Observed Signal · Oct 19, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: EU-Startups (European Venture) · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
UK payments unicorn Zilch invests €91m in new London HQ
British payments unicorn Zilch announced a €91 million investment to double its London office capacity by moving to a larger headquarters at 40 Grosvenor Place, Victoria. The 10-year lease covers a 33,160 sq ft space accommodating over 400 employees. This follows a €150 million debt and equity raise in November 2025. CEO Philip Belamant highlighted the company's growth, with customer spending surpassing £8 billion. Zilch also recently acquired Fjord Bank (expected to close H1 2027), formed a multi-year partnership with Visa, and became Arsenal FC's Official Way to Pay. The investment underscores the active UK FinTech ecosystem, with other firms raising significant funds in 2026.
Zilch's HQ investment signals fintech growth, but not directly AdTech/Retail Media related.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Zilch invests €91 million (£77 million) to double London office capacity.
- New headquarters at 40 Grosvenor Place, Victoria, covers 33,160 sq ft and supports over 400 employees.
- Zilch raised €150 million in debt and equity in November 2025.
- Zilch acquired Fjord Bank (announced January 2026), expected to close H1 2027.
- Zilch has a multi-year strategic partnership with Visa and is Arsenal FC's Official Way to Pay.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Multi-year strategic partner of Zilch.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
UK FinTech Ryft secures €23M Series B
Manchester-based payments company Ryft has raised €23 million in a Series B funding round led by Gresham House Ventures, with participation from existing investors Pembroke VCT and Ingenii Capital. The round aims to accelerate the company's expansion into European markets and the US, and to support product development. Ryft builds payment solutions for marketplaces, platforms, and multi-location businesses, handling seller onboarding, recurring billing, automated split payments, and cross-border payouts through a single integration. The company has tripled processing volume over the past 12 months and serves over 6,500 businesses, including Epos Now and the Disasters Emergency Committee. Ryft has applied for an EU license from the Malta Financial Services Authority to passport its services across the European Economic Area.
Quartz Raises £2.75M Pre-Seed for Personal Finance Platform
London-based fintech Quartz has raised £2.75 million in pre-seed funding to launch its personal finance platform in the UK. The round was led by Daphni, with participation from Outward VC, K Fund, and angel investors including Philippe Gelis and Gilles BianRosa. Founded in 2025 by former Revolut and N26 executives, Quartz offers users a consolidated view of their finances, including pensions, ISAs, savings, and investments, through a single app. The platform includes an AI-based assistant named Charlie that provides personalised insights based on user data and market developments. Quartz is FCA-registered as an Account Information Service Provider and has been testing since Q1 2026, tracking over £10 million in member assets. The app is now available on the App Store and Google Play.
A16z-backed UK fintech Sequence sold to Intuit for $200M
London-based fintech Sequence, which uses AI to automate billing, payments, and revenue management for startups, has been acquired by US software giant Intuit. The deal is estimated at around $200 million, according to The Times. Founded in 2021 by Riya Grover and Eamon Jubbawy, Sequence has raised about $40 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Passion Capital, firstminute capital, and 645 Ventures. Grover holds a stake above 45%, while Jubbawy owns over 15%. The acquisition marks one of the largest exits for a UK AI startup with a female co-founder. Sequence's customers include Legora and Cognition. Grover called the deal a "huge milestone," noting that joining Intuit enables Sequence to scale further.
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