumer finance in Egypt.

• Cartona

  Participated · Debt Financing · Jul 2024

  Cartona is an asset-light B2B e-commerce marketplace that connects FMCG suppliers and wholesalers with retailers, offering technology, fulfillment, and embedded finance to improve supply-chain efficiency. The platform serves FMCG and a growing HORECA vertical while partnering with local suppliers rather than displacing them. Cartona reported annualized GMV of about EGP 10 billion (~$210M), up from EGP 2.3 billion (~$120M) in 2022, and now supports more than 180,000 retailers, 4,500 suppliers across 17 Egyptian cities, and over 40,000 SKUs. HORECA currently represents ~7% of GMV but yields double the blended take rates and average order value versus FMCG; the company expects HORECA to reach 15% of GMV by year-end. Cartona is very close to reaching full EBITDA profitability and has improved unit economics while shifting most merchant credit to local-currency financing. Embedded finance now constitutes more than 20% of Cartona's GMV (up from 2–3% in 2022), supporting inventory financing and financial inclusion for small merchants. The company plans to deepen operations in Egypt, expand the HORECA vertical and other product lines, and may pursue regional expansion, including Saudi Arabia. Cartona operates an asset-light B2B e-commerce marketplace that lets buyers order inventory from a network of curated sellers via an app with promotion tools and a market-insights dashboard. The company integrates technical connections with large manufacturers and warehouses and embeds BNPL into the order flow, allowing repayment with each product shipment. Cartona currently lends from its balance sheet but expects to secure credit lines and venture debt from partners by January next year. Management says the business is pursuing sustainable growth and positive unit economics in every city as it scales toward profitability. Operational metrics disclosed include 60,000+ merchants, over 1 million transactions, an annualized gross merchandise value of EGP 2.3 billion (~$120M), 1,500+ distributors and wholesalers, and relationships with roughly 200 FMCG companies. The startup launched in 2020 and has expanded from three cities to 11, with plans to cover all of Egypt's governorates and explore new verticals beyond FMCG. Founded in August 2020 and based in Cairo, Cartona operates an asset-light marketplace that connects retailers (buyers) with FMCG companies, distributors and wholesalers (sellers) through a single app. The platform provides real-time price comparisons, delivery-time visibility, an inventory and ordering system, and analytics to help suppliers optimize go-to-market execution. Cartona also offers embedded finance and access to credit for retailers and suppliers. Its revenue model includes commissions on orders, charging suppliers for advertising to merchants, and selling market insights on buyer behavior, price competition and market share. The company reports over 30,000 merchants on the platform, more than 400,000 orders processed, an annualized gross merchandise value of EGP 1 billion (~$64 million), and partnerships with over 1,000 distributors/wholesalers and 100 FMCG companies offering 10,000+ products. Cartona is expanding its team and operations beyond Cairo and Alexandria and is considering horizontal and vertical product expansion into pharmaceuticals, electronics and fashion.

No current team members are available.