Ahmad Hammouda, a Cairo investment banker, pitched a retail‑trading app in 2016 that would let Egyptians buy stocks as easily as buying a ride. Rejecting the idea, he joined Uber Egypt, grabbed tech know‑how, and launched Thndr in late 2020, sparking a new wave of local investors for the future.

Within two years, Thndr captured 12.9% of the Egyptian Exchange’s trading volume, ranking first among 120 brokerages. Four funding rounds totalled almost $37.8mn, backed by Y Combinator, Prosus Ventures and Tiger Global. Revenue jumped from $120,000 in 2021 to $8mn in 2024, while assets under custody hit $1bn for growth.

The platform now boasts more than 5.5mn downloads; 700,000 users have funded accounts this year, up from 500,000 in 2025. Users average 31 years old, 80% first‑time investors, 12% women, and half live outside Cairo or Alexandria. New EGX registrations rose 200% to 164,000 in Q1 2026 for market depth.

Hammouda eyes seven markets by 2030, already holding a licence in Abu Dhabi and applying in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. If the Arab Federation of Exchanges—16 capitals—unites under one platform, the combined ticker pool could reach a $4.4tn market cap, positioning the region as a global competitor for investment.