Observed Signal · Apr 9, 2025 · Funding · Source: Tech.eu · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Ryft Raises £5.7M Series A to Compete with Stripe and Adyen
Manchester-based fintech Ryft has raised £5.7 million in Series A funding to advance its embedded payment solutions for digital platforms and marketplaces. The round was led by EdenBase, with participation from GPOS Investments, British Business Bank, Pembroke VCT, Sidebyside, and Ingenii VC, plus strategic angel investors including PayPal executives. Ryft's technology allows acquiring banks like Clearhaus to split payments and process payouts more efficiently than established providers such as Stripe Connect and Adyen, offering features like delayed payments and escrow. The company claims businesses switching from Stripe can save up to 62% on payment fees. Ryft plans to use the funds for international expansion and team growth, addressing the complexities of multi-party transactions in the evolving e-commerce landscape.
Series A funding for a payments infrastructure startup; relevant to e-commerce infrastructure but not directly impacting AdTech advertising operations.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Ryft raised £5.7M in Series A funding, bringing its total investment to £7.4M.
- The round was led by EdenBase, with participation from GPOS Investments, British Business Bank, Pembroke VCT, Sidebyside, and Ingenii VC.
- Ryft's platform enables payment splitting and payouts for acquiring banks like Clearhaus.
- Businesses switching from Stripe to Ryft save up to 62% on payment fees according to the company.
- The funding will support international expansion and team growth.
Connected Companies & Entities
5 Entities mapped“Ryft offers acquiring banks and merchants an alternative to dominant payment providers like Stripe Connect and Adyen....”
“Ryft offers acquiring banks and merchants an alternative to dominant payment providers like Stripe Connect and Adyen....”
“The investment round, which was led by EdenBase, saw participation from GPOS Investments, British Business Bank, Pembroke VCT, Sidebyside, a...”
“Strategic angel investors, including executives at PayPal, also joined the round....”
“Jason Druker, Chief Commercial Officer at SFC Capital, commented on Ryft's progress....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
TrueLayer Raises $27M Led by CDP Venture Capital
UK-based open banking payments fintech TrueLayer has secured a $27 million investment round led by Italy's CDP Venture Capital, with participation from new and existing investors. The company, backed by Stripe and Tiger Global, aims to strengthen its presence in Italy, where it already employs about 70 people in Milan. The funds will support further expansion and hiring through 2027. TrueLayer, founded in 2016 by Italians Francesco Simoneschi and Luca Martinetti, offers account-to-account payments as an alternative to card networks like Visa and Mastercard. The company has raised approximately $350 million in total.
UK stablecoin startup Noah closes $38M seed round
Noah, a UK-based stablecoin infrastructure startup, has closed a $38 million seed round, adding $16 million to the previously announced $22 million. Investors in the extension include Endeit Capital, FJ Labs, LocalGlobe, and Felix Capital, with participation from angels like Joe Lonsdale (Palantir) and David Helgason (Unity). The company provides API-based payment infrastructure that connects fiat money with stablecoins, enabling companies to embed stablecoin payment capabilities. Noah operates in over 150 markets and supports more than 60 currencies. The new funds will support expansion into the US, including a new New York office, and help scale its infrastructure. Founded by ex-Visa and ex-Adyen executives, Noah aims to make one-click international transactions possible with full compliance.
AmEx and Perplexity Launch AI CFO for Small Businesses
American Express and Perplexity have launched AI CFO tools for U.S. small businesses, featuring about 10 Skills within Perplexity Computer that turn Amex Small Business Card data into cash-flow forecasts, reconciliation, and tax-season preparation. The AI CFO can forecast cash but cannot make payments, a deliberate limitation as AmEx retains payment authority to capture the value of AI CFOs for SMEs. The article also discusses Stripe's acquisition of Parafin, a lender behind platforms like DoorDash, Gusto, Amazon and Walmart Marketplace, and compares the AmEx/Perplexity offering with Anthropic's Claude for Small Business and Meta's Muse.
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