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Paymob

Can a single payments infrastructure become the financial OS for SMEs across the under-banked MENA-P region?

Founded2015
HQCairo, Egypt
FoundersIslam Shawky, Alain El Hajj, Mostafa Menessy
Total raised$90.5M+
Latest roundExtension, 2024 ($22M)
IndustryInfrastructure / Payments
The story

Founded 2015 as an e-commerce play, Paymob pivoted to fixing the underlying problem — Egypt's lack of online payment acceptance — and became the dominant payment gateway in MENA-P. The company has expanded from a card/wallet gateway into a full omnichannel infrastructure (online + POS + payouts + Paymob Sync cashless ecosystems), embedding installments from banks (QNB Egypt) and BNPL players (Tabby, Tamara) into checkout. Now positioning as 'the financial services enabler' for SMEs across Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Pakistan.

Last 12 months
2026-02
2024-09
Product timeline
2015
Founded in Egypt by three American University in Cairo students· pivot
2021
Raised $18.5M Series A from A15, FMO, Global Ventures· funding
2022
$50M Series B led by PayPal Ventures and Kora Capital· funding
2024
Raised additional $22M; reported profitable in Egypt· funding
2026
Strategic alliance with QNB Egypt to embed bank installment plans into merchant checkout· lending
The stack
Payments / PSP
Paymob (self-operated gateway)Paymob Unified Checkout (self-operated)Paymob POS (self-operated)Paymob Payment Links (self-operated)Paymob Subscriptions (self-operated)Paymob Marketplace (self-operated)
Lending
QNB Egypt; Tabby; TamaraInstallments (0% interest, up to 36 months)Banked and Unbanked Installment ProgramsQNB Egypt installment plans (embedded at checkout)Tabby BNPLTamara BNPL
Accounting
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Accounting gap: minor