Travel eSIM enablement platform Telna has launched the industry’s first dedicated investment fund focused exclusively on digital-first, direct-to-consumer eSIM brands and applications.
The $100 million fund is designed to accelerate the global adoption of travel eSIMs and support the next generation of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and Super Apps.
eSIMs and MVNOs are seeing rapidly increasing uptake as brands look at how to bundle connectivity in with content and other services, with recent research by Juniper Research suggesting that 4.9 billion cellular connections will use eSIMs by 2030; rising from 1.2 billion in 2025. This substantial growth will be driven mainly by the recent support for eSIM technology from Tier 1 operators in China, who have all now fully embraced it.
This development has immediately expanded the total addressable market by over 1.7 billion mobile subscriptions this year; creating significant growth opportunities for industry stakeholders.
For telemedia players, eSIM and MVNO – along with super bundling – offer a range of new business opportunities and interesting ways to monetise content services in an era where airtime charges no longer apply. This fund offers a way for many new entrants to the MVNO market to explore this more fully.
As these new companies rapidly emerge across the eSIM ecosystem, many are reaching scale faster than traditional telecom models ever allowed. The market is expanding quickly, with new niches forming and gaining traction worldwide. As the connectivity partner behind many of these businesses, Telna believes that it has a unique, front-row view into how the market adopts new eSIM models and which ideas scale fastest.
What will the eSIM fund do?
The fund will provide growth capital, partnership programmes and acquisition opportunities to innovative travel connectivity providers, regional MVNOs and Super Apps. These resources will help them establish differentiated niches in specific regional markets, launch co-branded campaigns and engage consumers more directly. Telna already has several funding initiatives underway, demonstrating early traction and strong market interest in what the fund can deliver.
The fund’s launch also reflects a broader shift in mobile connectivity: travel eSIM MVNOs are emerging as the application layer in their regions, delivering seamless prepaid roaming services while positioning themselves to become the foundation for regional Super Apps and broader local connectivity services.
Throughout this evolution, Telna will remain the core infrastructure and telecom platform provider. Enabling travel eSIM MVNOs and Super Apps to focus on the application and consumer engagement layers, leveraging AI-driven services and marketing collaborations to accelerate adoption across regions and vertical markets. The fund will allow these companies to expand rapidly, leveraging Telna’s global telecom infrastructure, API capabilities and data platforms.
The first phase will focus on MVNOs and travel eSIM apps, offering instant, borderless roaming to travelers without the need for physical SIM cards. Funding will also support joint ventures with Super Apps, enabling co-branded promotions, loyalty programs, and integrated app experiences that accelerate user adoption.
Gregory Gundelfinger, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telna, says: “Beyond providing growth capital, this investment allows MVNOs to become more strategically aligned with Telna, enabling deeper technical and commercial integration with our platform. By working more closely together, these partners can build more differentiated products, accelerate innovation, and deliver unique, high-value connectivity experiences that stand out in an increasingly competitive market.”
The growth fund will focus on:
- Strategic mergers and acquisitionsto unify and scale the global travel eSIM ecosystem
- Growth capital and credit facilitiesfor travel eSIM brands, travel MVNO companies, and Super Apps
- Partnership programsfor mobile operators and Super Apps entering the digital roaming market
- Marketing, joint ventures, and co-branded initiatives to accelerate adoption and consumer engagement
- Regional expansion initiativesto strengthen local market penetration and global travel corridors
Telna believes that it is uniquely positioned to drive this evolution. The company distributes millions of travel eSIMs monthly, accounting for just under 5% of global roaming traffic and recently launched its Universal eSIM, which allows travelers to use a single prepaid eSIM across all countries with a regional top-up, eliminating the friction of destination-specific eSIMs.
Michael Neuman, Chairman of Telna, adds: “The market for prepaid roaming is growing rapidly, and digital travel connectivity is becoming the global standard. This fund is a catalyst for the next wave of growth, empowering MVNOs, operators, and Super Apps to innovate while Telna continues to provide the infrastructure that makes global eSIM adoption possible.”
Telna invites travel eSIM companies, MVNO providers, operators, online travel platforms, Super Apps and digital roaming innovators to submit expressions of interest regarding collaboration, investment, or acquisition.
