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In order to accelerate innovation in private markets technology, Juniper Square announces a strategic investment from Nasdaq Ventures
Juniper Square, a leading fund operations partner supporting more than 2,000 private markets general partners (GPs), announced a strategic investment from Nasdaq Ventures aimed at accelerating innovation in private markets technology. Alongside the investment, Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) and Juniper Square will enter into a strategic partnership to explore opportunities that advance integrated data solutions and expand liquidity options for private fund managers. This announcement comes on the heels of Juniper Square’s $130 million Series D financing revealed in June, underscoring the company’s growing influence in transforming private markets infrastructure.
“For over ten years, Juniper Square has dedicated itself to helping general partners build firms that stand the test of time,” said Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Juniper Square. Nasdaq is in agreement with our goal of private markets that are more accessible, transparent, and efficient. By pairing world-class financial data with purpose-built software, we can create the industry’s go-to platform for raising and managing private capital.”
With private market investment expanding at an unprecedented pace, GPs increasingly require advanced, next-generation data solutions to gain real-time visibility and supercharge their fundraising and capital deployment strategies. Through this collaboration, Juniper Square and Nasdaq will focus on new opportunities to equip GPs with critical tools for modern fund management while also working to improve secondary market liquidity, a growing area of innovation in private markets.
“Private markets are in the midst of a generational shift, where data-driven insights and technology-enabled operations are becoming essential to the way firms raise, allocate, and manage capital,” stated Gary Offner, Nasdaq Ventures’ head and senior vice president. “We are pleased to support Juniper Square’s vision and expansion, as they have developed a ground-breaking platform that streamlines fund operations for general practitioners.”
This investment and partnership mark a major step forward in Juniper Square’s mission to deliver AI-powered solutions, fully integrated services, and specialized infrastructure that redefine efficiency and transparency for private markets on a global scale.
Payroc and Cinfed Credit Union Join Forces to Deliver Advanced Payment Solutions
Payroc, a leading global payments company, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Cinfed Credit Union, a trusted financial institution serving both businesses and consumers throughout Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. This collaboration, effective September 1, 2025, marks the beginning of a new chapter in delivering seamless and advanced payment processing solutions to Cinfed’s business clients.
Through this partnership, Payroc will provide a comprehensive suite of merchant services designed to help businesses operate efficiently and securely. These solutions will encompass smart point-of-sale systems, online payment options, electronic invoicing through both email and text messaging, as well as compliant cost-saving programs including cash discounting and surcharging. In addition, Payroc will offer mobile processing, digital invoicing, same-day funding capabilities, in-depth reporting and analytics, advanced risk monitoring, fraud management tools, and personalized white-glove support.
The initiative highlights the shared vision of Cinfed Credit Union and Payroc to empower merchants by providing tools and services that protect revenue, promote growth, and ensure long-term success. Both organizations are committed to delivering value through innovation while maintaining a personal, client-focused approach.
“Cinfed’s primary mission has always been to serve our members with customized, personal service,” said Milton Jones, Vice President of Card Services at Cinfed. “By partnering with Payroc, we are now able to provide world-class payment technology solutions to our business accounts, and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities this creates for our members.”
Chad Stephens, Vice President of Sales and Revenue Growth at Payroc, added, “This partnership extends beyond technology. It is about fostering stronger connections within the community. We are eager to collaborate closely with Cinfed in order to match our combined capabilities with their clients’ demands, paving the road for expansion, creativity, and sustained success.”
From small and midsized businesses to large enterprises, nonprofits, professional service providers, and municipalities, Cinfed’s clients will benefit from tailored payment solutions supported by local service and world-class infrastructure. Every merchant is guaranteed to receive affordable, dependable, and compliant services that change to meet their business needs thanks to this cooperative, high-touch approach.
AI-Powered Oculon Intelligence Aims to Redefine Market Intelligence for Equities and Options
TXSE Group Inc has announced the launch of Oculon Intelligence, an AI-native market intelligence software platform created to help market participants strengthen compliance, manage risk, and enhance performance while improving investor outcomes. Developed in close collaboration with leading financial institutions, the platform delivers an integrated suite of execution analytics, regulatory reporting, and cross-market surveillance designed to improve efficiency, protect investors, and support overall market quality.
With data protection and security embedded at its foundation, Oculon Intelligence is initially targeting equities and options markets. Its capabilities include high-frequency data ingestion and advanced analytics that allow firms to refine execution strategies and boost performance. Central to its design are agentic AI tools tailored to market structure and powered by multiple large language models, built specifically for highly regulated institutions.
The platform also addresses compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rule 605 execution quality reporting and Rule 606 order routing disclosure. These requirements are expanding significantly under new SEC rule changes, which will increase both the volume of data and the number of market participants obligated to report. By offering fast, reliable, AI-powered tools, Oculon Intelligence helps firms navigate these changes with confidence.
Oculon Intelligence is led by seasoned industry professionals with decades of experience in equity market structure, order routing, regulation, and financial technology. President Ovi Montemayor brings more than 20 years of leadership from firms such as Charles Schwab, where he oversaw market structure advocacy, trading operations, and order routing functions. He also played a central role in various industry committees and regulatory initiatives. Montemayor emphasized that Oculon Intelligence provides the infrastructure firms need to transform compliance into a competitive advantage while fostering trust, transparency, and fairness across U.S. markets.
Senior Vice President David Saltiel, a former top SEC official, provides support to the executive team. Before this, Saltiel served as acting director and deputy director of the Division of Trading and Markets and as head of the SEC’s Office of Analytics and Research. With a key role in the development of amendments to Rules 605 and 606, he brings deep expertise in regulation and quantitative analysis. He noted that the rapidly evolving competitive and regulatory environment requires flexible tools with uncompromising data protection, and Oculon Intelligence is built to deliver exactly that.
Headquartered in Dallas, a growing hub for AI, technology, and financial markets, Oculon Intelligence operates as an independent division of TXSE Group Inc.
A strategic partnership between Swiss-based YouHodler and the Torino Football Club is extended
The partnership between YouHodler, a Swiss Web3 platform that links traditional and digital banking, and Torino Football Club, an Italian Serie A side, has been renewed. The collaboration, which began in 2022, now enters its fourth season, highlighting a shared commitment to resilience, tradition, and innovation at the intersection of sports and fintech.
Since its inception, the partnership has aimed to connect fintech innovation with one of Italy’s most historic football clubs. Together, YouHodler and Torino FC have increased awareness of Web3 services in Italy, while providing fans with interactive experiences that combine the excitement of football with next-generation financial tools. The collaboration has included events at Torino Stadium, such as the annual Crypto Summit, offering fans the chance to engage with players and participate in social activities.
“Many crypto-sports partnerships are short-lived, but our relationship with Torino FC has continued to strengthen,” said Ilya Volkov, CEO and co-founder of YouHodler. “Torino’s history of resilience inspires us. Just as the club has endured challenges and remained loyal to its supporters, we are building a financial platform rooted in trust, reliability, and long-term vision. A journey rather than a season is the focus of this cooperation.”
The alliance reflects a deep, long-lasting Italian-Swiss relationship, built on mutual respect for tradition and innovation. Matteo De Angelis, YouHodler’s Italy country manager, noted that fans increasingly recognize and engage with the brand, feeling part of Torino’s extended family. He emphasized the alignment between the two organizations, with YouHodler combining digital asset innovation and traditional financial expertise, mirroring Torino’s ability to innovate while honoring its historic roots.
This season, fans will notice expanded YouHodler branding throughout Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, alongside activations that enhance engagement through contests, rewards, and digital experiences. The partnership renewal coincides with Torino’s Serie A Day 2 home match against Fiorentina on August 31, offering supporters an early glimpse of the collaboration in action.
Lorenzo Barale, Commercial Director at Torino FC, stated, “This is more than a sponsorship; it’s a growing bond that blends our tradition with YouHodler’s innovative spirit, delivering real value to fans on and off the pitch.”
The renewal also reflects YouHodler’s broader commitment to Europe’s blockchain and fintech ecosystem, with upcoming participation in events like CV Summit, Plan B Lugano, and Vienna Blockchain Week, further advancing the adoption of Web3 solutions in accessible and meaningful ways.
Torino FC, founded in 1906, is a historic club in Italy with seven Serie A titles and five Coppa Italia trophies. YouHodler offers a comprehensive, regulated platform providing crypto-backed loans, crypto reward accounts, and universal currency exchange, bridging fiat and digital finance with simplicity, efficiency, and transparency.
To provide freight forwarders with a complete invoicing automation solution, BravoTran acquires Keystroke.io
The purchase of Keystroke.io, a specialist platform devoted to accounts receivable (AR) automation, has been announced by BravoTran, a prominent supplier of payables automation technology for international freight forwarders. This acquisition represents an industry first, as it allows BravoTran to integrate both payables and receivables automation into a single unified solution tailored for freight forwarders.
Managing receivables has long been a challenge for the industry. Inefficient AR processes often lead to delayed or short-paid invoices, creating ongoing cash flow problems for forwarders. Many companies struggle to comply with unique customer billing requirements, which results in frequent payment delays. At the same time, visibility into outstanding invoices is often limited, and setting up electronic data interchange (EDI) connections to meet customer mandates can be costly and time-consuming.
Keystroke.io was designed to address these challenges directly. Its pre-audit system provides a centralized dashboard that gives forwarders a clear, real-time view of invoice status across every channel. By managing customer billing EDI connections through a single, streamlined interface, Keystroke.io simplifies a process that has historically been fragmented and inefficient.
Tom Durrenberger, CEO of BravoTran, stated that Keystroke “resolves a recognized customer pain point.” “We’re rolling out this capability across our customer base to deliver an end-to-end financial automation platform that unifies payables and receivables. This will help our clients save significant time and money while reinforcing BravoTran’s position as the go-to provider of payables automation in freight forwarding. As of right now, the market has no alternative competing solution.
Co-founder David Haynes of Keystroke.io continued, “This acquisition demonstrates that our team has developed a cutting-edge solution. BravoTran’s emphasis on addressing the actual and urgent financial difficulties faced by forwarders made them the ideal acquisition. We are eagerly looking forward to grow the business together.
BravoTran has become the industry standard in payables automation, helping freight forwarders achieve tenfold improvements from day one through labor savings, faster cash flow, and stronger financial controls. Keystroke.io, with its specialized receivables automation technology, now adds a crucial layer that enhances accuracy, accelerates payments, and provides better visibility across complex invoicing relationships.
Cross-border payments to be scaled up through a partnership between MasterCard and Infosys
Infosys, a global leader in digital services and consulting, has announced a strategic collaboration with Mastercard to expand access to Mastercard Move, the company’s portfolio of money movement capabilities. This integration with Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, will allow financial institutions to leverage cross-border payment services more efficiently, cutting down implementation timelines and reducing the heavy resource requirements typically associated with such projects.
Mastercard Move provides fast, reliable, and secure domestic and international money transfer solutions. Covering more than 200 countries and 150 currencies, and reaching over 95 percent of the world’s banked population, the service is designed to meet the increasing demand for seamless global transactions. Through the partnership with Infosys, Mastercard hopes to improve customer interactions with banks and other financial institutions by implementing next-generation digital payment systems.
Commenting on the collaboration, Pratik Khowala, EVP and Global Head of Transfer Solutions at Mastercard, emphasized that Mastercard Move enables individuals and organizations to move money quickly and securely across borders. He noted that partnering with Infosys will make these advanced capabilities more accessible to financial institutions, allowing them to deliver efficient cross-border payments while optimizing their own risk, operations, and liquidity management.
The rise in international remittances, especially in Asia, which accounted for nearly half of all inflows in 2024, was highlighted by Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President for Commercial & New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, at Mastercard. She explained that the partnership with Infosys aligns with Mastercard’s mission to invest in smarter money movement solutions and broaden access to remittance services worldwide.
Dennis Gada, EVP and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services at Infosys, says that payments are a crucial customer touchpoint and a way to increase loyalty. With customers seeking faster and more seamless digital transactions, the collaboration with Mastercard is expected to significantly improve cross-border experiences. Similarly, Sajit Vijayakumar, CEO of Infosys Finacle, added that bringing together Finacle’s composable banking platform with Mastercard’s global payment reach will help banks empower their customers with secure, near real-time cross-border transactions.
Mastercard, present in over 200 countries and territories, is known for enabling inclusive digital economies through secure and innovative payment solutions. Infosys, with more than four decades of experience in guiding enterprises through digital transformation, brings its AI-first and agile approach to this partnership. Together with Infosys Finacle’s leadership in digital banking solutions, the collaboration aims to redefine how financial institutions and their customers engage in global money movement.
Fintech Platform Atomic Lands $30M to Accelerate Global Regulatory Expansion
Atomic, the embedded investing platform enabling fintechs and financial institutions to integrate wealth management into their offerings, has secured an additional $30 million in growth capital. The round was led by Aquiline and Brewer Lane, with participation from Intuit, Nationwide Ventures, Erie Strategic Ventures, Samsung Next, and Appia Ventures, alongside existing backers QED Investors, Anthemis, and Y Combinator. The funding will fuel Atomic’s regulatory expansion and support the global scaling of its investing platform across banks, insurers, fintechs, and consumer brands.
The company is transforming wealth management by separating the client-facing distribution of investing services from the underlying brokerage infrastructure and regulatory requirements. This model allows financial and non-financial companies to embed investing capabilities directly into their products within weeks, offering customers the same access as incumbent brokerage firms without the need for businesses to build brokerage operations in-house.
With wealth management representing a $100 trillion global market, Atomic is broadening access by enabling institutions with existing customer relationships to act as gateways to investing. The need for this strategy is evident in the company’s explosive growth: Atomic has grown end-investor accounts 52 times in the last year and currently handles over $20 billion in annualized trading activity. Its technology powers products for a wide array of partners, including NerdWallet in consumer finance, Yieldstreet in private markets, and Bluevine in business banking.
David Dindi, CEO of Atomic, said the company’s mission is to democratize access to compounding and wealth creation. We’re constructing a future where everyone may use compound interest to attain financial success in collaboration with our global partners. We’re excited to welcome investors who share our vision for transforming how wealth is built and delivered,” he stated.
Max Chee, Co-head of Aquiline’s venture strategy, noted Atomic’s disruptive impact on the industry. “Atomic is redefining wealth management by making it much easier for any financial institution to embed investing into their customer experience. Through cost reduction and access expansion, their platform is enabling new ideas among fintechs and incumbents,” he said.
The new capital will enable Atomic to expand its regulatory footprint, enrich its product suite, and strengthen collaboration with fintechs, traditional banks, insurers, and brokerages. By decoupling infrastructure from distribution, the company is embedding investing into everyday apps and services, bringing wealth-building opportunities to a broader global audience.
Founded in 2020, Atomic is headquartered in New York and backed by leading fintech investors. Guided by its mission to make wealth accessible to all, the company continues to build tools that bring investing to the forefront of everyday financial experiences.
Financing at checkout made easier for the insurance industry with FIRST Insurance Funding’s integration with ePayPolicy
FIRST Insurance Funding, a division of Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“FIRST”), has announced a new integration with ePayPolicy designed to make premium financing more accessible and seamless for insurance companies and their clients.
With this collaboration, insureds now have the ability to view pay-in-full and premium financing options side by side at checkout, giving them clear choices and greater flexibility. Those who choose financing can complete enrollment directly through FIRST in just a few steps, benefitting from simplified terms and an easy, integrated process. As a long-standing partner of ePayPolicy, FIRST continues to deliver customized financing solutions that give insurance providers the ability to offer clients choice, efficiency, and enhanced service without adding complexity.
The integration is powered by ePayPolicy’s latest feature, Finance Connect, which extends the same convenience to online premium payments. Clients can now enroll in financing during a single online session, with premium finance agreements signed electronically and payments automated through secure connections with FIRST’s systems and leading agency management platforms.
“This collaboration with ePayPolicy reflects our shared vision of advancing digital transformation in the insurance sector,” said Dana French, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at FIRST. “By embedding premium financing directly within ePayPolicy’s workflow, we’re providing agents with a simple, streamlined solution that enhances productivity and eliminates disruption. We are confident this will ease the workload for our clients’ employees, while also making the payment and financing process smoother for their agencies and insureds.”
FIRST Insurance Funding has long been recognized as one of North America’s largest premium finance companies, financing more than $16 billion annually. For over three decades, the company has built a reputation for flexible service and innovative payment solutions, becoming a trusted partner for insurance industry clients. Its commitment to pioneering integrations with Insurtech providers has further strengthened its ability to deliver the latest financing technology tailored to the needs of brokers, agents, and carriers.
FIRST is part of Wintrust, a financial holding company with approximately $65 billion in assets and operations spanning more than 170 community banking locations across the greater Chicago area and southern Wisconsin. Wintrust blends the resources of a major financial institution with a community-focused approach to service, complemented by a range of non-bank business units that include premium finance in the U.S. and Canada, accounts receivable financing, wealth management, and mortgage services.
ePayPolicy, trusted by more than 7,500+ insurance companies, continues to modernize how the industry handles payments. With secure online tools, automated processing, and deep integration with agency management systems, the company is helping insurers streamline operations and deliver a faster, more convenient payment experience for clients across the industry.
BACKLIT CAPITAL SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES PREMIER LEGAL FINANCE CONSULTANCY
Backlit Capital Solutions today announced the launch of its full-service legal finance consultancy helping claimants, law firms, lenders and investors navigate the legal finance and contingent risk insurance market. Backlit provides capital access and strategic advisory services to claimants and law firms, as well as targeted deployment strategies, portfolio management guidance, risk mitigation, and asset remediation solutions for lenders and investors.
Backlit was founded by Ken Epstein and Matt Leland, who combine more than forty-five years of experience in litigation finance, credit analysis and remediation, and both in-house and law firm legal services. Backlit’s principals have managed large, varied portfolios with hundreds of millions of dollars in claims across dozens of litigation investments.
Epstein, Backlit Principal and Co-founder, said, “Litigation funding is undergoing a period of growth and transformation, providing new opportunities and risks for claimants and investors. As the landscape becomes more complex, participants on all sides of these transactions require experienced, individualized and directed advice to protect their interests. Backlit Capital Solutions was purpose-built to deliver independent, trusted counsel focused on problem-solving and fully responsive to the unique short- and long-term needs of each client in this dynamic market.”
Backlit Capital Solutions provides a full suite of services for entities looking to raise, lend and invest capital:
For Law Firms and Claimants:
- Seamless Fundraising Support: Offering practical advice rooted in deep industry knowledge and proven strategies to ensure a smooth and successful fundraising process.
- End-to-End Transaction Management: Minimizing burdens on attorneys by managing transactions from inception through completion. Backlit organizes, optimizes, and presents key case information to engage the most appropriate capital sources, negotiate favorable economic and non-economic terms, and ensure fiduciary obligations to the funding recipient are satisfied.
- Financial Modeling and Scenario Analysis: Helping clients assess the economic impact of alternative deal structures and financial terms through financial modeling and scenario analysis to ensure well-informed decision-making.
For Lenders and Investors:
- Deal Sourcing and Evaluation: Assisting in finding, evaluating, pricing, and closing legal finance opportunities delivering superior risk-adjusted returns in both primary and secondary markets.
- Contingent Risk Insurance Solutions: Exploring the availability and potential financial benefit of insurance products to protect investor principal.
- Asset Recovery and Liquidity Solutions: Crafting tailored strategies to preserve value in non-performing legal assets, as well as facilitating access to secondary markets for monetization, exit, or redeployment into new opportunities.
- Expert Opinions and Testimony: Delivering formal opinions on legal finance industry practices and market standards, and providing expert testimony in proceedings involving the valuation, treatment, and structure of legal assets.
Leland, Backlit Principal and Co-founder, said, “Litigation finance is at a crossroads. While its use spreads rapidly among claimants and law firms, the competition for funding grows, driving meaningful economic opportunities, as well as risks. Backlit’s deep experience with litigation finance, business, and complex commercial litigation provides unmatched expertise and unique end-to-end support for those pursuing litigation resources in an increasingly challenging market.”
Kiwi secures $7.8m to grow AI-powered credit platform for Latinos
Kiwi, a FinTech company focused on building AI-driven credit and financial tools for underbanked Latino communities in the US, has closed a $7.8m Series A funding round.
The round was co-led by LIP Ventures and Advent-Morro Equity Partners, with further backing from Morro Ventures, Independent Capital, Neer Venture Partners, Invariantes Fund, and others. This latest funding brings Kiwi’s total equity investment to over $15m.
Founded in 2020 by Dominican Republic natives Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter, Kiwi was launched with a mission to address the lack of credit access among Latinos in the U.S. Its technology has since helped more than 100,000 users build credit histories and connect with formal financial services.
Kiwi offers a suite of AI-powered products that cover the entire credit lifecycle—from underwriting and fraud detection to compliance and servicing. The platform has been tailored specifically to how Latino immigrants and US-born Latinos manage their finances, providing access to tools that support spending, saving, borrowing, and staying financially connected.
With over 300% revenue growth in 2024 and ongoing profitability, the company now plans to use the new capital to accelerate its nationwide rollout, advance its AI capabilities, and develop new financial products aligned with the day-to-day needs of its users.
Kiwi CEO Mariano Sanz said, “Access to credit is often the biggest barrier for our customers. When you solve that first, you earn the long-term relationship. Our customers don’t want just another app. They want someone who sees them, understands them, and helps them thrive in a market where they’ve been historically overlooked. That’s what we’re building.”
Nomupay raises $40m to expand Asia payments with SBPS partnership
Nomupay has secured $40m in funding alongside entering a strategic partnership with Japan-based SB Payment Service Corp (SBPS).
According to Tech EU, the latest funding round, which values Nomupay at $290m, includes an investment from SBPS. The capital injection marks a milestone in the company’s efforts to accelerate cross-border payment capabilities between Asia and the rest of the world.
Founded in 2021, Nomupay offers a seamless, all-in-one payments platform serving over 1,500 merchants globally. With a team of more than 230 employees, the company facilitates pay-ins, payouts and acquiring via a gateway-agnostic solution integrated through a single API and managed within a single back office environment.
The new funding will enable Nomupay to expand its infrastructure further across Japan and Asia, simplify inter-regional transactions, and add more local payment methods and country-specific services. This will enhance accessibility for European, SEA, Middle Eastern and global merchants seeking to do business in Asia.
SBPS aims to use the partnership to grow its international footprint while enhancing its payment offering through improved scalability and broader payment options. Nomupay’s unified solution aims to address the fragmented regulatory and payment preferences across Asian markets, reducing the operational burden for businesses entering the region.
Nomupay group CEO Peter Burridge said, “We are very excited to announce the SBPS investment in our business and the formalisation of a strategic partnership. Since our inception in 2021, we have been robustly active in the region. The SBPS investment now enables us to double down and support inter-regional commerce by adding additional countries and payment methods to the platform in order to support bi-directional access between Japan, Asia and the rest of the world.”
SB Payment Service Corp. representative director, president and CEO Jun Shimba said, “With Nomupay as a key partner, we will leverage Nomupay’s payment solutions to support our clients entering the Asian market.”
This strategic investment also reinforces Nomupay’s ambition to become the leading payment platform across Asia by simplifying access and reducing operational friction for companies navigating the region’s diverse regulatory landscape.
Saudi FinTech Stitch raises $10m to streamline digital banking infrastructure
Stitch, a Saudi Arabia-based FinTech company, has raised $10m in seed funding to support its mission of transforming how financial and non-financial institutions build banking and payment products.
The round attracted backing from investors including Arbor Ventures, COTU Ventures, Raed Ventures, and SVC. It also saw participation from family offices and industry veterans such as Marqeta founder Jason Gardner and Abdulmalik AlSheikh, a key figure in building Saudi Arabia’s payment networks mada and Sadad.
Founded in 2022, Stitch operates as a unified infrastructure platform enabling institutions to build, launch, and scale financial services quickly and efficiently. Its API-driven solution is tailored to overcome the inefficiencies of legacy financial systems, offering a faster, more streamlined approach for creating modern digital products.
The new capital will be used to grow Stitch’s team and further enhance its platform’s capabilities. With clients already spanning Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and parts of East Africa beginning with Kenya the company is positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider for banks, FinTech firms, and enterprises looking to embed financial services into their offerings.
Stitch CEO Mohamed Oueida said, “At Stitch, our vision is to reinvent how financial and non-financial institutions bring banking and payment products to market.”
“Today, the process of building financial products is broken. Businesses are forced to navigate outdated legacy systems and complex regulatory frameworks, making things slow, expensive, and mostly painful. It doesn’t have to be this way. Stitch exists to change this. Institutions should be able to focus on what matters and have a platform that can mold around their creativity. We are generally looking to make this process a lot more enjoyable for our partners.”
SVC deputy CEO and chief investment officer Nora Alsarhan said, “Our investment in Stitch is driven by our commitment to supporting the growth of innovative Saudi-based startups, enabling them to compete both regionally and globally. We believe Stitch has the potential to play a significant role in developing a more capable and resilient financial ecosystem in the Middle East and around the world.”
Belgian FinTech Auditstage lands €750k to transform financial audits with AI
Belgian start-up Auditstage, an emerging player in the AuditTech sector, is developing an AI-powered collaboration platform to streamline and modernise the external audit process.
The company has raised €750,000 in pre-seed funding from venture capital firm Smartfin.
Founded in 2024 by certified auditor Natalia Khamraeva, Auditstage aims to overhaul the traditional financial audit by creating a digital command centre for external audits. The platform integrates tools, workflows, and communications into one AI-native environment.
Auditstage’s technology focuses on intelligent automation to eliminate manual, repetitive tasks that slow down audit cycles. The AI agents are designed to let auditors and accounting teams concentrate on delivering high-quality financial reporting. Although the platform is still in the pilot phase, several Belgian audit firms are already trialling it ahead of a broader launch scheduled for autumn 2025.
The funding will be used to accelerate the platform’s development, expand the founding team, and prepare for a wider commercial rollout in 2026. The company’s long-term goal is to become the default audit solution globally, replacing outdated legacy systems with a smarter, more connected approach.
Auditstage founder and CEO Natalia Khamraeva said, “Auditors today rely on a patchwork of tools and communication channels to get the job done. Auditstage streamlines that process by integrating everything into one secure, collaborative environment that is AI native and that uses intelligent automation for tasks nobody likes.”
Smartfin founding partner Jürgen Ingels said, “We’re seeing the wave of automation that first transformed accounting now ripple into the audit world, a high-stakes industry with real pain points. With Natalia’s deep audit expertise and bold product vision, we see tremendous potential for disruption in the AuditTech space.”
Personal finance platform Monarch raises $75m to scale financial wellness tools
Monarch, a personal finance platform focused on improving financial health for households, has raised $75m in a Series B funding round.
The round was co-led by FPV Ventures, represented by Wesley Chan, and Forerunner Ventures, led by Eurie Kim. Existing backers Menlo Ventures, Accel, SignalFire, and Clocktower Ventures also took part in the latest raise.
Founded six years ago, Monarch offers consumers a centralised view of their personal finances. The platform allows users to connect to a wide array of financial institutions, track their net worth, manage cash flow and budgets, and plan for long-term financial goals. It also features collaborative tools for couples and financial advisors, alongside a personalised advice function.
The new capital injection will be used to scale the Monarch team and broaden the capabilities of the platform. The company plans to invest heavily in product development as it aims to reach more households and improve access to financial wellness tools across income levels.
MuchBetter and NatWest team up to transform B2B banking with new business account offering
MuchBetter has partnered with UK banking giant NatWest to boost its B2B arm, MuchBetter Business (MBB), marking a major step forward in delivering banking solutions for underserved industries and specialised sectors.
The alliance brings together MuchBetter’s FinTech expertise with NatWest’s robust banking infrastructure. Under the partnership, NatWest will provide fund safeguarding, access to payment schemes, foreign exchange services, and core banking support to MBB’s Corporate Business Account clients. These offerings are targeted at businesses struggling to access traditional banking services.
Through its collaboration with a tier-one institution like NatWest, MuchBetter is reinforcing trust and confidence in its services. NatWest’s strong regulatory standing ensures that client funds are protected, and held in dedicated accounts to guarantee transparency and security.
The MuchBetter Business platform is designed to support international operations, offering operational and segregated accounts across 35 currencies. As a direct SWIFT member, the platform also ensures fast, secure, and fully compliant cross-border payments. By integrating with NatWest, MBB can enhance these features while maintaining a smooth, customer-centric banking experience.
MuchBetter CIO Gary Hill said, “This collaboration with NatWest marks a major milestone for MuchBetter Business as we expand our B2B offering and underscores the credibility of what we’ve built at MuchBetter. We’re proud to offer a robust B2B solution that empowers businesses. Partnering with an esteemed institution like NatWest reinforces their confidence in our offerings and our vision for the future of business banking.”
NatWest head of transaction services and trade Ritu Sehgal added, “NatWest chose to collaborate with MuchBetter due to its compelling business case, supported by an impressive track record of success. MuchBetter’s advanced bank-grade technology and experienced team further reinforce its position as a reliable and innovative partner. Together, we are well-equipped to deliver exceptional financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients.”
FinTech giant Airwallex secures $300m to scale global payments platform
Airwallex, a global financial platform for modern businesses, has raised $300m in a Series F funding round, taking its total funding to over $1.2bn and placing the company’s valuation at $6.2bn.
The latest round features a mix of primary and secondary investment, with $150m in secondary share transfers. Investors include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, and Visa Ventures, as well as several leading Australian pension funds.
Founded in Melbourne, Airwallex has established itself as a key player in the FinTech space by offering cross-border financial infrastructure and services. Its core offering enables businesses to move money globally through a network built from the ground up, with direct integrations into local clearing systems and card networks. The firm supports local account creation in over 60 countries and processes transactions in more than 150 markets.
The company plans to use the new capital to continue expanding into markets such as Japan, Korea, the UAE, and Latin America. It also aims to boost its go-to-market operations across Europe, North America, and South East Asia, while further enhancing its financial infrastructure and software.
Airwallex has been experiencing rapid growth, reporting $720m in annualised revenue as of March 2025, a 90% year-on-year increase. The firm expects to hit $1bn in revenue run rate this year and currently supports over 150,000 businesses globally. Its gross profit in the Americas and Europe has grown at a CAGR of over 250% over the past four years.
Airwallex co-founder and CEO Jack Zhang said, “The global financial system wasn’t built for today’s borderless economy. Too many businesses are held back by legacy infrastructure that’s slow, costly, and fragmented. At Airwallex, we’re building a new foundation for the global economy – one that’s fast, seamless, and built for scale. This investment marks a major milestone in our journey to redefine global finance, and to empower businesses everywhere to grow without limits.”