Ziina, a fintech startup led by Anton Badashov, has successfully raised $22 million in Series A funding to expand its design-first payment solutions in the Middle Eastern market.

Target Information

Ziina is a fintech company founded by Anton Badashov in 2020, emerging from the need for a more localized payment solution in the Middle Eastern market. Badashov, with a background in computer programming and experience at notable companies like Yandex and Careem, sought to bridge the gap between technology and human emotions through design. Understanding the cultural nuances around financial discussions in the region, Ziina was developed as a user-friendly peer-to-peer payment app that integrated seamlessly with popular messaging apps.

Industry Overview

The Middle Eastern fintech market has traditionally been dominated by conventional banks and international financial institutions, whose digital offerings often do not resonate with local cultures. As a result, many consumers in the region operate without access to formal banking services, creating a significant opportunity for innovative solutions that cater to this unbanked population.

Recent years have witnessed rapid digitization across the Middle East, with increasing adoption of mobile technologies and a growing preference for digital transactions. Startups are rising to meet this demand