Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Türkiye’s record Series A fintech fundraise fuels 2024 prospects

The $45 million fundraise by Midas marks the biggest ever Series A round by a Turkish fintech and the second-largest earlystage investment on record that will allow the startup to expand and roll out new products

- Timur Sırt

TÜRKİYE’S startup ecosystem kicked off 2024 with a record-breaking number of early-stage investment deals in the first quarter. Now, early-stage investment­s are spotlighti­ng financial technology ventures, drawing the attention of foreign investors.

Midas, a fintech startup offering low commission rates for investing in American stock exchanges and Türkiye’s Borsa Istanbul, made a significan­t breakthrou­gh as it raised $45 million in a Series A funding round from global investors.

It marks the biggest ever Series A fundraise by a Turkish fintech and the secondlarg­est early-stage investment on record that fuels prospects. Financial technology startups are poised to be the stars of 2024.

Midas has managed to become Türkiye’s most widely used stock market applicatio­n which has surpassed 2.5 million users in just three years.

NEW PRODUCTS

Until now, Midas has provided users with the opportunit­y to invest in American stock exchanges and Borsa Istanbul with low commission­s on a single platform.

With the new investment, it aims to offer its users the opportunit­y to invest in crypto assets and investment funds effortless­ly and free of charge.

The record investment comes at a critical time in the global economy, amid discussion­s of recession and financial instabilit­y.

The confidence this investment instills in Midas, especially during challengin­g times, reverberat­es globally. Nasdaq, the world’s largest technology exchange, celebrated Midas on a giant screen in Times Square.

The raise was led by Portage, a prominent investor in the global financial technology sector with participat­ion from the World Bank’s investment arm, Internatio­nal Finance Corporatio­n, with Spark Capital, Earlybird Digital East Fund, and Revo Capital doubling down on their previous investment in the company’s $11 million seed round in 2022.

‘WAVE OF TRANSFORMA­TION’

Paul Desmarais III, co-founder of Portage said Midas is leading “a wave of transforma­tion within Türkiye’s financial landscape.”

“Globally, Portage invests in transforma­tional financial technology and Midas is poised to lead that initiative in a region of early adopters. We are very pleased to participat­e in the developmen­t of Midas and to support this ambitious team in bringing financial inclusion and access to wealthbuil­ding tools to the Turkish people.”

Midas CEO Egem Eraslan said the investment once again demonstrat­es Midas’s commitment to being the sole mobile applicatio­n for all investment needs.

“The fact that the world’s largest funds are making such a significan­t investment in Midas shows their confidence in us. Our goal is to offer our users the lowest commission­s and the smoothest experience across all investment products,” said Eraslan.

“In the coming days, our users will be able to invest in crypto assets and TEFAS funds through Midas, alongside Turkish and American stock exchanges. With the support this investment provides us, we will accelerate the transforma­tion in Türkiye’s investment ecosystem.”

 ?? ?? The logo of Midas is pictured on the display outside the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square after the company’s $45 million Series A funding round, New York, U.S., April 22, 2024.
The logo of Midas is pictured on the display outside the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square after the company’s $45 million Series A funding round, New York, U.S., April 22, 2024.
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 ?? ?? The Midas team.
The Midas team.

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