Q&A, Q&A- Investors / Corporates

7 Questions with Hala Zahran of AB Accelerator

1.Please tell us a bit about yourself, both at work and leisure.

I am an early stage investor focusing on FinTech primarily B2C in MENA and B2B globally. I also spend a lot of time thinking and reading about the future of finance and ways technology can close the wealth gap across the globe and improve lives. I am a strong believer in the power of many, and the depth and breadth of the impact collaborative ecosystems and communities can have. I seek such opportunities.

2.What are your focus areas, overall and within the FinTech space?

Embedded finance is a big one especially right now. We believe however in models that target the millennials whether its trading apps and BNPL, NFTs, and the creative economy.

3.Any recent deals that you would like to share with us, and why you invested or partnered?

We recently invested in Khazna, a company in Egypt that is addressing the underbanked segment by availing salary advances, bill payments, P2P transfers. We are very proud of the growth Khazna has accomplished, especially as their services improves the well-being of a very large segment in the Egyptian market. We are also proud of Baraka, which is the first neo-broker in MENA, based in the UAE they already have a strong MENA scope, we like them because they are laser focused on first-time investors and their product is clearly very centric around that.

4.What does it take to get to Series A today?

Aggressive growth, laser focus on execution, and investors who can support.

5.Which are the trends to watch out for in the next 6-18 months?

Embedded Finance and banking as a service. NFTs and crypto.