Dayra

Dayra is a Cairo-based fintech that lets companies embed financial services into their own applications for the unbanked workers, contractors and customers they transact with. Its product set includes virtual bank accounts, prepaid cards and access to credit, delivered either through Dayra's APIs inside a partner's app or through Dayra's own mobile app. Payments to end users are handled by Dayra, which also positions the company to collect loan repayments directly from a worker's earnings.

The company's initial focus segments are gig workers acting as independent contractors for digital platforms — for example ride-hailing drivers and delivery couriers — and micro-businesses such as neighbourhood grocery stores and small restaurants. Dayra frames the opportunity around low banking penetration in Egypt, citing that roughly 30% of the country's 105 million people are banked and that documentation requirements such as proof of income block gig workers and micro-business owners from opening accounts. One cited customer is an Egyptian trucking marketplace that uses Dayra's API to advance truck drivers part of their earnings.

Lending is described as the core business, with accounts and payments serving as the first customer touchpoint. Loans range from about $100 to $2,500 across short, medium and long tenors, offered at rates the company says are below those of traditional micro-lenders and informal lenders.