Firsty secures 5.1 million euros

Fresh capital for free Internet access. The Amsterdam start-up eliminates roaming charges and enables free mobile data traffic worldwide.

Amsterdam, November 2024 - Telecommunications startup Firsty has successfully closed a seed financing round of 5.1 million euros. With its approach of providing free mobile internet access worldwide, the company is revolutionizing the industry. The round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from the Dutch Founders Fund (DFF) and prominent industry leaders, including Marcel Smits, former CFO of KPN.

A vision: mobile internet access as a human right

Firsty was founded in 2023 by former Adyen product managers Vince Vissers and Gauthier Thierens, with the conviction that access to mobile data is a fundamental human right. The company offers:

• Free mobile data access worldwide,
• A simple app-based solution for seamless roaming,
• A freemium model that enables high-speed connections from €1 per day.

Firsty eliminates the typical hurdles of complex tariffs, roaming charges and (e)SIM switching by offering users access to the best networks in over 150 markets worldwide.

Milestones: Growth and partnerships

Since the launch of its beta version in early 2024, Firsty:

• Gained over 400,000 users worldwide,
• Partnered with leading companies such as Uber to enable data-free app usage
• Established a global reach in Europe, North and South America, Asia Pacific and Africa.

Our goal is to make telecommunications free, seamless and transparent worldwide. We see mobile internet access as a human right and are setting new standards in the industry.

Vince Vissers, co-founder and CEO of Firsty

Firsty's partnership with Uber is particularly noteworthy as it allows users to use the app without additional data usage - an advantage for travelers and frequent riders.

Support from experienced investors

The seed funding round attracts high caliber investors, including:

• Speedinvest, a leading early-stage investor,
• Dutch Founders Fund (DFF), with founding partner Laurens Groenendijk (co-founder of Just Eat),
• Marcel Smits, former CFO of KPN, as well as executives from Booking.com, Vodafone, Adyen and Uber.

"Firsty meets all the criteria of a game changer in telecommunications: a clear vision, an innovative product and rapid growth," says Laurens Groenendijk.

Technology and innovation: what Firsty wants to do differently

The Firsty app is based on a state-of-the-art, global network. Users can:

• Automatically connect to the best available network,
• Pause and store unused data,
• Use data worldwide with a single, transparent model with no hidden costs.

This concept makes Firsty a pioneer and trailblazer in an industry previously characterized by complexity and high costs.

Firsty has the potential to radically change telecommunications. Their vision of enabling global access is not only bold, but groundbreaking.

Jeroen Arts, Partner at Speedinvest