Amsterdam-based telecom startup Firsty has secured €5.1M in a Seed round of funding to drive its global expansion and innovation efforts.
The investment was led by Speedinvest, with participation from the Dutch Founders Fund (DFF), led by Founding Partner Laurens Groenendijk, Just Eat co-founder.
The round also included investors such as former KPN CFO Marcel Smits and executives from Mollie, Booking.com, Uber, Vodafone, and Adyen. This investor lineup brings expertise in disrupting traditional industries, supporting Firsty’s mission to innovate the telecom sector.
Speedinvest Partner, Jeroen Arts says, “Firsty’s vision of free global telecom is bold and disruptive. At a time when Europe is prioritising innovation, Firsty stands out by combining scalable technology with a global vision, challenging entrenched players.”
“We’re confident they will redefine how people stay connected across borders, and we’re excited to back their growth.”
Partnership with Uber
Besides the funding, Firsty has also announced a new partnership with Uber. The partnership allows Firsty users worldwide to access the Uber app and order rides without incurring additional data charges, eliminating concerns over roaming fees or unsafe Wi-Fi connections.
Capital utilisation
Firsty aims to enhance its technical capabilities and scale its presence in B2C and B2B markets. The company’s app, which offers free mobile data as a standout feature, focuses on customer-centric global connectivity. The funding will support its mission to reshape the telecom sector with a user-first approach.
Firsty’s co-founder and CEO Vince Vissers says, “We built Firsty because we believe mobile data connectivity is a human right. With support from industry-disrupting investors, we are set to challenge telecom giants, drive rapid growth, and make global telecom free and transparent. We’re not just competing, we’re changing the rules of the game.”
Global mobile internet for all!
Founded in 2023 by former Adyen Technical Product Managers Vince Vissers and Gauthier Thierens, Firsty aims to disrupt the telecom industry by eliminating the complexity, high costs, and intransparency associated with international mobile data.
The company’s app provides free access to top global networks on land, sea, and air, positioning mobile data as a basic human right.
Firsty’s innovative approach mirrors the transformation neobanks brought to finance, reshaping the telecom sector with user-centric, cost-free connectivity.
The Amsterdam-based startup has expanded into over 150 markets across Europe, North America, Latin America, APAC, and Africa within months of its launch. Its app has attracted over 400,000 users.
Co-founder Vissers says, “Firsty’s mission is not just to simplify telecom for individual users but to deliver tailored solutions for businesses seeking to provide seamless mobile connectivity for their teams and customers.”
Firsty launched its beta version in January 2024 across Europe, the UK, Turkey, Switzerland, and the US, following a €1.1M pre-seed funding round. By the end of Q1 2024, the company expanded to offer global mobile data coverage.
How Firsty works?
Firsty is transforming global mobile connectivity with a freemium model offering free essential data and high-speed options starting at €1 per day. The app eliminates the need for (e)SIM switching or restrictive plans, providing hassle-free data access worldwide.
Users benefit from features like free data, the ability to pause and retain unused data, and automatic connections to the best local networks through regional telecom partnerships.
Since its launch, Firsty has emerged as a “serious competitor” in the global telecom market, appealing to travellers, expats, and remote workers seeking affordable and flexible mobile data solutions.
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