Overview
Tala is a digital investment platform built to give Saudi citizens and residents access to exclusive, Shariah-compliant investment opportunities. Users can explore funds, review strategies, invest electronically, and gain direct ownership of units, all through a streamlined, mobile-first fintech investment platform.
Technologies Used
Technologies Used- Node.js
- iOS
- Android
- Firebase (for analytics & notifications)
Category
- Fintech
- Investment Platforms
- Shariah-Compliant Finance
Timeline
October 2023 – April 2025
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
App Links
Initial Requirements
Sidra Capital, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Jeddah, is a leading Shariah-compliant asset manager licensed and regulated by the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA). With offices across Riyadh, London, Dubai, and Singapore, Sidra focuses on alternative asset classes, including income-generating real estate, private finance, and private equity.
Tala was built to:
Open access to new construction projects and Shariah-compliant funds
Simplify investment management across different investor categories, from high-risk to conservative
Give investors real-time ROI tracking and annual earning forecasts
Challenge
Building Tala wasn't just about creating another real estate investment app. It was about delivering a secure, compliant, and genuinely usable CMA-licensed platform in one of the most tightly regulated markets in the world. That brought specific challenges:
Coordinating with external teams outside Blink22
Integrating with Saudi government systems for identity verification and AML checks
Collaborating with infrastructure provider LenderKit for secure operations
Designing a platform that kept high-risk investments safe and compliant without making the experience feel restrictive
Creating a seamless flow for browsing opportunities, transferring funds, and managing investments with confidence
Tala had to inspire trust, deliver on compliance, and still feel effortless while acting as an accessible gateway into digital investment solutions.
Approach
The team followed a backend-first strategy, making sure services were ready for mobile integration from day one.
Collaborative workflow: weekly check-ins, demos, and feedback loops kept progress transparent and aligned with Sidra's goals
Integration ownership: Blink22 directly managed integration with Saudi government systems, keeping AML and identity checks smooth rather than a bottleneck
Quality by design: QA was embedded from day one, testing edge cases like failed top-ups and delayed transactions, high-risk investor onboarding that required additional checks, and large data loads inside ROI dashboards
User-first design: optimized for simplicity, so both seasoned and first-time investors could use the app without friction
Advanced analytics: using CleverTap and AppsFlyer to track user journeys, flag drop-offs, and refine flows to keep investing smooth and intuitive
This structured approach allowed us to deliver a platform that balanced trust, usability, and long-term scalability.
Solution
The result was a mobile-first investment platform, available on both iOS and Android, that gave Saudi investors an unprecedented level of access and control. Tala brought together all the essentials:
A marketplace where investors could explore offerings at different stages, from Coming Soon to Open for Investment to Fulfilled
A secure in-app wallet with top-up capabilities, streamlining fund transfers and purchases
Early-access tiers for premium investors, adding exclusivity and urgency
A referral program and active promotions to drive organic growth and adoption
Coach marks and visual guides that made onboarding smooth, even for first-time digital investors
On the backend, Blink22 delivered secure APIs, a robust database design, and regulatory compliance baked into every flow. The result wasn’t just a functional app; it was a trusted digital investment ecosystem, built to scale alongside Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
Outcome
Tala quickly established itself as one of the top investment apps in Saudi Arabia. Within just two weeks of launch, the first investment fund (Sidra Income Fund) was fully subscribed, raising 2M SAR directly through the app.