Fintech is referred to as the use of technology by businesses to provide automated and improved financial services. The use of mobile payment applications, cryptocurrency, and blockchain are examples of fintech in use in daily living. Companies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Gemini are examples of leading fintech companies. Predicted to transform the use of financial services with the use of machine learning and AI, the range of fintech services available in future is set to change the way we use digital financial services.
Recently, fintech companies have been at the forefront in changing the way individual consumers and businesses approach the services offered by the banking, payment and lending sectors. Segregation of financial services has ensured that fintech start-ups are in a better position to offer more efficient and streamlined services.
Listed below are four fintech companies that are disrupting the payment eco-system in the UK
Checkout.com
London-based Checkout offers global payment processing services to businesses, as well as direct access across payment methods and regions of the world. Checkout currently processes approximately 150 currencies, local payment methods, and also provides access to all international cards on an integrated platform which it offers to merchants.
Recently, Checkout announced the acquisition of Icefire, an Estonia-based software development company. Checkout has been reported as the leading cloud-based payment solutions provider, and through its acquisition of Icefire and its 110 engineers, will add to its global base to accelerate the delivery of critical products and features.
GoCardless
GoCardless has developed a platform that allows companies to make payments directly into customers’ bank accounts in over 30 countries worldwide. The platform developed by GoCardless, allows businesses to make and receive recurring payments through direct debit.
GoCardless, a leading fintech start-up with indirect payment banking solutions, recently announced a Series G funding of USD 312 million, making it the leading UK unicorn at a valuation of USD 2.1 billion.
The investment witnessed the involvement of Permira (renowned for backing financial software businesses ), Klarna, Clearwater Analytics and Carta, and also the involvement of new investor BlackRock Private Equity Partners. With this round of funding, GoCardless will be able to accelerate its growing footprint in the open banking space through product offerings and geographical expansion. GoCardless aims to become the worlds’ leading network for direct payments.
SumUp
SumUp, headquartered in London, offers a payment processing system that allows sellers to accept and process payments using smart devices. With SumUps solution, payments can be processed either through a payment link sent to the customer’s mobile device or a card reader attached to the smart device.
Continuing its international foray, global fintech start-up SumUp will utilize WorldPay’s merchant solutions portfolio.
Over 3.5 million merchants in over 30 markets are supported by London-based SumUp. Fintech offers custom digital business solutions to SMEs and entrepreneurs, allowing them to run their business and receive payments from customers securely and efficiently with a range of card readers and multiple remote payment systems that include invoices, gift cards and payment links.
Paymentsense
Headquartered in London, Paymentsense offers in-person and virtual payment solutions to approximately 70,000 small businesses spread across the UK and Ireland. Its software allows customers to create and analyse sales reports, allowing them to generate performance overviews and insights.
Paymentsense recently launched BiteBack, a new online tool that allows businesses to process takeaway orders quickly. Biteback features restaurants’ menus digitally, allowing customers to order their meal online, collect it and pay at pickup. Paymentsense various payment methods through its online payment gateway.
To learn more about how the Fintech ecosystem is evolving in the UK, click here for a story from our business collaborator
