Telecoms startup Firsty has raised a €5.1M round to offer free mobile data globally. Speedinvest led the round alongside DFF (Dutch Founders Fund), angel investor Marcel Smits (ex-KPN CFO) and former executives from Mollie, Booking.com, Uber, Vodafone, and Adyen.
The company has also partnered with Uber, allowing users to access the Uber app without data charges.
Firsty first launched its beta version across Europe, UK, Turkey, Switzerland, and the USA in January 2024 through its €1.1M pre-seed round. Global mobile data coverage was introduced throughout the course of Q1 2024. The pre-seed round investors included Marcel Smits, Godert Vinkesteijn, ex-CFO KPN Mobile along with Patrick Stal, former head of marketing at Uber and N26.
Unlike traditional mobile providers, Firsty removes the complexity of (e)SIM switching or restrictive data plans. Users download the app to seamlessly connect to mobile data in any country and have the ability to pause and retain unused data.
Firsty Co-founder and CEO, Vince Vissers, commented: “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.
“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.”
Speedinvest Partner, Jeroen Arts added: “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.”
The provider has expanded into 150 markets across Europe, North America, Latin America, APAC, and Africa in just a few months, where it has garnered 400,000 users.
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