Thndr, MENA’s leading digital investment platform, has been named to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Technology Pioneers list — a prestigious recognition of the world’s most promising and impactful early-stage companies. Thndr is the only company from Egypt, one of only two Arab companies selected, and the sole representative from North Africa in this year’s cohort. The recognition further cements Thndr’s position as a regional leader in fintech innovation and follows its participation as a Hub71 company, the global tech ecosystem based in Abu Dhabi.
As part of the Technology Pioneers community, Thndr will engage in a two-year programme alongside other pioneering companies that are helping shape the future of global industries. The programme connects selected startups to the World Economic Forum’s platforms, initiatives, and multi-stakeholder network — enabling them to contribute to global conversations on financial inclusion, innovation policy, and digital economy transformation. Thndr will also participate in the Annual Meeting of the Innovator Communities, New York City | December 3–4, 2025 — a key Forum event focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and frontier technologies.
Now in its 25th year, the Technology Pioneers programme celebrates start-ups with breakthrough innovations poised to positively shape the future. Alumni of the community include global trailblazers such as Google, Dropbox, PayPal, and SoundCloud. This year’s 100-member cohort spans 28 countries and a broad range of frontier technologies — from AI-driven agriculture to quantum computing and asteroid mining.
Founded in 2020, Thndr has become a standout in MENA’s fintech landscape, making investing accessible, intuitive, and locally relevant for millions. The platform offers a wide range of financial products — including stocks, gold, mutual funds, and savings — along with educational tools and flexible funding options that empower everyday individuals to take control of their financial future.
In 2024, Thndr maintained its position as the leading retail brokerage on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) for the third year running, recording more than EGP 174 billion in traded value. The company accounted for 82% of all newly coded investors on the EGX, and captured 11% of Egypt’s total retail market share by trading volume. With a growing user base of over 4 million, Thndr has seen significant traction beyond major cities, with 40% of users now coming from underserved geographies. The company has also made strides in financial inclusion, increasing female investor participation from 3% to 12% over the past few years.
“It’s a proud moment for us to be recognized by the World Economic Forum,” said Ahmad Hammouda, Co-Founder and CEO of Thndr. “From day one, we’ve believed that access to investing should be a right, not a luxury — and we’ve built Thndr with that mission at the center. To see our work recognized on a global stage, alongside companies that have gone on to reshape industries, is incredibly meaningful. It fuels our belief that the Middle East and North Africa can be a global hub for financial innovation — and we’re just getting started.”
The recognition comes as Thndr continues to scale across the region, expand its product offering, and drive financial empowerment in markets often underserved by traditional financial institutions. Through its participation in the Technology Pioneers community, Thndr will share insights, collaborate with global leaders, and help shape the future of inclusive finance in emerging markets.
About Thndr
Thndr is one of MENA’s first fully digital investment platforms, simplifying and democratizing investing for over 4 million users. The platform empowers investors through access to Egyptian and U.S. stocks, gold, mutual funds, and savings products. Founded in 2020 by Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr, Thndr secured the first brokerage license issued in Egypt since 2008 and currently holds regulatory licenses from both the FRA (Egypt) and ADGM (UAE). Thndr is also a Hub71 company, part of Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem supporting high-growth startups. To date, Thndr has raised a total of $37.76 million from global venture capital firms, including Tiger Global, Prosus Ventures, BECO Capital, and Y Combinator. For more information, visit https://Thndr.app. The Thndr app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
