TurnStay Raises $2M Seed

TurnStay, a travel-centric fintech based in South Africa, has successfully closed a $2 million seed financing round. The company provides a payment orchestration platform designed to address inefficiencies in the African travel and tourism sector, such as high transaction fees and payment failures.

Investors

The round was led by First Circle Capital. Additional investors included TLcom Capital, Enza Capital, Incisive Ventures, CVVC, and Equitable Ventures.

TurnStay Use of Funds

The company plans to use the capital to accelerate its roll-out across the African continent and to further refine its payment infrastructure for travel operators.

About TurnStay

Founded in 2021 by Alon Stern and James Hedley, TurnStay aims to solve cross-border payment issues for African travel and tourism operators. The platform acts as a merchant of record, allowing customers to pay in their home currency while funds are settled locally using stablecoins, which helps reduce costs and improve booking conversion rates.

Funding Details

Company Website: https://turnstay.com

Company: TurnStay
Raised: $2M
Round: Seed
Funding Date: August 5, 2025
Lead Investor: First Circle Capital
Additional Investors: TLcom Capital, Enza Capital, Incisive Ventures, CVVC, Equitable Ventures
Software Category: Fintech
Source: https://empowerafrica.com/south-african-travel-fintech-turnstay-raises-2-million-in-seed-round-to-expand/