Aladdin

Aladdin

Early Stage

Africa's Digital Bank

Africa's Digital Bank

Overview

Raised to Date: Raised: $68,851

Total Commitments ($USD)

Platform

Wefunder

Start Date

12/03/2023

Close Date

04/28/2024

Min. Goal
$50,000
Max. Goal
$583,000
Min. Investment

$300

Security Type

SAFE

Series

Seed

SEC Filing Type

RegCF    Open SEC Filing

Early Bird Val. Cap

$8,100,000

Valuation Cap

$9,000,000

Discount

10%

Rolling Commitments ($USD)

Status
Funded
Reporting Date

04/29/2024

Days Remaining
Funded
% of Min. Goal
Funded
% of Max. Goal
Funded
Likelihood of Max
Funded
Avg. Daily Raise

$472

# of Investors

37

Momentum
Funded
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Year Founded

2021

Industry

Financial & Insurance Products & Services

Tech Sector

Fintech

Distribution Model

B2B/B2C

Margin

High

Capital Intensity

Low

Location

Wilmington, Delaware

Business Type

High Growth

Aladdin, with a valuation of $9 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. It is a digital banking ecosystem specifically for Nigerian entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses. Aladdin’s products and services include savings accounts, lending services, e-payment services, and a marketplace to buy and sell goods. The platform has reported $300,000 in revenue, 250,000 downloads, over 160,000 users, and $100 million in transaction volume. Darlington Onyeagoro and David Echu founded Aladdin in November 2021. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $583,000. The campaign proceeds will be used for marketing and sales, operational expenses, team expansion, and general and administrative expenses.

Summary Profit and Loss Statement

FY 2022 FY 2021

Revenue

$247,248

$143,071

COGS

$6,531

$20,963

Tax

$0

$0

 

 

Net Income

$-61,257

$-16,854

Summary Balance Sheet

FY 2022 FY 2021

Cash

$78,878

$15,508

Accounts Receivable

$0

$52,141

Total Assets

$526,244

$307,776

Short-Term Debt

$15,681

$122,453

Long-Term Debt

$2,695

$0

Total Liabilities

$18,376

$122,453

Financials as of: 12/03/2023
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Raise History

Offering Name Close Date Platform Valuation/Cap Total Raised Security Type Status Reg Type
Aladdin 04/27/2024 Wefunder $9,000,000 $68,851 SAFE Funded RegCF
Aladdin 04/02/2023 Microventures $9,000,000 $32,916 Convertible Note Funded RegCF
Aladdin 05/26/2022 Wefunder $9,000,000 $181,141 SAFE Funded RegCF
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Price per Share History

Note: Share prices shown in earlier rounds may not be indicative of any stock splits.

Valuation History

Revenue History

Note: Revenue data points reflect the latest of either the most recent fiscal year's financials, or updated revenues directly from the founder, at each raise's close date.

Employee History

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Analyst Report

Synopsis

Aladdin is a digital banking platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses. The platform offers a wide range of financial services, including savings accounts, lending services, and e-payment services, all in one place. This eliminates the need for users to download multiple apps to manage their finances, making it easier for them to run their businesses.

In addition to its financial services, Aladdin provides a marketplace where users can buy and sell goods. This feature further simplifies the business running process, as users can manage their finances and conduct business transactions all within the same platform.

Despite being a relatively new company, Aladdin has already reported significant success. The platform has over 160,000 users and has processed $100 million in transaction volume. These figures indicate that Aladdin is meeting a real need in the Nigerian market and has significant potential for future growth.

Next Section: Price

Price

Aladdin is raising funds through SAFE on Wefunder at a valuation of $9 million. This seems relatively high compared to its projected 2023 revenue of $222,000. It is worth noting that Aladdin has raised $2.53 million in prior funding rounds, indicating investor confidence in the company's growth prospects. The participation of notable venture capital investors, including Exert DOJO, LoftyInc Capital Management, and Valon Capital Management, probably contributed to the company's valuation inflation.

Next Section: Market

Market

Aladdin operates within the rapidly expanding Nigerian fintech market, a segment of the wider African fintech landscape. Nigeria accounts for 32% of Africa's fintech market. The fintech scene in Nigeria has witnessed significant growth, with the number of fintech startups rising from 144 in 2021 to 217 in 2023, representing a 51% increase.

A key driver for the fintech sector in Nigeria is the pressing need to address financial inclusion. According to the African Development Bank, financial inclusion encapsulates initiatives that make formal financial services available, accessible, and affordable to all population segments. This is particularly relevant in Nigeria, where many individuals and small businesses are yet to be incorporated into the formal financial system.

The addressable market for Nigerian fintech startups like Aladdin is sizeable, valued at $737 million. While the market growth rate is robust at 32%, Aladdin operates in a high-regulation environment subject to banking and financial services rules. This factor and high market competition form the landscape in which Aladdin must navigate to achieve growth and market dominance. It will be complicated for the startup to onboard users from other African countries.

Next Section: Team

Team

Aladdin is led by co-founder CEO Darlington Onyeagoro, who has 14 years of bank experience. Onyeagoro is a seasoned entrepreneur and previously founded Okash, a microlending startup that raised $9.5 million. Onyeagoro brings a deep understanding of the financial industry to Aladdin. His leadership and expertise will be instrumental in driving the growth and success of the company.

David Echu serves as the CTO and is a co-founder of Aladdin. Echu is a software developer and computer science graduate from EPSU la Cite Benin Republic. He specializes in web development, machine learning, and AI. As a first-time founder, Echu brings the team fresh perspectives and technical expertise.

Aladdin's COO is Patrick Asuama, an experienced management professional with a background in fintech, MedTech, and automobile startups. Asuama specializes in go-to-market strategy, which will be essential in driving Aladdin's customer acquisition and business growth. With his expertise and experience, Asuama will play a key role in the company's operational success.

However, the team seems to lack a dedicated marketing specialist. With a team of 40 individuals, Aladdin grew its talent base but will have to invest in growth specialists to increase its revenue.

Next Section: Differentiation

Differentiation

Aladdin operates in a highly competitive market within the Nigerian fintech industry. While the company has gained traction with over 165,000 users and significant transaction volume, it faces established competitors such as Opay, Brass, and Kuda, who offer similar products and services. Additionally, Western Union and MoneyGram are indirect competitors in the remittance space.

Aladdin's differentiation level in terms of quality and price is low compared to its competitors. The company's offerings are similar to others in the market, and competitors have secured more funding, giving them a potential advantage in terms of resources and scalability.

However, Aladdin's value proposition lies in its digital banking ecosystem designed for Nigerian entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses. The platform offers various financial services, including savings accounts, lending services, e-payment services, and a marketplace for buying and selling goods. By providing a comprehensive solution, Aladdin aims to address the identity and fraud issues faced by Nigerian businesses and the inconvenience of using multiple fragmented apps.

Going forward, Aladdin must focus on differentiating itself from competitors by enhancing its product offerings, improving its value proposition, and securing additional funding to fuel its expansion and capture a larger share of the Nigerian fintech market.

Next Section: Performance

Performance

Aladdin, a digital banking ecosystem for Nigerian entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses, has shown impressive traction since its creation in 2021. The platform has gained significant user adoption with over 165,000 users and has disbursed 47,684 loans totaling $467,209. Aladdin's platform has facilitated transactions worth $104,234,690, demonstrating its ability to handle a substantial volume of transactions.

The company has formed major partnerships with industry leaders such as Stripe, Visa, Paystack, Flutterwave, and Globus Bank, enhancing its credibility and expanding its reach in the Nigerian fintech market. These partnerships provide Aladdin access to a wide range of financial services and payment processing capabilities.

Aladdin's revenue has shown consistent growth, reaching $247,248 in annual revenue, with a remarkable 72% growth rate.  However, it is worth noting that the projected revenue for 2023 is expected to decrease to $222,222.

The company's financial position is solid, with a cash balance of $140,000 and no recent monthly burn. Aladdin has also raised $2.53 million in prior funding rounds, demonstrating investor confidence in its business model and growth potential.

Aladdin's product offering includes savings accounts, lending services, e-payment services, and a marketplace for buying and selling goods. The platform has experienced high growth in user adoption, with over 160,000 users and 250,000 downloads. This indicates a strong demand for Aladdin's services within the Nigerian market.

While Aladdin has made significant progress since its last raise, the company's CEO, Darlington Onyeagoro, announced plans to expand internationally by the end of 2022. Although Aladdin can terminate transactions from Nigeria to 33 African countries, the US, and Europe, the app itself is currently only available to customers within Nigeria. This limitation may impact the company's ability to capture a larger market share and achieve its international expansion goals.

Aladdin has demonstrated strong traction in the Nigerian fintech market with a growing user base. However, the company faces intense competition in the highly competitive fintech landscape. Aladdin's ability to execute its expansion plans and adapt to market dynamics will be crucial for its long-term success.

Next Section: Risk

Risk

Investing in Aladdin carries several risks that potential investors should be aware of. Firstly, Aladdin operates in a highly competitive market within the fintech industry in Nigeria. The company faces direct competition from companies like Opay, Brass, and Kuda and indirect competition from established players like Western Union and MoneyGram. This competitive landscape poses a risk to Aladdin's ability to acquire and retain customers and differentiate its products and services from its competitors.

Furthermore, Aladdin's success relies heavily on market acceptance and adoption of its digital banking ecosystem. While the company has reported significant user numbers and transaction volume, there is a risk that the market may not fully embrace Aladdin's platform or that competitors may offer similar or more appealing products and services. This could hinder Aladdin's growth and revenue generation.

Lastly, Aladdin operates in a market with high approval and license regulations. This regulatory environment presents potential obstacles and compliance costs for the company. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in legal issues, penalties, or reputational damage.

Next Section: Bullish Outlook

Bullish Outlook

Aladdin is poised to revolutionize the digital banking landscape in Nigeria with its comprehensive ecosystem tailored specifically for entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses. By offering a range of products and services, including savings accounts, lending services, e-payment solutions, and a marketplace, Aladdin aims to address the unique financial needs of its target market.

Aladdin has gained significant traction in the Nigerian fintech market with over 160,000 users, 250,000 downloads, and $100 million in transaction volume. 

Aladdin's value proposition lies in its ability to provide a holistic solution to Nigerian entrepreneurs and small businesses. Aladdin eliminates the need for users to navigate multiple fragmented solutions by offering a single super app that consolidates various functionalities. This streamlined approach enhances user experience, improves efficiency, and addresses identity and fraud issues prevalent in the Nigerian market.

Furthermore, the company has attracted notable venture capital investors such as Exert DOJO, LoftyInc Capital Management, and Daft Capital, further validating its business model and growth prospects.

The market potential for Aladdin is high as Nigeria's fintech industry continues to experience rapid growth and digital transformation. With its focus on serving the needs of small businesses and individuals, Aladdin is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and establish itself as a key player in the Nigerian fintech ecosystem.

Next Section: Bearish Outlook

Bearish Outlook

While Aladdin operates in the promising field of digital banking in Nigeria, it faces significant challenges and competition. The company's direct competitors, such as Opay, Brass, and Kuda, already have established market presence and user bases. Additionally, Aladdin competes indirectly with well-known international players like Western Union and MoneyGram, which have established themselves in the Nigerian fintech market.

Furthermore, Aladdin's financials raise concerns about its profitability and sustainability. The company may only report $222,000 in revenues in 2023, which represents an 8% decrease from 2022 and is relatively low considering its valuation of $9 million. This may indicate poor execution, a lack of product-market fit, or a lack of marketing and sales efforts.

Moreover, Aladdin operates in an extremely competitive landscape with low barriers to entry. Nigeria's digital banking market is attracting numerous local and international players, all vying for market share in a rapidly evolving industry. Aladdin will need to differentiate itself and demonstrate a sustainable competitive advantage to effectively compete and capture a significant portion of the market.

Next Section: Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Aladdin is a digital banking platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs, individuals, and small businesses. The company provides various financial services, including savings accounts, lending services, e-payment services, and a marketplace for buying and selling goods. Since its inception in 2021, Aladdin has gained significant traction in the Nigerian market, with over 165,000 users and $104 million in transactions.

The company operates in Nigeria's rapidly growing fintech sector, which has seen significant growth in the number of startups and investments. The industry is driven by a strong need for financial inclusion, with fintech startups playing a major role in addressing this issue. Aladdin's services are particularly relevant given the increasing migration of small and medium-sized businesses and freelancers to online platforms.

However, Aladdin faces close competition from established fintech startups such as Opay, Brass, and Kuda. It will be difficult for Aladding to earn market shares. Indeed, the company's 2023 revenue is projected to decrease by 8% compared to 2022 to reach $222,000.

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Aladdin on Wefunder 2023
Platform: Wefunder
Security Type: SAFE
Valuation: $9,000,000

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