News
Pyypl Growth To Accelerate After $20 Million Investment
The Abu Dhabi-based financial platform continues to go from strength to strength, with sights set on a huge regional expansion.
Pyypl (pronounced “people”), the Middle East and Africa-focused financial services platform, has just secured $20 million in Series B funding from international investors, as well as ten of its existing backers.
Since being founded in 2017, the Hub71 member has raised nearly $40 million in investment capital. This recent financing round will help the platform increase its reach even deeper into the MEA region.
As the company develops what’s known as “Pyypl 2.0”, new features and proprietary technology will also be built to enhance user experience and help scale in new markets and business verticals. Pyypl is led by a skilled management team with a proven track record and is now one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the region, quadrupling its user base and transaction volumes in just 12 months.
Pyypl has established key partnerships since its foundation, and now boasts a mature and expansive financial ecosystem that includes Visa, several payment gateway partners, Ripple, and Binance. Based in Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Pyypl also gains access to a wide-ranging network of partners and benefits from a strong local talent base.
Also Read: Paymob Announces New UAE Regional Hub
The combination of proprietary technology, an experienced management team, and a unique multi-product approach is paying dividends for the startup, which seems to have been founded at the exact right time to benefit from the region’s growing tech landscape. The ecosystem boasts “internationally accepted virtual and physical prepaid cards, instant domestic and international user-to-user transfers as well as remittances to 38 currency destinations”, with plenty of additional features being added to the roadmap.
“We welcome our new investors and appreciate the further investment from our existing shareholders to support our financial inclusion journey. We have grown significantly since our Series A round and are excited to enter the next phase of growth and capability. This is just the beginning,” says Antti Arponen, co-founder and CEO at Pyypl.
Pyypl’s platform offers key financial services via a single app, and could benefit up to 800 million financially underserved smartphone users across Africa and the Middle East.
News
New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE
The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.
A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.
The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.
For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.
The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.
Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East
Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.
Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.
For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.
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