GO-backed ‘unicorn’ Airalo ‘validates our strategy,’ says CEO Nikhil Patil

GO plc CEO Nikhil Patil said the group’s early investment in eSIM leader Airalo validates GO’s broader investment strategy.

GO Ventures, the venture arm of GO plc, had invested in Airalo back in 2021 in the midst of COVID-19 related travel restrictions. 

Airalo has since shot up in popularity among travellers seeking internet connection and last year become the first eSIM startup to reach unicorn status, with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

In GO’s annual financial report, Mr Patil described Airalo’s unicorn status achievement as “a milestone that validates our early-stage investment strategy” which demonstrates that “purposeful investing in the right ideas at the right time can generate impact that reaches far beyond our business”. 

He also highlighted GO Ventures’ 2023 investment in Raylo, a UK-based circular economy company that refurbishes leased phones and reduces e-waste. 

“It is a clear example of how we are helping shape a more responsible digital economy, both locally and abroad,” he said. 

GO plc posted a €20.7 million profit in the financial year that ended 31st December 2025, representing a record 31.8 per cent surge in profit growth from the previous 12 months.

It also posted a revenue of €254.4 million, representing a growth of 3.9 per cent year-on-year, while EBITDA reached €92 million, up 1.5 per cent.

Photo: Nikhil Patil/ LinkedIn