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How African Fintechs Are Redefining Financial Inclusion Worldwide
Africa’s fintech sector is emerging as one of the most influential drivers of global financial innovation, outpacing traditional hubs like Silicon Valley. While Western fintech companies largely enhance existing systems, African startups are creating the very foundations of financial access for millions of unbanked and underbanked people. Despite a 38% decline in worldwide fintech investment, transaction funding for African fintechs increased by 59% in 2024. By contrast, Silicon Valley’s fintech-focused fundraising has sharply declined, with venture funding falling 91% from its 2021 peak, signaling a broader shift in where transformative ideas are being born.
The defining difference is rooted in problem-solving. Startups in Africa are building financial infrastructure from scratch, addressing the needs of communities historically excluded from banking systems. Companies such as Flutterwave and Maplerad are providing traders with affordable digital payment options, instant settlements, and support in local languages. These are not incremental upgrades but radical innovations that expand access and usability.
Africa’s mobile-first approach was born out of necessity rather than choice. Limited banking infrastructure and the widespread use of mobile devices created an environment where fintech had to prioritize resilience, scalability, and accessibility. As a result, solutions such as offline functionality, lightweight synchronization, and user-friendly interfaces for basic smartphones are now influencing product design worldwide.
Collaboration is another hallmark of African fintech. Instead of competing in isolation, companies build interconnected ecosystems of mobile money services, digital banks, and microfinance platforms, creating network effects that reinforce sustainable growth. This cooperative model contrasts sharply with Silicon Valley’s winner-takes-all approach.
The sector is also at the forefront of practical AI applications, from machine learning-powered credit scoring and fraud detection to multilingual customer support in markets lacking formal financial data. These innovations directly address the barriers faced by underserved populations. Regulatory frameworks in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa further support progress, with sandboxes allowing real-world testing of new ideas in partnership with regulators. This accelerates innovation while aligning it with consumer needs, unlike the slower and more rigid processes typical in Western markets.
African fintechs have also redefined the business model for financial services. They prioritize profitability and customer retention over venture capital-fueled growth, making them more resilient in the face of economic or regulatory shifts. It is expected that the African fintech sector would bring in $65 billion by 2030, primarily from financial inclusion rather than upscale features.
These solutions are already spreading beyond the continent, inspiring fintech development in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Far from catching up, Africa is setting the pace for the future of global financial innovation.
For the second season, Ebury will be Southampton Football Club’s official fintech partner
Ebury, a global leader in financial technology, is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with Southampton Football Club for the 2025/26 season, continuing as the club’s Official Fintech Partner. This extension builds on the strong relationship first established in October 2024 and will see Ebury maintain its support for Southampton’s growth ambitions by providing expertise in international financial operations.
Through the agreement, Southampton will continue to benefit from Ebury’s online payments platform, currency exchange capabilities, and money transfer services. Ebury’s presence will also remain visible at St Mary’s Stadium with branding on LED boards and big screen displays during matchdays.
With the extension, Ebury’s expanding sports portfolio-which already includes collaborations with top teams like Aston Villa, Rangers, and PSV Eindhoven-is even more robust. By operating a specialist sports business unit, Ebury delivers tailored solutions designed to help clubs, athletes, and agents manage cross-border payments, FX risk, sponsorship revenue, player trading, merchandising, and major capital investments.
With operations in more than 40 global offices across 29 markets and a team of 1,800 professionals, Ebury supports organizations with international payments, FX risk management, collections, and business lending. These services empower sports businesses to expand globally with greater efficiency and security.
Peter Brooks, Global Head of Sports at Ebury, expressed his enthusiasm about the extended collaboration: “We are delighted to continue as Southampton’s Official Fintech Partner for the upcoming seasons and look forward to supporting their success in the Championship. In today’s football landscape, clubs need fast, secure, and globally connected financial solutions-precisely what Ebury delivers. Our global experience with leading sports organizations allows us to anticipate evolving needs and provide the tools for growth.”
Additionally, Dave Driver, Southampton FC’s financial director, stated: “Ebury has been a great partner, providing outstanding experience that has improved our finance operations. We are excited to continue building on this strong foundation together.”
Soraban Secures Series A to Revolutionize Admin Automation for Accounting Firms
Soraban, the Intelligent Admin Copilot designed specifically for accounting firms, has announced the completion of its Series A funding round, led by Altos Ventures. In an industry grappling not only with a shortage of skilled professionals but also with an overwhelming volume of unbillable tasks, Soraban offers a targeted solution. While most automation tools address tax-related work, Soraban focuses on the 40–60% of the workweek that firms cannot bill, tackling the manual processes that drain both time and resources.
“Our mission is to remove the administrative burden that slows accountants and administrators down and costs firms significant revenue,” said Enoch Ko, CEO and Founder of Soraban. “The industry is facing a capacity crisis. Skilled professionals are in short supply, and while others are still experimenting, Soraban has already supported over 300 firms through five tax seasons. We can scale across more workflows with this increased investment, giving the profession a smarter, faster future.”
Purpose-built for accounting firms, Soraban automates the execution layer between tax software and clients, streamlining everything from client onboarding and document gathering to workflow coordination and final deliverables. As a result, businesses can expand without experiencing operational upheaval. Users have praised its impact; John Hopkins, Partner at Prospect Financial Solutions, noted that Soraban’s ease of use and automated reminders have saved countless hours, allowing his team to maintain productivity even after losing a key administrator.
Beyond replacing manual admin work, Soraban redefines workflows by reducing the need for accounting staff to handle routine tasks. The platform increases capacity without adding headcount and allows admin teams to focus on enhancing client experiences. By cutting turnaround times, boosting client satisfaction, and freeing up professionals to work in their areas of expertise, Soraban transforms firm operations.
According to Cathy Anderson of Altos Ventures, “Accounting firms are drowning in administration, not accounting,” . And also she said that, “From the standpoint of the client, Soraban reconstructs the back office. When the client experience works, everything else falls into place—less chasing, more billing, and happier teams. Enoch’s background as both an engineer and former firm owner gives him unique insight into solving this problem at scale.”
Nium Enhances Verify with iPiD Integration for Safer, Smarter Payments
Nium, a global leader in real-time cross-border payments infrastructure, has announced the European expansion of its account validation service, Verify, through an enhanced strategic partnership with iPiD, the provider of the Know Your Payee (KYP) solution, iPiD Node. In this strengthened collaboration, iPiD is also adopting Nium’s Verify technology to improve its own validation capabilities, creating a mutual exchange of innovation between two of Singapore’s most prominent fintech companies. By leveraging Nium’s established account verification infrastructure, iPiD broadens its global reach, while both organizations work toward a shared goal of building trust, reducing fraud, and meeting evolving regulatory demands in international payments.
With Verification of Payee (VoP) set to become a regulatory requirement in the EU by October 2025, payment service providers will need to verify payee details and prove that verification attempts were made and recorded. This collaboration expands the reach of Nium’s Verify product to 41 more SEPA zone nations with the integration of iPiD Node, enhancing Nium’s current instant account verification network in 25 countries globally.
Nium stands out as the only provider with direct access to global real-time payment schemes for both payment execution and account validation, a capability that is now reinforced by iPiD Node’s compliance-ready infrastructure. Nium has helped clients save millions of dollars by reducing errors and preventing fraud since launching Verify. One leading remittance provider reduced its error rate from 1.41% to 0.34% using the service. At the same time, iPiD Node has enabled financial institutions to meet stringent VoP requirements with audit-ready evidence logs, while minimizing false positives and manual checks in high-risk transactions.
According to Damien Dugauquier, Co-founder and CEO of iPiD, the partnership is a testament to the strength of working with trusted allies to tackle the next generation of cross-border compliance and fraud challenges. Unlike traditional name-matching tools, the combined Nium Verify and iPiD Node solution taps directly into domestic real-time payment systems for unmatched accuracy, transparency, and fraud prevention. This collaboration not only strengthens compliance and customer experience but also highlights the growing synergy between Singapore’s fintech leaders in creating secure, scalable, and regulation-ready financial infrastructure for the global stage.
Finastra and NTT DATA Join Forces to Accelerate Digital Lending Transformation
Finastra, a prominent global provider of financial services software, has revealed an expansion of its longstanding alliance with NTT DATA, a leading global IT infrastructure and services provider. This strengthened partnership will enhance Finastra’s Lending Cloud Service, improving the delivery of managed services for financial institutions across the MAAP (Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific) and LATAM (Latin America) regions. The initiative is set to offer financial institutions in these regions faster deployments, enhanced automation, and a more adaptable lending experience.
Under the expanded collaboration, NTT DATA will take the lead in application lifecycle management for Finastra’s Lending Cloud Service, enabling greater scalability, standardization, and operational efficiency. Finastra’s EVP for loan, Andrew Bateman, says this move is a logical next step in their partnership with a partner who shares their aim for providing top-notch, cloud-based loan services and fully comprehends Finastra’s technological ecosystem. By working with a company familiar with its architecture and operating models, Finastra aims to speed up client onboarding while ensuring a resilient and high-performing service.
David Gold, Vice President for Cloud Services and IT Modernization at NTT DATA, emphasized pride in deepening the partnership as part of a broader strategic vision. Leveraging its expertise in large-scale financial environments, NTT DATA will help Finastra deliver highly automated and reliable cloud services to banks across key regions, merging innovation with operational excellence to transform banking experiences.
The jointly developed offering integrates tools to measure, report, and meet service-level commitments. For NTT DATA, the collaboration also presents a strategic avenue to broaden its portfolio, with a joint go-to-market strategy already in motion to scale adoption across the financial sector.
In the APAC region, where cloud revolution in financial services is developing quickly, this development is especially pertinent. Finastra’s Financial Services State of the Nation survey indicates that over a quarter of institutions globally have adopted or enhanced cloud solutions in the past year, with Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Singapore leading adoption. Together, Finastra and NTT DATA aim to modernize lending infrastructure across APAC and LATAM, delivering compliant, scalable, and innovative solutions to meet the demands of today’s fast-evolving markets.
Philippines’ Malayan Insurance Sets New Benchmark in IFRS 17 Compliance
Through the use of SAS Managed Cloud Services and the SAS Solution for IFRS 17, Malayan Insurance, one of the biggest non-life insurers in the Philippines, has fully prepared for IFRS 17 two years ahead of the nation’s extended compliance date. This early adoption positions the company as a leader in regulatory transformation within the region, turning compliance into a strategic advantage.
The insurer’s proactive approach reflects its commitment to innovation, operational agility, and industry leadership. According to Febrianto Siboro, Managing Director for Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines at SAS, Malayan’s accomplishment demonstrates how advanced analytics can help organizations navigate complex regulatory requirements. He emphasized that the company’s early adoption sets a benchmark for the Philippine insurance sector while highlighting technology as a catalyst for trust and long-term success.
Founded in 1930, Malayan Insurance operates over 30 branches and service offices nationwide. The company embraced IFRS 17 — the international standard replacing IFRS 4 — well before its original January 1, 2025 implementation date, which was later extended to 2027. The new standard significantly changes how insurers measure liabilities and recognize revenue, enhancing transparency, comparability, and consistency in financial reporting.
To meet the complex requirements, Malayan upgraded legacy systems and restructured data models, enabling automated cash flow calculations, Contractual Service Margin (CSM) modeling, and audit-ready reporting. The initiative required close collaboration across finance, actuarial, underwriting, and IT teams, with SAS technology providing a unified data source for faster, more reliable reporting. Retrieving and preparing historical data from as far back as 2018 was one of the most challenging aspects, demanding cross-functional coordination and precision.
Despite the local deadline extension, Malayan chose to proceed without delay, viewing the project as a commitment to best practices and long-term strategy. After evaluating multiple platforms, the company selected SAS for its flexibility, transparency, performance, and strong support, with implementation partner Financial Risk Group guiding calibration, testing, and deployment.
The result is a streamlined reporting process that generates IFRS 17 outputs in under 30 minutes, offering full traceability and deeper insights to inform decision-making. Malayan’s achievement marks not just a compliance milestone but a transformative step toward sustained leadership and innovation in the insurance industry.
Vector AIS Unveils Valence Vero to Redefine Investor Onboarding and Compliance
Vector AIS, a leading fund administrator specializing in closed-end alternative investment funds, has introduced Valence Vero. This advanced solution is designed to transform investor onboarding and compliance. Built specifically to meet the unique operational needs of private capital, Valence Vero offers fund managers a unified platform that combines modern workflows, integrated KYC/AML capabilities, and a frictionless LP onboarding experience.
Central to Valence Vero’s capabilities is its integration with Passthrough, widely regarded as the industry’s leading provider of KYC/AML automation and investor onboarding management. This collaboration enables ongoing daily sanctions checks, streamlined collection of essential documents, and highly customizable workflows suited even for complex fund structures.
Reflecting on the partnership, Ben Doran, Co-Founder of Passthrough, emphasized its long-standing focus on delivering value to both general partners and investors through innovative technology and refined processes. “From a few early adopters to dozens of shared clients over the past five years, our relationship with Vector has been rooted in driving real results. We’re excited to elevate this further by combining Vector’s top-tier service with Passthrough’s onboarding expertise,” he said.
Vector CEO Molly Yakubian described the company’s objective of simplifying the onboarding process for investors. “Valence Vero is built on the belief that the onboarding process should accelerate, not hinder, a fund’s launch. By integrating Passthrough’s dependable infrastructure with our in-house Valence platform, we are immediately removing unnecessary friction. This strategy gives fund managers and LPs the smooth experience they are entitled to.
Valence Vero provides a centralized hub for investor records, enabling faster closings, improved oversight, and effortless integration with Vector’s back-office operations for smooth fund administration and reporting. Its design reflects a deep understanding of industry challenges, ensuring that fund managers can onboard investors efficiently while maintaining compliance at the highest standards.
This launch marks another significant step in Vector’s mission to modernize the operational backbone of private capital. Created by professionals who understand the intricacies of the field, Valence Vero is now available to all Vector clients, setting a new benchmark for investor onboarding in the industry.
Manulife Deepens Private Markets Push with Majority Acquisition of Comvest Credit
Manulife Financial Corporation has announced its agreement to acquire a 75% stake in Comvest Credit Partners for US $937.5 million in upfront cash consideration. This strategic acquisition is set to significantly scale Manulife’s private credit capabilities, bringing together Comvest’s US $14.7 billion in assets and Manulife’s US $3.7 billion Senior Credit business to form an integrated platform managing US $18.4 billion in private credit assets. The combined business will operate under the co-branded name Manulife | Comvest. Comvest, a fast-growing private credit manager, has established itself in the middle market with a diversified investment strategy spanning non-sponsor lending, specialty finance, and sponsor-backed loans. Its strong fundraising track record and history of generating consistent risk-adjusted returns have made it a respected player in the private credit space.
By combining Comvest’s non-sponsor and specialized finance knowledge with Manulife’s sponsor-focused Senior Credit platform, two complimentary methods are brought together, expanding the scope and depth of the combined entity’s lending strategies. Manulife’s decade-long presence in sponsor-backed private credit is expected to synergize effectively with Comvest’s focus on non-sponsored borrowers, creating new growth and client engagement opportunities. As part of the deal, Comvest will also be entitled for further performance-based incentive of up to US $337.5 million. A provision in the agreement allows Manulife to eventually purchase the remaining 25% of the business.
This acquisition will be funded entirely with cash on hand and is projected to enhance Manulife’s core EPS, ROE, and Global Wealth and Asset Management (Global WAM) EBITDA margins, while having only a minimal impact on the company’s LICAT ratio. Leadership transitions following the acquisition include Michael Falk, Comvest’s Founder, assuming a role as Senior Advisor and Board Member, and CEO Robert O’Sullivan stepping in as Head of the new business unit. He will answer to Manulife’s Global Head of Private Markets, Anne Valentine Andrews. Assuming customary regulatory approvals and conditions are met, the transaction is anticipated to close in Q4 2025.
FinScan enhances payment screening for faster, safer transactions
FinScan, an anti-money laundering (AML) compliance solution from Innovative Systems, has enhanced its payment screening solution, FinScan Payments, to accelerate transaction workflows while strengthening financial crime prevention.
According to recent research from Datos Insights, 91% of surveyed financial institutions (FIs) are investing significantly in payment modernisation. Despite this, many firms still operate with legacy AML compliance systems that were not designed for today’s real-time payment rails, making them ill-equipped to handle instant settlement workflows.
With digital payments surging and financial crime risks rising, FinScan Payments enables FIs, FinTech firms, and other organisations to navigate evolving payment infrastructures efficiently. The latest enhancements introduce an improved system architecture capable of high-volume transaction screening, expanded integration support for new payment messages, and a redesigned user interface.
Becki LaPorte, strategic advisor in the fraud and AML practice at Datos Insights, said: “Today’s payment arena requires real-time AML compliance as evolving regulations demand deeper scrutiny of transactions. In a fast-changing geopolitical and tech landscape, compliance teams must screen payments against the latest sanctions, PEP, and dual-use goods lists to stay ahead of illicit activity. FinScan Payments is well equipped to support faster payments while effectively controlling risk across domestic and cross-border ecosystems.”
Deborah Overdeput, chief marketing officer of Innovative Systems, said: “To keep pace with evolving payments, organizations must streamline workflows, update their screening solutions, customize watchlists, and execute compliance checks in milliseconds with accurate results for instant payments.
“FinScan Payments empowers FIs, neobanks, PayFacs, FinTechs, and other organizations to block high-risk transactions in real time, facilitating compliance without delays. With configurable alerts and seamless integration into payment workflows, it keeps transactions secure while meeting time-sensitive review thresholds.”
FinTech startup SparkReceipt secures investment from Trind Ventures for global expansion
SparkReceipt, a pre-accounting software provider based in Finland, has secured investment from Trind Ventures.
The funding round, which remains undisclosed, also received support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund and Business Finland.
The company provides AI-powered pre-accounting software designed to simplify bookkeeping for micro-businesses, with operations spanning nearly 100 countries. The platform automates receipt and invoice processing, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
The new funding will be used to accelerate SparkReceipt’s international expansion.
Trind Ventures partner Reima Linnanvirta highlighted the significance of the investment, stating, “With my own background in the most boring industries like accounting, legal, and tax, I am always excited to see BoringTech startups transforming these industries. Knowing the team from the past and what they can deliver and seeing the strong early customer traction, I trust SparkReceipt will change the way millions of entrepreneurs handle their accounting, freeing their time for building their businesses.”
SparkReceipt co-founder Joel Ojala said, “It was crazy to see the appetite toward SparkReceipt from VCs. So many reached out, begging to invest. But it makes sense there is momentum in AI accounting for micro-businesses, or maybe it was the rockstar team.”
InsureVision raises $2.7m to transform insurance risk pricing with contextual driving data
InsureVision, an InsurTech company specialising in AI-powered contextual driving risk assessment technology, has successfully raised $2.7m in a seed funding round.
The investment round was led by Rethink Ventures, with participation from Twin Path Ventures and State Farm Ventures, the venture arm of State Farm, the largest vehicle insurer in the world.
InsureVision focuses on enhancing vehicle risk assessment by leveraging its proprietary “enviromatics” technology. This platform uses advanced vision transformer technology to analyse video footage from standard forward-facing vehicle cameras. Unlike conventional telematics systems or basic AI dashcams, which often rely solely on mechanical data or object detection, InsureVision’s solution takes a more holistic approach. It considers the full driving environment, including the behaviour and intent of other road users, to generate more accurate risk assessments.
With the fresh capital, InsureVision plans to accelerate product development and broaden its presence across international markets. The company is already conducting trials with major insurance providers in the US, with further pilots scheduled for Japan. Proof of value data from these trials is expected by mid-2025.
InsureVision was founded by serial entrepreneur Mark Miller, whose previous company, Dictate IT, was the largest supplier of medical speech recognition technology to the NHS before being acquired by Clanwilliam Group in a multi-million-pound deal in 2018.
The platform offers insurance companies a more accurate way to underwrite policies, enabling more precise pricing and fewer claims. Fleet operators benefit from real-time risk monitoring and enhanced driver safety insights, while automotive manufacturers can integrate the technology into software-defined vehicles to comply with upcoming Automatic Emergency Braking regulations.
Rethink Ventures general partner Matthias Schanze said, “We have followed Mark and his team for some time, and they have continuously shown exceptional entrepreneurial vigour and deep tech expertise paired with an unconventional approach. Their vision for transforming road safety through AI-powered contextual understanding sets a new standard for the industry.”
Twin Path Ventures partner Nick Slater added, “InsureTech is an exciting space because the numbers are huge and even a micro improvement can make a macro impact. InsureVision has one of the most unconventional but potentially groundbreaking ways of disrupting the sector for the better of insurance companies, fleet operators and drivers alike”.
UK AI FinTech Quantexa secures $175m Series F, hitting $2.6bn valuation
Quantexa, a global provider of AI-driven decision intelligence solutions, has successfully closed a $175m Series F funding round.
The funding round was led by Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), part of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, with ongoing support from existing investors such as British Patient Capital.
Other backers in Quantexa include Warburg Pincus, Dawn Capital, BNY, Evolution Equity Partners, AlbionVC, and HSBC.
The fresh investment values the London-based company at $2.6bn.
Founded in 2016, Quantexa specialises in decision intelligence technology, which helps both public and private sector organisations make data-driven operational decisions with greater confidence. Its platform applies advanced AI to connect, unify, and analyse vast amounts of siloed data, providing insights into customer intelligence, risk management, financial crime, and fraud detection. The company’s solutions are used across financial services, insurance, telecoms, media, technology, and the public sector.
The newly raised capital will support Quantexa’s platform innovation, accelerating the development of new AI-powered products, expanding strategic partnerships, and boosting its footprint in North America.
The company also plans to pursue selected mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its capabilities.
Following the funding, Ara Yeromian, managing director at TVG, is expected to join Quantexa’s board, subject to regulatory approval.
The Series F funding arrives shortly after Quantexa achieved ‘Centaur’ status, a milestone reserved for SaaS firms surpassing $100m in annual recurring revenue.
The company’s strong performance in 2024 saw nearly 40% growth in licence revenue and the addition of 23 new clients, helping to expand its footprint into new sectors, including insurance and telecoms.
Quantexa founder and CEO Vishal Marria said, “AI is a once-in-a-generation technology transforming industries, redefining operations, and creating entirely new processes. From day one, Quantexa has been at the forefront of this revolution, helping enterprises create trusted, curated data to unlock AI’s full potential.
“This latest investment reflects investors’ embracing our vision and committing to join our journey as we accelerate innovation, platform deployments, and amplify the value we deliver to clients and the broader ecosystem. With the continued support of our investors,
BriteCore unveils new vendor integrations to transform P&C insurance operations
BriteCore, a provider of cloud-native core insurance platforms for property and casualty insurers, has expanded its Solution Partner Marketplace.
This enhancement introduces five new vendor integrations, marking a significant stride in BriteCore’s ongoing effort to equip insurers with cutting-edge technology solutions and increased flexibility in underwriting accuracy, claims processing, and overall operational efficiency.
BriteCore’s core function is to offer property and casualty insurers advanced technology solutions that streamline and enhance their insurance processes. The BriteCore Solution Partner Marketplace is crafted to provide seamless access to innovative tools and services that augment insurers’ core operational capabilities.
The reason behind this new product initiative is to further BriteCore’s mission to deliver a flexible and comprehensive ecosystem that supports insurers in optimizing key business processes such as underwriting, claims handling, and risk assessment.
The newly integrated vendors in the BriteCore Solution Partner Marketplace include Acrisure AcrisureIQ, which provides real-time risk scores and tools for catastrophe risk modeling, and Bees360, which offers drone-enabled claims and underwriting inspection services. Also included are DataCrest AppEase, enhancing submission workflows and commercial insurers’ efficiency; Howden Re TigerCQ, which supplies advanced analytics for risk management; and Verisk XactAnalysis, improving the claims process with precise, professional estimates.
These integrations reflect BriteCore’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the InsurTech sector, offering solutions that enhance insurers’ operational efficiency and elevate policyholder experiences.
BriteCore’s CEO, Ray Villeneuve, emphasized the benefits of the expansion, stating, “These new solution integrations reinforce BriteCore’s mission to deliver a flexible and comprehensive ecosystem that empowers insurers with best-in-class solutions. By teaming with these industry leaders and innovators, we continue to provide our customers with the solutions they need to optimize underwriting, claims handling, and risk assessment.”
Tom Young, CEO of DataCrest, also shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Collaborating with BriteCore allows us to bring AppEase’s efficiency-driven submission management capabilities to more insurers, helping them navigate complex and time-intensive workflows with ease and accuracy. We are excited to join BriteCore’s growing ecosystem of innovative solutions.”
Unique AI secures $30m in Series A to transform FinTech with agentic AI
Unique AI, a vertical AI company, announced that it has successfully closed a $30m Series A funding round.
Since its inception in 2021, the company has now amassed a total of $53m in investment. The latest funding round was spearheaded by CommerzVentures and DN Capital, with continued backing from early seed investors, including VI Partners and Pictet Group.
Unique AI operates in the FinTech sector, developing an advanced agentic AI platform tailored for financial firms. The platform offers 25 specialized ‘off the shelf’ use cases, along with customisable agents, to enhance back and middle-office operations. This integration allows for improved data processing and accuracy, making significant impacts on efficiency and regulatory compliance.
The company plans to use this new influx of capital to fuel its global expansion and refine its ability to deploy cutting-edge solutions. With a solid base of deployment among blue-chip companies managing over $2.3 trillion in assets, including names like Pictet Group and LGT Private Banking, Unique AI is setting a new standard in financial services technology.
One of Unique AI’s prominent clients, Pictet Group, utilizes the platform extensively, providing it to 6,000 employees and reporting efficiency gains of approximately two hours per week per person. Despite the platform’s ability to streamline investment product filtering and related tasks, human relationship managers remain central to client interactions.
In addition to funding news, Unique AI announced the appointment of Dana Ritter as Chief Product Officer, effective April 2025. Ritter, a former Group Product Manager at Google Deepmind, brings a wealth of experience from his time leading projects like Gemini on Android and Google’s agentic web capability, Duplex on the Web.
Several quotes from the investing partners highlight the enthusiasm for Unique AI’s potential. “We are excited to announce this Series A investment,” Unique CEO Manuel Grenacher said. “This funding will significantly boost our global expansion efforts and enhance our ability to deploy agentic solutions for our clients.”
“We are thrilled to support Unique in this next phase of growth,” CommerzVentures Managing Partner Patrick Meisberger commented. Similarly, DN Capital Partner Guy Ward Thomas added, “Unique’s offering is serving a pressing need for banks and asset managers to deploy compliant and accurate agentic AI solutions.”
Lastly, VI Partners Managing Partner Olivier Laplace noted, “Our partnership with Manuel and his team goes back a decade when we backed his previous venture. Seeing once again their bold vision and outstanding execution, we are excited to support them in this next stage.”
Bourn raises £1.5m seed funding to revolutionise SME cash flow management
Bourn, a UK-based FinTech startup focused on SME finance, has secured £1.5m in seed funding to support the expansion of its AI-powered Flexible Trade Account (FTA).
The funding round was led by Haatch, with participation from fintech investors Love Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and Aperture, alongside private backers.
Founded by Roger Vincent, Nick Tracey, and Paul Gambrell, the company has also appointed former banker and FinTech executive Leda Glyptis as a non-executive board member.
Bourn aims to address the cash flow challenges faced by SMEs by offering a modern alternative to traditional business overdrafts. Its flagship solution, the Flexible Trade Account, integrates AI-driven risk assessment, Open Banking, and accounting software connectivity to provide an automated revolving credit facility.
By partnering with banks and lenders, Bourn offers a white-label solution that enables financial institutions to expand their SME portfolios while minimising risk and maximising returns.
The newly raised funds will be used to further develop Bourn’s product, enhance its technology, and accelerate market entry.
Bourn’s CEO, Nick Tracey, highlighted the company’s mission, stating: “At Bourn, we understand the vital role SMEs play in the UK economy. Our mission is to simplify cash flow management through innovative financial solutions, giving businesses the confidence to grow. This funding propels us closer to our vision of transforming SME finance across the UK.”
Marcus Love, general partner at Love Ventures, reinforced the importance of Bourn’s solution, saying: “Access to working capital remains one of the biggest barriers to SME growth. Bourn’s solution offers a scalable, efficient funding option for UK businesses, and we’re thrilled to support their journey.”
Newly appointed non-executive board member Leda Glyptis added: “Bourn brings together a group of industry-leading seasoned professionals solving a very real problem that they understand deeply. I am honoured and excited to be joining this team bringing tangible value to businesses and driving financial accessibility.”
FinTech firm ClearScore secures £30m from HSBC Innovation Banking UK to drive global expansion
ClearScore, a global FinTech and data-driven financial marketplace, has secured £30m in debt financing from HSBC Innovation Banking UK to support its expansion across domestic and international markets.
The funding continues a long-standing partnership between ClearScore and HSBC Innovation Banking UK, which began in 2017. Over the past eight years, HSBC has played a key role in financing ClearScore’s global growth, enabling the company to scale and enhance its offerings. Today, ClearScore helps over 24 million users across the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada improve their financial wellbeing.
ClearScore provides a financial marketplace that allows consumers to access their credit scores and compare financial products.
The newly secured funding will support ClearScore’s next phase of growth, expanding the range of financial products it offers and increasing the channels through which users can access them.
ClearScore CFO Brian Cole said, “As a profitable FinTech operating at global scale, we have options when it comes to choosing how to invest for the next ten years of growth. This funding allows us to expand the range products we can offer our users and the channels through which we can reach them. HSBC Innovation Banking has been a key strategic partner to enable us to scale at pace and become one of the UK’s leading fintech brands.”
Nick Conway, director of FinTech coverage at HSBC Innovation Banking UK, said, “ClearScore has been a valued long-term partner, and we’re thrilled to have been able to support their growth with this financing. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as they continue to transform the way people manage their financial health. This is a great example of how HSBC Innovation Banking helps our UK FinTech clients achieve their ambitions, scale and build world class, innovation driven businesses.”