PALM, Egypt’s first fintech startup offering incentivised, goal-based saving, has announced the successful close of its pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by 4DX Ventures, with participation from Plus VC and several international angel investors.
Launched in 2025, PALM aims to transform how Egyptians plan, save, and achieve life goals, from education and healthcare to travel and major purchases, by combining traditional investment strategies with behavioural science and digital convenience.
PALM’s core innovation lies in turning saving into an engaging, reward-driven experience. Users can set specific life goals and save toward them through curated portfolios spanning asset classes like fixed income, equities, and precious metals.
The platform also incentivizes consistent saving with exclusive merchant deals, thereby reducing out-of-pocket costs for essential and aspirational spending.
“Our mission is to empower Egyptians to take control of their financial future,” said Mazen El Kerdany, PALM’s Co-founder and CEO.
“The challenge isn’t the ability to save, Egyptians already hold trillions in bank deposits, gold, and real estate, it’s the absence of accessible tools that align saving with real returns, smart spending, and long-term planning.”
The company’s approach addresses a gap in the market for financial tools that combine return generation with lifestyle alignment. By embedding investment into the everyday spending experience, PALM aims to make saving both practical and culturally relevant.
Proven Leadership Meets Timely Vision
PALM was co-founded by Mazen El Kerdany and Ahmed Ashour, two seasoned professionals with deep roots in investment, finance, and product development.
Mazen brings experience managing over $2 billion in assets and has held leadership roles at EFG Hermes, Beltone Financial, and Post for Investment.
Ahmed, meanwhile, has held global roles at Amazon and Goldman Sachs and led product development in consumer and fintech ventures across EMEA and the U.S.
Ahmed Ashour, Co-founder of PALM, added: “Our goal is to democratize saving and investing in Egypt. We’re building a lifestyle-oriented saving experience that’s low-barrier, personalized, and impactful, no matter your income level.”
With Egypt’s Vision 2030 prioritizing financial inclusion and increased household participation in capital markets, PALM is positioning itself as both a consumer tool and a driver of national economic goals.
The newly secured funding will support product development, scale user acquisition, and expand the company’s network of partners across retail, e-commerce, and financial services. PALM also plans to deepen its reach in Egypt and lay the groundwork for expansion across the Mediterranean.
Investor Confidence in PALM
Peter Orth, Co-founder of lead investor 4DX Ventures, said, “PALM has the potential to become a foundational player in African financial wellness. Their blend of saving incentives, investment access, and merchant rewards positions them uniquely to help people build lasting wealth.”
Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at Plus VC, echoed the sentiment: “PALM is addressing a deeply felt need in the personal finance space. With strong execution and a sharp focus on user empowerment, they’re redefining how individuals prepare for life’s big expenses.”
With a clear product vision and strong backing, PALM is poised to lead a new wave of personal finance innovation across Egypt and beyond, offering people not just a platform to save, but a partner for life’s milestones.
