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§ Private Profile · Cairo, Egypt
Minly is a technology company.
Minly has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
Minly has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Minly operates an online platform dedicated to fostering direct and personalized connections between fans and their favorite public figures. The core product facilitates a range of unique digital experiences, including custom video shoutouts, participation in exclusive online events, and access to celebrity-endorsed merchandise. The platform leverages a direct-to-consumer model, enabling celebrities to engage intimately with their audience while providing fans with unparalleled access and bespoke interactions.
The company was founded in 2020 by Mohamed El-Shinnawy, Tarek Hosny, Tarek ElGanainy, Ahmed Abbas, and Bassel El-Toukhy. Mohamed El-Shinnawy, bringing substantial experience in media and technology, was instrumental in its inception. The co-founders recognized a growing demand for more authentic and personal engagements between celebrities and their global fanbase, leading to the creation of a structured digital environment for these interactions.
Minly serves a diverse user base, primarily connecting individual fans with a wide array of celebrities spanning musicians, actors, athletes, and social media influencers. Additionally, the platform extends its services to businesses seeking to collaborate with entertainment figures for brand campaigns and engagements. Minly's vision is to redefine fan-celebrity interaction by creating meaningful, accessible, and personalized experiences that strengthen the bond between public figures and their supporters.
Minly has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in June 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2021 | $4M Seed | Peter Orth, B&Y Venture Partners, Global Ventures | Backstage Capital, Pioneer Fund, Queensbridge Venture Partners, Thirty Five Ventures, Haroon Mokhtarzada, Jason Robins, Jean Pigozzi, Robert Hisaoka, Shane Battier, Anthony Saleh, Arieh Mimran, Jason Finger, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Scooter Braun, Tamim Jabr | Announced |
Minly has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Minly's investors include Peter Orth, B&Y Venture Partners, Global Ventures, Backstage Capital, Pioneer Fund, QueensBridge Venture Partners, Thirty Five Ventures, Haroon Mokhtarzada, Jason Robins, Jean Pigozzi, Robert Hisaoka, Shane Battier.
Minly is a technology company that operates a platform connecting celebrities with their fans through personalized video shoutouts, voice notes, direct messages, official merchandise, and online events. It primarily serves fans and brands in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, enabling fans to engage with celebrities and brands to leverage celebrity influence for marketing. Minly solves the problem of direct, authentic fan-celebrity interaction and brand collaboration in the digital entertainment space. The company has shown strong growth momentum, with over 130,000 users and 1,000 celebrities on its platform, including prominent regional stars, and has expanded through acquisitions like Oulo to consolidate its market leadership[1][2][3].
Founded in 2020 by Mohammed El-Shinnawy, Tarek Hosny, and Bassel El-Toukhy, Minly emerged from the idea of creating a scalable platform for celebrity-fan engagement in the MENA region, inspired by similar global models like Cameo. Early traction included rapid user growth and high-profile virtual events, such as a record-breaking online concert by Egyptian rapper Wegz attended by over 32,000 fans across 31 countries. The acquisition of Oulo, a Levant-focused celebrity shoutout platform, was a pivotal moment that expanded Minly’s reach and celebrity roster[1][2].
Minly rides the global trend of the creator economy and personalized digital experiences, capitalizing on increasing demand for authentic celebrity-fan interactions. The timing is favorable due to rising internet penetration, social media usage, and digital entertainment consumption in the MENA region. Market forces such as the growth of influencer marketing and virtual events post-pandemic work in Minly’s favor. By enabling brands to leverage celebrity influence and fans to access personalized content, Minly influences the regional entertainment and marketing ecosystems, accelerating the digital transformation of celebrity engagement[1][2].
Minly is poised to expand further across the MENA region and potentially beyond, leveraging its strong celebrity network and platform capabilities. Trends shaping its journey include the continued rise of the creator economy, virtual events, and digital fan engagement. Its influence may evolve by integrating more interactive and immersive technologies, expanding brand partnerships, and deepening community engagement. Minly’s trajectory suggests it will remain a key player in transforming how fans connect with celebrities and how brands activate influencer marketing in emerging markets[1][2].