Global Company Intellias Selects Cairo as a Regional Hub and Launches Major Expansion Plan in Fintech and Automotive

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Written by Riham Ali

Amid the accelerating pace of regional digital transformation and Egypt’s growing prominence as a key hub for software and advanced engineering services, Intellias continues to strengthen its presence in the Egyptian market, placing Cairo at the heart of its growth strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

In this exclusive interview with FintechGate, Pavlo Lapshov, Country Head for South-East Europe & Egypt at Intellias, highlights the reasons behind opening a physical office in Cairo, the company’s regional expansion plans, its priorities in fintech and automotive sectors, as well as its vision for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and expectations for business growth in Egypt over the coming years.

Why did you decide to open a physical office in Cairo despite starting recruitment in 2022?

We began expanding in Egypt in 2022 when we recognized the country’s strategic potential within our global delivery model. From the outset, Egypt demonstrated strong engineering depth, an innovative mindset, and regional connectivity aligned with our long-term objectives.

Opening a physical headquarters in Cairo is a natural step that enables institutional expansion, stronger collaboration across teams, and solidifies Egypt’s role as a key growth engine for the region. The new office focuses on developing advanced solutions in automotive and embedded systems. Intellias invested significant resources to ensure the office meets the highest global standards, culminating in obtaining TISAX certification in August 2025.

Our presence in Egypt reflects a long-term commitment to stability, responsibility, and value creation. Accordingly, Intellias became one of 55 companies to sign a government-backed memorandum of understanding to promote outsourcing and digital business services in Egypt.

Do you have expansion plans across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa? Why are these markets attractive?

Our regional expansion strategy is built on Egypt’s strategic advantages. Cairo’s location enables us to serve clients in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE with greater speed and efficiency.

Egypt’s geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa makes it an ideal hub for delivering high-quality engineering and digital solutions, particularly in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital platforms. For us, Cairo represents a strategic growth engine for the broader region.

What priority areas do you see for cooperation with Intellias in Egypt?

Our main focus areas include fintech, telecommunications, and automotive and smart mobility. Egyptian engineering teams have already been integrated into global programs for major OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, adhering to the highest standards of quality and cybersecurity, including TISAX Level 3 compliance.

Was the timing of entering the Egyptian market intentional?

Yes, the timing was carefully planned. Egypt has a strong industrial base in automotive manufacturing alongside a rapidly growing fintech ecosystem. As vehicles increasingly become software-defined platforms, payments and financial services naturally extend into the automotive domain.

We see real convergence between automotive and fintech sectors and help companies build secure, scalable platforms that bridge both industries.

How does Intellias ensure compliance with cybersecurity standards such as ISO/SAE 21434?

At Intellias, we apply a cybersecurity management system certified by TÜV Nord and compliant with ISO/SAE 21434, alongside adherence to TISAX. We also employ TARA methodologies, a “security-by-design” approach, and certified testing environments to ensure practical, real-world compliance across projects—not just theoretical alignment.

How does Intellias plan to integrate into the growth of Egypt’s fintech sector?

We aim to be a long-term partner for banks and fintech companies in Egypt—not merely a technology service provider. We support the government’s vision for full digital transformation of banking services in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

Our approach is based on three pillars:

Close collaboration with local players

Transfer of proven global expertise

Continuous investment in local talent and skills

How can artificial intelligence transform financial and non-financial services in Egypt?

AI can drive a major transformation by enhancing financial inclusion, strengthening fraud and anti-money-laundering systems, and elevating customer experience.

Its impact will also extend to sectors such as transportation, logistics, and public utilities—provided it is implemented responsibly, transparently, and in line with regulatory frameworks.

What is Egypt’s position in terms of talent, and are there expansion plans?

Egypt is among the fastest-growing teams within Intellias. Currently, the team includes around 50 engineers, with plans to triple the number to 150 engineers by 2026.

We offer a flexible work environment, advanced professional development programs, and internal platforms such as IntelliHub, IntelliAssistant, and IntelliWell to support professional growth and employee well-being.

What are your expectations for Intellias’ business growth in Egypt over the next 3–5 years?

We expect Egypt-related business to grow by at least threefold within 1 to 1.5 years, supported by continued investment in corporate culture and talent development—ensuring sustainable, long-term growth in the Egyptian market.

Company Background

Founded in 2002 in Lviv, Ukraine, by CEO Vitaliy Sedler and Executive Chairman Michael Bozrakov, Intellias initially focused on German-speaking markets before evolving into one of the world’s leading software engineering companies. Today, the company employs more than 3,000 professionals and operates offices in 17 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and the Middle East.

Between 2015 and 2016, Intellias expanded to Kyiv, Odesa, and Berlin, and was later ranked among Europe’s fastest-growing companies by Inc. 5000 in 2017–2018. The company received strategic investment from Horizon Capital in 2018, continued expanding across Europe and the United States between 2019 and 2022, acquired the UK-based Digitally Inspired, showcased automotive innovations at CES, and officially launched operations in Egypt.

Intellias operates across IT services, software engineering, and digital consulting, delivering end-to-end solutions that include digital consulting, full-cycle software development, advanced technologies such as AI, big data, IoT, automation, and blockchain, as well as cloud computing, DevOps, and managed services. The company places particular focus on mobility and automotive, financial services and fintech, retail and e-commerce, healthcare, travel and transportation, alongside strong expertise in cybersecurity, user experience design, and geographic information systems (GIS).

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