Sling

Company Overview

Snapshot

Founded in January 2013 by Erez Yerushalmi and Yacov Cohen, Sling operated with 1–10 employees. The company secured a total of $1.6M across two funding rounds before being acquired by Avante in July 2016.

Business overview

Sling developed a mobile payment solution designed to serve the micro-merchant sector, targeting over 200 million micro-businesses globally that are underserved by traditional financial systems. The company aimed to democratize technology for these base-of-the-pyramid merchants, enabling them to adopt advanced payment methods, access analytics, and leverage loyalty channels. Sling provided payment-enabled tangibles, such as bracelets, labels, and tags, which functioned as roving points of sale and offered access to various fintech capacities called Pebbles. The company operated within the Fintech & Insurtech sector, focusing on money transfer and management.

Strategic signal

Sling was acquired by Brazilian micro-credit giant Avante in July 2016, a strategic move that integrated Sling's mobile payment technology into a larger financial ecosystem. This acquisition validated Sling's innovative approach to serving micro-merchants and signaled a growing interest in expanding advanced payment solutions to underserved markets, particularly in regions like South America.

Company Intelligence Q&A

What was Sling's primary focus?

Sling focused on providing mobile payment solutions for the micro-merchant sector, aiming to enable small businesses to adopt advanced payment methods and access financial tools.

When was Sling founded and by whom?

Sling was founded in January 2013 by Erez Yerushalmi and Yacov Cohen.

What was the outcome for Sling?

Sling was acquired by Avante in July 2016, leading to its inactive status.

What was the total capital raised by Sling?

Sling raised a total of $1.6M across two funding rounds.

What kind of technology did Sling offer?

Sling offered payment-enabled tangible elements like bracelets, labels, and tags that functioned as mobile points of sale and provided access to various fintech capabilities called Pebbles.