Airalo, the global leader in eSIM technology, has officially become the first eSIM unicorn, raising $220 million in a funding round led by CVC, bringing its total funding to nearly $287 million and its valuation to over $1 billion.
Founded in 2019 by Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir, Airalo was born out of a real-world insight: seafarers’ constant need to stay connected. From Sim4crew to building Airalo, Ozdemir envisioned a platform to revolutionize travel connectivity through instant, affordable, and digital eSIM solutions.
Airalo allows users to purchase and activate mobile plans before or during travel via its app, avoiding physical SIM cards and costly roaming fees. The company currently serves over 20 million users across 200+ countries, offering data, text, and voice plans tailored for both individual and enterprise needs.
The new capital will help Airalo scale its enterprise solutions, expand into new regions, and enhance its omnichannel platform across web, iOS, and Android. Businesses using Airalo can cut roaming costs by up to 90%.
Ozdemir emphasized: “Our goal is to make global connectivity simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone, while enabling users to ‘connect like a local’ through localized plans and advanced user experience.”
With a remote team spread across 55 countries, Airalo is also championing diversity and inclusion, solidifying its status as a global tech innovator in the growing eSIM space.
