VC funding into fintech grows as sector embraces latest AI and gaming trends
VCs are ultimately looking for extraordinary entrepreneurs and companies to invest in.
Start-up
AI-powered shopping app nate raises $38m in Series A round
The company has now raised $51 million in total.
Video: fintech news pick of the week – Klarna, Mastercard & BBVA
Our top pick of news from the world of finance and tech in bitesize video format, twice a week.
Mexican fintech Clip raises $250m in SoftBank-led investment
The investment is the largest ever for a payments company in Mexico.
Bloom Money aims to build migrant-led community finance
Bloom Money describes itself as the app built “by migrants, for migrants”.
Nityo invests $100m in Singapore embedded finance fintech MatchMove
The US-based firm will also become the largest shareholder in the company.
Airbase raises $60m in Series B to boost spend management capabilities
The firm has now raised $91 million in total.
Fintech start-up Nude launches new finance app to help first-time buyers
The app features a number of tools to help aspiring homeowners save up for a deposit.
Financial wellness platform Credit Sesame raises $51m to fuel expansion plans
The US-based fintech also announced the acquisition of Zingo, a fintech software services start-up.
Mark Cuban-backed banking app Dave to go public in $4bn SPAC deal
The two parties claim the deal will be finalised later this year.
Irish start-up Wayflyer raises $76m in Series A funding round
Funds from the raise will be used to support Wayflyer’s product development and international expansion.
Fintech start-up Capchase plans European expansion after $125m funding round
The US-based service is available in the UK and Spain and expects to launch in more European countries soon.
Pleo appoints new CRO as it prepares for $100m funding round
Arun Mani joins Pleo after a successful spell at software company Freshworks.
ICYMI funding round-up: Airtm, Cushon, Stake, Clim8, Nordigen & ikigai
A quick summary of this week’s smaller funding rounds.
United Fintech hires 14-year Goldman veteran to lead North American expansion
Mark Lawrence joins the scale-up to grow its business in the US and beyond.
Ex-Wise employees found commission-free trading app Lightyear
Lightyear claims to be the only true commission-free retail trading app.
Tred partners with Nium to launch green debit card
UK’s first green debit card to let users track, reduce and offset their carbon footprint as they spend.
Latin America open finance specialist Belvo raises $43m
The Series A funding round is claimed to be the largest to date for a fintech in Latin America
Fintech funding deals globally 24-30 May 2021
Featuring Circle, Forter, Zeta, PaySend, and Agicap.
Chipper Cash raises $100m in SVB-led Series C round
Africa-focused P2P firm claims to be the continent’s most valuable start-up
CBA invests in online shopping start-up Little Birdie and energy retailer Amber
The Aussie bank is seeking to add value and increase engagement for its digital banking offering.
Acorns heads for public listing with valuation of $2.2 billion
The US consumer finance subscription service is expected to have a valuation of $2.2 billion.
Banking Technology June 2021 issue out now
The only one in the room: why diversity among executives is still a problem
ICYMI funding round-up: Accelex, Pento, Fraudio, Curve & more
With the ever fast-paced nature of the fintech world, it’s easy to let announcements slip by from time to time.
BNPL firm Zip extends acquisition spree, buys up Twisto and Spotii
The Australian firm has spent $105 million on its new buyouts.
Returning to the office: what fintechs need to know
For those fintechs brave enough to move first, there are great opportunities available.
Klarna shuts app down after users report being logged into random accounts
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski: the glitch is “sad and frustrating”.
Exclusive interview: Minna Bank – Japan’s new challenger bank
Its in-house and Accenture built core system will become a commercial offering in its own right.
Video: pick of the week – “smishing” tech scam arrests; Figure Technologies raises $200m
A top pick of stories from the world of finance and tech in bitesize video format, twice a week.
SoftBank pours $250 million into banking tech start-up Zeta
This Series C investment values the banking tech vendor Zeta at $1.45 billion.
ProducePay raises $43million, searches for “rockstar” CTO
The start-up aims to disrupt the “opaque, fragmented, and dominated by manual processes” fresh produce market.
DailyPay raises $500 million of capital “to transform the financial system”
$175 million came from its Series D equity round and $325 million was credit capital from various sources.
Investment fintech Pipe rakes in $250m from oversubscribed venture round
Pipe says the round was oversubscribed by $100 million.
HeyTrade and TrueLayer team for new retail investing app in Spain
HeyTrade and TrueLayer will deliver “a new investment experience using open banking payments”.
Fintech funding deals globally 17-23 May 2021
Featuring Trade Republic, Pine Labs, Figure, DailyPay, and Sunbit.
New York wealthtech Vise raises $65m, hits $1bn valuation
The platform is on a “mission of creating financial freedom for everyone”.
Uncapped moves into banking with $80m funding raise
Uncapped will increase its headcount from 35 to 100 people.
Figure Technologies raises $200 million to reach $3.2 billion valuation
Figure uses Provenance, a public, open source, permissionless, decentralised blockchain.
Privacy.com raises $43m and rebrands as Lithic
Lithic has raised a total of $61m to date and has issued over ten million cards.
ComplyAdvantage extends funding round with Goldman Sachs investment
The funding is an extension of its Series C funding round from July 2020.
