WHO ARE WE

We are expert innovators who make life simpler for those who care - The nurturers
&

What we do

Zenda is crafted with purpose, for institutions and parents alike - grounded in a deep understanding of their daily needs.

In a world of fragmented, one-size-fits-all solutions, zenda offers a unique & unified experience offering families flexibility and ease, while helping schools streamline operations through automation and smarter collections.

Funding to City metric

3
cities
Dubai, Kochi,
Bengaluru
2021
+2
cities
Abu Dhabi, Sharjah
2022
+2
cities
Doha, Bahrain
2023
+3
cities
Singapore,
Kuwait, Riyadh
2024
To be
Live
Ho chi Minh, Bangkok
London, Barcelona, Geneva
2025

Our Team

A dream team is about pushing yourself to be the best possible teammate, caring intensely about your team

THE MAKERS

Meet the people who started our journey

Raman Thiagarajan
CEO & Founder

With over 20 years of experience in strategic advisory and financial services, Raman Thiagarajan assumes the role of an Investor, Board Member and Mentor for startups across geographies. Previously, he was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he led the Financial Services Practice.

He is deeply passionate about social transformation delivered through commercially focused approaches

Haseeb Ahmed
Co-founder

Ex McKinsey & Company, Haseeb Ahmed is currently building zenda with Raman, to make fee payments & transaction cycles simpler for parents and schools alike.

Haseeb is deeply passionate about start-ups, solving problems, and using tech and analytics to create value at scale.

Our Investors

Our Mission

We are passionate about making lives simpler.

Unlike sectors such as food-delivery or ride-hailing, last mile customer experience for parents and institutions still remains full of friction.

Outdated processes and behaviours persist and true innovation has lagged. Our aspiration is to redesign transaction services, purpose-built to address the specific needs of schools and families.

Not as an extension of generic systems, but as solutions thoughtfully designed for the realities of the education sector, so they can focus on what truly matters.

Our Values

At the heart of our organisation is a culture that values creativity, collaboration & growth

Rooted in Trust

At zenda, we see every school and family as a long-term partner. That’s why we listen closely, build with care, and show up—consistently. Trust in education isn’t a one-time win; it’s earned every day. And that’s exactly what we aim to do.

01
Rooted in Trust

Stronger together

We believe real care means lifting each other up while pushing for growth. We celebrate wins, learn from mistakes, and blend fun with meaningful work. Because when we’re in it together, challenges become easier and successes more rewarding

02
Stronger together

Build for Impact

We don’t adapt generic solutions—we design from scratch, grounded in the realities of schools and families. Excellence means creating what hasn’t existed before, with care, conviction, and impactful innovation that truly makes a difference.

03
Build for Impact

Take Charge, Move Fast

We take responsibility—fully. leading by example with urgency and decisiveness - owning outcomes assertively.For us, ownership means caring deeply, acting boldly, and delivering with pride. It’s about setting a high standard through swift, confident action—and inspiring others around us to rise with us.

04
Take Charge, Move Fast

Trusted by the best

NESA -- near east south asia council of overseas schools logo
FOBISIA logo
BSME Logo
Our presence

Media & Events

An Evening of Celebration

20 Jun '25  I  Dubai

An evening dedicated to celebrating the people who make it all possible — our peers and partners in schools who are the backbone of our shared success. As we reflected on a year of milestones, from being named among UAE's Top Fintech companies to expanding to 450+ schools, we were reminded that every achievement is powered by trust and genuine collaboration. Here’s to many more! 🚀

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Higher Education Conference

29 May '25  |  Dubai

Financial innovation in higher education is no longer just an idea — it’s quickly becoming the norm. The event brought together leaders and experts for an energising morning of ideas, perspectives, and progress. From insightful panel discussions to meaningful new connections, the gathering highlighted the urgent need for efficient, unified solutions to manage transactions across tuition fee and beyond.

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BSME / Annual School Leaders' Conference

28-30 Jan '25  |  Abu Dhabi

Inspiring sessions and invaluable networking unfolded in Abu Dhabi, bringing together education leaders and British schools from across the region. The BSME Annual Conference showcased a shared commitment to shaping the future of learning through innovation and collaboration. The experience highlighted the power of community in driving positive change in education.

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NESA Fall Leadership conference

17-20 Oct '24

At the NESA Fall Leadership Conference, we connected with forward-thinking school leaders and changemakers dedicated to shaping the future of education in the region. We engaged in meaningful dialogues around building stronger partnerships with schools to support their evolving needs. It was inspiring to witness the energy and ideas shared across the community, to empower schools with seamless, technology-driven solutions.

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BSME Business Leader's Conference

9 Nov '24  |  Dubai

Industry experts and education leaders explored fresh strategies for advancing school operations and leadership in Dubai. Through an engaging workshop, we shared insights on financial innovation and empowering schools to achieve operational excellence. It was an inspiring day of thought leadership and collaboration focused on shaping the future of education across the region.

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EdInvest Saudi Arabia

3-4 Dec '24  |  Riyadh

Haseeb joined industry experts at the EdInvest platform to talk about 'improving profitability through digital transformations in financial services & classrooms'. As the Kingdom moves towards Vision 2030, the event provided a dynamic platform for leading investors, educators, and policymakers to discuss innovative partnerships and opportunities to meet the growing demand for world-class private education.

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EdInvest MENA

13-14 Nov'24  |  Dubai

EdEx MENA brought together education leaders, investors, and innovators from across the region to explore new ideas, partnerships, and solutions driving the future of learning. From school operators to EdTech pioneers, the event offered a powerful platform to discuss opportunities for growth and collaboration in an evolving education landscape.

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Future 100 by Ministry Of UAE

9 Dec '23  |  Dubai

zenda is thrilled to be recognized as a Future 100 company by the Ministry Of Economy, UAE and the Government Development and the Future Office! A true testament to zenda's mission orientation, team spirit, and the unstoppable drive to sculpt the future of school payments! A special thanks to HE Abdulla Bin Touq, and HE Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi for extending this honour.

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EdInvest Saudi Arabia '23

5-6 Dec '23  |  Riyadh

At Education Investment Saudi, conversations on transforming financial services for K-12 education were dynamic and enlightening. Our co-Founder Haseeb joined industry experts at the event to talk about 'improving profitability through digital transformations in financial services & classrooms'. Grateful for the opportunity to engage and collaborate with some of the best minds in Saudi's education & technology sector.

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Fintech Kuwait

20-21 Nov '23  |  Kuwait

A delightful few days discovering the future of digital payments in Kuwait at the Fintech Festival! Our Founder, Raman thiagarajan lead a powerhouse panel featuring experts from LuLu Financial Holdings, McKinsey & Company, and Ahli United Bank & Kem, as he unraveled the blueprint of nurturing fintech ecosystems for key industries.

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EdInvest MENA '23

4-5 Oct '23 | Dubai

A pleasure meeting with our peers, partners & potential associates on this mindfully curated platform. Our Founder & Co-founder, Raman Thiagarajan & Haseeb Ahmed respectively, lent their voice at the conference & shared some key insights on revolutionising financial services in education through technology, creating an unmistakable stir in this melting pot of ideas

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Dubai Fintech Summit '23 by DIFC

8-9 May '23 | Dubai

Packed with a cluster of industry experts coming from beyond the length & breadth of the fintech eco-system, a pleasure to meet with like minded folks that are changing the narrative with their tech. As zenda leads the walk in providing specialised solutions, our founder & Co-founder, Raman Thiagarajan & Haseeb Ahmed, shared their expertise on leveraging technology to transform financial services in education.

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