Insights

Market Reach Carry1st operates across 19 core markets in Africa and the Middle East with a fintech and digital content distribution focus, presenting a clear opportunity to upsell localized payment integrations, merchant-of-record services, and regional settlement solutions to global brands targeting these fast-growing regions.

Monetization Platform Pay1st offers 120+ local payment methods and acts as Merchant of Record, addressing low credit card penetration and enabling higher conversion for partners. This is a strong selling point for brands seeking reliable regional payments, fraud protection, tax handling, and customer support in Africa and the Middle East.

Strategic Partnerships Backed by prominent investors and trusted by global game publishers and content brands, Carry1st can leverage co-marketing and integration opportunities with partners like Activision, EA, Riot, Netease, and Spotify to expand adoption of Pay1st and Carry1st Shop across new markets and product lines.

Gamified Commerce With Africa Cup hosting CODM tournaments, a direct-to-consumer shop, and partnerships enabling music and live events, there are clear open doors to cross-sell payment solutions, sponsorship monetization, and digital content distribution to gaming communities and esports audiences.

Growth Levers Recent launches such as Wildcard Slot and continued expansion in gaming and digital content underscore opportunities to offer enterprise-grade analytics, regional onboarding, and scalable backend infrastructure for merchants expanding to multiple markets, plus value-added services around localization and fraud prevention.

Carry1st Tech Stack

Carry1st uses 8 technology products and services including Facebook Ads, iCIMS, Tableau, and more. Explore Carry1st's tech stack below.

Media & News

Carry1st's Email Address Formats

Carry1st uses at least 1 format(s):
Carry1st Email FormatsExamplePercentage
First@carry1st.comJohn@carry1st.com
96%
Middle@carry1st.comMichael@carry1st.com
1%
Last@carry1st.comDoe@carry1st.com
2%
FL@carry1st.comJD@carry1st.com
1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carry1st's official website and social media links?

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Carry1st's official website is carry1st.com and has social profiles on LinkedInCrunchbase.

How much revenue does Carry1st generate?

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As of July 2026, Carry1st's annual revenue is estimated to be $10M - $25M.

What is Carry1st's NAICS code?

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Carry1st's NAICS code is 5415 - Computer Systems Design and Related Services.

How many employees does Carry1st have currently?

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As of July 2026, Carry1st has approximately 122 employees across 5 continents, including AfricaEuropeAsia. Key team members include Chief Of Staff (ceo & Coo): M. F.Vp Of Growth: G. N.Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer: T. M.. Explore Carry1st's employee directory with LeadIQ.

What industry does Carry1st belong to?

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Carry1st operates in the Technology, Information and Internet industry.

What technology does Carry1st use?

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Carry1st's tech stack includes Facebook AdsiCIMSTableauSquarespaceFirebaseRedisGoogle WorkspaceBraze.

What is Carry1st's email format?

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Carry1st's email format typically follows the pattern of First@carry1st.com. Find more Carry1st email formats with LeadIQ.

How much funding has Carry1st raised to date?

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As of July 2026, Carry1st has raised $60M in funding. The last funding round occurred on Jan 29, 2024.

When was Carry1st founded?

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Carry1st was founded in 2018.
Carry1st logo

Carry1st

Technology, Information and InternetWestern Cape, South Africa51-200 Employees

Carry1st is a mid-sized technology company based in Cape Town, South Africa, operating a consumer fintech platform that aims to broaden access to digital content and payments across Africa and the Middle East. Its Carry1st Shop serves as a direct-to-consumer storefront for game top-ups and digital content, supported by a broad distribution network and access to many local payment methods through Pay1st. Pay1st functions as a monetization engine and Merchant of Record, enabling local payments while addressing fraud, tax, repatriation, and customer support across 19 core markets. 

The company serves global brands looking to unlock hard-to-reach markets by simplifying settlements and boosting digital sales in the region. Its platform is trusted by major global publishers, including Activision, EA, Riot Games, Netease, and the Match Group, illustrating its role in Africa and the Middle East's gaming and payments ecosystems. In 2023 Carry1st launched the Pay1st platform, expanding its monetization capabilities.

Section iconCompany Overview

NAICS Code
5415 - Computer Systems Design and Related Services
Founded
2018
Employees
51-200

Section iconFunding & Financials

  • $60M

    Carry1st has raised a total of $60M of funding over 9 rounds. Their latest funding round was raised on Jan 29, 2024as a series_unknown.

  • $10M - $25M

    Carry1st's revenue is estimated to be in the range of $10M - $25M

Section iconFunding & Financials

  • $60M

    Carry1st has raised a total of $60M of funding over 9 rounds. Their latest funding round was raised on Jan 29, 2024as a series_unknown.

  • $10M - $25M

    Carry1st's revenue is estimated to be in the range of $10M - $25M

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