Tyme Group, a South African-born fintech operating in the African country and the Philippines, has secured $250 million in a Series D round, pushing its valuation to $1.5 billion. The funding was led by Nu Holdings (which owns NuBank), Latin America’s most valuable fintech, which invested $150 million for a 10% stake. M&G Catalyst Fund chipped in $50 million while existing shareholders provided the remaining $50 million.
Founded in 2019, the Singapore-based Tyme Group operates a hybrid digital banking model that combines online banking with physical service touchpoints. The company, which now serves 15 million customers, focuses on building and scaling digital banks in emerging markets. Its South African brand, TymeBank, has been a key driver of its growth, while GoTyme in the Philippines—launched in 2022 in partnership with local conglomerate Gokongwei Group—marked its entry into Asia. The company plans to expand further into Vietnam next year.
Tyme remains majority-owned by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (ARC), which retains a 40% stake in the fintech. Last year, the fintech raised $77.8 million in a pre-Series C round, backed by Tencent, Blue Earth Capital, and Norrsken22.
The latest funding underscores a recovery in investor appetite for fintech, following a slowdown triggered by rising global interest rates. Tyme joins Nigeria’s Moniepoint as African fintechs to reach unicorn status this year.
