Halan’s fintech ascent: Redefining financial inclusion in Egypt

Halan’s fintech ascent: Redefining financial inclusion in Egypt is profiled by BTW Media because public-source evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• Halan, founded in 2017–2018, has grown into Egypt’s first unicorn by offering integrated micro-loans, BNPL, payments, logistics and e-commerce—serving over 7 million users.
• Operating in a fragmented, under-banked financial landscape, it overcame challenges through core tech innovation, strategic pivots, and regional expansion across MENA and South Asia.

Halan: From Ride-Hailing to fintech powerhouse

Originally launched in 2017 as a ride-hailing and delivery app, Halan swiftly transformed into a fintech super-app by 2018 — offering micro-finance, consumer and nano-finance, BNPL, payments, e-commerce, and logistics under one roof. Supported by micro, consumer, SME and nano-finance licences from Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority, plus the Central Bank’s first independent electronic wallet licence, Halan has built a truly inclusive digital ecosystem.

By mid-2024, the platform had amassed 7 million registered users—about one in every ten Egyptian adults—with roughly 2.2 million active users quarterly, and disbursed over USD 4.4 billion in loans.

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Halan: Scaling fintech services amid economic headwinds

While Egypt grapples with high inflation, currency volatility and low banking penetration, Halan leveraged these conditions to scale through tailored, accessible solutions—especially for unbanked communities. Focusing squarely on fintech and shelving its ride-hailing arm allowed it to concentrate resources on core services, driving remarkable growth.

Encouraged by investor confidence, Halan raised major funding rounds—USD 120 million in equity in 2021 from Apis Growth Fund II, DPI and others, then secured an additional USD 400 million in 2023, including equity from Chimera and debt via securitisation. It also acquired Turkey’s Tam Finans in July 2024—gaining a 40 % share of that micro-leasing market and enabling regional expansion.

Halan’s neobanking tech stack, notably its proprietary “Neuron” core banking system and super-app platform, has been recognised globally—earning the title of “Most Innovative Financial Technology Company” in both the Middle East and Africa from Global Finance in 2024.