UAE’s Astra Tech acquires Botim

UAE’s Astra Tech acquires Botim

UAE-based tech firm Astra Tech has acquired the voice-calling app “Botim”, with the aim of creating a super app with instant messaging and digital payments.

Founded in 2018 by Lei Guo and Renjian Zhou, Botim offers free video and voice calls, as well as money transfers within the UAE, phone recharges, and bill payments locally and internationally.

Following the acquisition, Astra Tech will allow users to pay bills and access government services through the app, and order food and groceries. 

In July 2022, Astra Tech raised $490 million in funding, enabling it to acquire the Emirati fintech PayBy in the following month, and now Botim for an unknown value.

Press release:

Astra Tech (Astra), a UAE-based technology development group, has successfully acquired BOTIM, the MENA region’s leading VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution, to relaunch into an Ultra app. The support of $500 million in fundraising, led by G42, is accelerating the relaunch of BOTIM into an ultra app serving the region’s everyday needs. This milestone addition to Astra’s portfolio is the most recent in a string of strategic acquisitions in 2022, including Rizek, home cleaning services, and Payby, a homegrown fintech company, which will seamlessly integrate into BOTIM to offer a range of services