MidLyr, an AI infrastructure startup founded by Egyptian entrepreneur Wael Elsahhar and Ruochen Ren, has raised USD 2.5 million in pre-seed funding to revolutionize how financial institutions operate and manage risk. The funding round was led by Silicon Badia, with additional backing from Wedbush Ventures, Hustle Fund, DCG, and Story Ventures.
The company’s mission is simple: build intelligent and compliant automation tools that empower banks and fintechs to streamline operations, ensure regulatory alignment, and minimize institutional risks.
The Vision Behind MidLyr
MidLyr’s goal is to modernize the outdated, manual workflows that dominate traditional banking operations. The platform uses AI agents to align with financial regulations, company policies, and operational data—creating a reliable and adaptive automation layer.
Key objectives include:
- Reducing human error in financial processes
- Enhancing transparency and compliance for regulators
- Improving decision-making through intelligent data systems
- Building durable digital foundations for financial institutions
According to Namek Zu’bi, Founder and Managing Partner at Silicon Badia, “MidLyr combines technical depth with financial insight. That’s the foundation needed for sustainable infrastructure in fintech.”
Scaling Across Regions
With the new funding, MidLyr plans to:
- Expand hiring across engineering, data science, design, and compliance roles
- Accelerate product development to meet increasing industry demand
- Deepen partnerships with design-partner banks and fintechs across the US, Egypt, and the wider MENA region
Co-founder Wael Elsahhar emphasizes the strategic importance of regional growth, stating, “We are betting on the talent depth in the Middle East and the US as a long-term advantage in building next-generation financial infrastructure.”
Building a Smarter Financial Future
MidLyr is shaping a future where AI and compliance work hand in hand to redefine how financial operations run. By merging advanced automation with strict regulatory frameworks, the company is creating what it calls “bank-grade intelligence”. This is the kind of technology that financial teams can trust.
“Our mission is to give bank operators intelligent, compliant tools so they can serve customers better and reduce risk,” says Elsahhar.
MidLyr’s latest funding round marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s growing role in global fintech innovation. As the company scales, it continues to prove how AI infrastructure can transform not just efficiency—but trust—in financial systems.