Over $16bn was raised on a mammoth week for fintech funding, as the sector roared into life to kick off 2025.
The week was headlined by Databricks’ staggering $15bn Series J funding round, as it looks to develop new AI products, pursue strategic acquisitions, and bolster tis international market presence.
But there were still headline grabbing raises across the space, with German ESG FinTech Bees & Bears securing $500m, and US WealthTech Phantom bagging $150m.
Meanwhile, other sectors also saw deals landed, including RegTech with 5 deals, InsurTech with 4, WealthTech with 3, and PayTech with 2.
On the international front, the USA continued its dominance of the FinTech space.
Courtesy of a litany of Silicon Valley raises, the nation led the way with 15 deals, headlined by Databricks’ aforementioned colossal $15bn raise and Phantom’s $150m round.
The UK followed with 7 deals, including Fundment’s impressive $45m raise.
Germany and Spain each landed 2 deals, with Germany seeing Bees & Bears secure $500m.
Meanwhile, countries like Israel, the UAE, Singapore, France, and others contributed with standout deals such as Mitiga’s $30m round in Israel and Tapline’s $20m raise in Germany.
Here are this week’s FinTech Funding Rounds:
Databricks’ groundbreaking $15bn funding round fuels global AI ambitions
Databricks, the renowned Data and AI company, today confirmed the successful closure of its Series J funding.
The round saw participation from existing investor QIA, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, alongside new investors including Temasek and entities managed by Macquarie Capital. The company also welcomed Meta as a new strategic investor, reaching an impressive valuation of $62bn.
The company secured a remarkable $10bn in equity financing from these esteemed investors. Additionally, Databricks finalized a $5.25bn credit facility which was led by JPMorgan Chase with the support of Barclays, Citi, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. This facility includes a $2.5bn unfunded revolver and a $2.75bn term loan.
Databricks specializes in democratizing access to data and AI, simplifying the use of analytics, machine learning, and AI applications across various sectors. Built on a robust open source foundation, the platform facilitates innovation for its users, enabling them to tackle challenges such as disease and cancer detection, climate change, financial fraud, and more.
Climate FinTech Bees & Bears secures €500m to advance household energy transition
Bees & Bears, a climate FinTech focused on financing sustainable energy solutions, has secured €500m in financing commitments to support the installation of energy-efficient systems in private households across Germany.
The funding, provided by a listed bank based in the DACH region and supervised by the European Central Bank, will enable the installation of nearly 25,000 photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, energy storage systems, and wall boxes.
Bees & Bears offers private customers flexible installment payment options for energy-efficient home installations, partnering with independent small and medium-sized tradesmen.
The company streamlines the financing process, conducting credit checks within minutes, similar to car financing models.
Phantom lands $150m funding to challenge traditional finance with blockchain solutions
Phantom, a leading digital asset wallet provider, has secured $150m in a Series C funding round at a $3bn valuation.
The round was co-led by Sequoia Capital and Paradigm, with participation from existing investors including a16z and Variant.
Founded in 2021, Phantom aims to make digital assets accessible and user-friendly. The platform offers a self-custody wallet that allows users to access millions of digital assets across multiple blockchains.
Instabase bags $100m to expand its AI-powered data platform
Instabase, a leading applied artificial intelligence (AI) platform for unstructured data, has announced its $100m Series D funding round.
The round was led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) with participation from existing investors Greylock Partners, NEA, Andreessen Horowitz, and Index Ventures.
The company specialises in unstructured data management, providing innovative AI solutions to help enterprises unlock insights from emails, multimedia files, PDFs, and other unstructured content.
Founded in 2015, Instabase has developed a proprietary content understanding capability that integrates seamlessly with existing enterprise systems.
Highnote secures $90m Series B to expand into US merchant acquiring
Highnote, an embedded finance company specialising in modern card issuance and program management, has secured $90m in a Series B funding round.
The investment was led by Adams Street Partners, with participation from existing investors including Oak HC/FT, Costanoa, WestCap, and Pinegrove Venture Partners.
Highnote provides a comprehensive payments platform that enables businesses to embed virtual and physical card payments, ledger, and wallet functionalities into their products. Its technology aims to create seamless financial solutions for companies of all sizes.
The company plans to use the newly raised capital to accelerate the expansion of its embedded finance and issuing platform. A key focus of this expansion is the launch of its acquiring solution, which allows customers to handle both pay-in and pay-out transactions on a single platform, leveraging a unified general ledger.
Nonprofit fundraising platform Fundraise Up secures $70m to drive global expansion
Fundraise Up, a leading nonprofit fundraising platform, has announced securing $70m in a minority growth investment.
The funding round was led by Summit Partners, with additional participation from existing investor Telescope Partners.
The company, co-founded in 2017 by Peter Byrnes, Yuriy Smirnov, and Anton Isaykin, provides AI-powered solutions to help nonprofits optimise their online fundraising efforts. Fundraise Up’s platform is designed to remove barriers in the donation process by leveraging predictive AI to enhance donor experiences.
Clutch secures $65m Series B to revolutionise credit union technology
Clutch, the creator of omnichannel digital consumer banking origination software for credit unions, has raised $65m in a Series B funding round.
This significant financial injection is spearheaded by Alkeon Capital Management, with key contributions from Andreessen Horowitz, TruStage Ventures, and Peterson Partners.
The funding will enable Clutch to embark on ambitious growth strategies and product enhancements, including AI integration and platform expansion. These advancements aim to position credit unions to compete effectively in the digital-first consumer market.
Vertice secures $50m Series C funding to enhance procurement efficiency
Vertice, a leading spend optimisation platform, has secured $50m in a Series C funding round led by Lakestar.
Additional contributions came from Perpetual Growth and CF Private Equity. Existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and 83North also participated in the round, bringing the company’s total funding to over $100m.
The oversubscribed funding round marks a significant milestone in Vertice’s growth trajectory. Over the past 2.5 years, the company has significantly scaled its revenue and customer base while maintaining strong capital efficiency. Vertice has achieved a 13x revenue increase in the last two years.
UK WealthTech Fundment secures £45m in Series C funding round
Fundment, the leading tech platform for financial advisers, has successfully raised £45m in a Series C funding round.
The investment was led by Highland Europe, with significant participation from ETFS Capital. This new infusion of capital underscores the investors’ confidence in Fundment’s vision and its potential for further growth.
Fundment, founded in 2018 by Ola Abdul, a former asset manager with abrdn and BlackRock, addresses the persistent technology challenges faced by financial advisers. The company’s platform is renowned for its comprehensive integration capabilities, combining core platform services with back-office tools, discretionary investment management solutions, and user-friendly client portals. This integration facilitates a seamless operation for advisers to manage and monitor their investment processes efficiently.
South African InsurTech Naked secures $38m to drive AI-powered growth
South African InsurTech Naked, known for its AI-powered and fully digital insurance platform, has raised $38m in a recent financing round.
The tranche included a $4m investment from Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), alongside contributions from other key investors such as impact investor BlueOrchard, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and existing backers Yellowwoods and Hollard, according to Startbase.
Naked offers a fully digital insurance platform that provides private customers with policies for cars, buildings, and individual items.
Cloud security firm Mitiga secures $30m Series B to drive expansion across US and Europe
Mitiga, a leading provider of cloud and SaaS threat detection, investigation, and response solutions, has secured $30m in a Series B funding round to accelerate its expansion in North America and Europe.
The investment round was led by SYN Ventures, with additional participation from existing investors including ClearSky, Atlantic Bridge, Flint Capital, DNX Ventures, and Glilot Capital Partners.
The fresh capital will support Mitiga’s expansion into new markets, the enhancement of its AI-driven platform, and the strengthening of its sales and marketing efforts.
Mitiga provides enterprises with advanced cybersecurity capabilities, offering visibility and control over cloud and SaaS environments. Its platform equips security operations teams with tools for rapid detection, investigation, and response to cyber threats, ensuring resilience against evolving risks.
German FinTech Tapline lands €20m to innovate subscription-based services
Tapline, a German FinTech serving SaaS and subscription-based clients, has successfully closed a €20m pre-Series A funding round.
According to Tech EU, this significant financial boost includes both equity and debt components, aimed at scaling the company’s operations and enhancing its service offerings to existing customers.
The funding round was spearheaded by Karim Beshara, GP at A15 Venture Capital and Managing Partner at Accelero Capital. Additional equity participants included Antler, a leading early-stage VC in Europe, alongside several strategic business angels. The debt financing was provided by WinYield, which further supports Tapline’s innovative financial solutions.
LeapXpert raises $20m to enhance enterprise communication governance
LeapXpert, a pioneer in responsible business communication, has announced a significant funding boost through a $20m Series B.
The round was spearheaded by Portage, with continued support from existing investors such as Rockefeller Asset Management, Uncorrelated Ventures, and the Partnership Fund for New York City.
The company, known for its innovative communications platform, caters to a wide array of clients including top financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and global enterprises. LeapXpert is on a solid path towards profitability within this fiscal year.
Qomodo secures €13.5m in Series A to enhance BNPL options for high street merchants
Qomodo, an Italian FinTech, has secured €13.5m in Series A funding co-led by RTP Global and LMDV Capital, with additional participation from Proximity Capital and Primo Capital.
According to Finextra, this investment marks a significant milestone, bringing Qomodo’s total funding to €48m, comprised of €18m in equity and €30m in a credit facility, all raised within just 12 months of its launch.
Qomodo operates a digital ecosystem tailored to enhance the operations of micro and small businesses. Its flagship offering introduces a buy now, pay later (BNPL) scheme on the high street, which permits consumers to make purchases via flexible, interest-free instalment payments. This innovative approach aims not only to boost merchant sales but also to mitigate credit risks by streamlining and securing transaction processes, ultimately reducing operational costs for merchants.
Sydecar secures $11m in Series A to streamline private market transactions
Sydecar, a platform dedicated to simplifying the creation and management of Special Purpose Vehicles and funds for venture fund and syndicate managers, has successfully closed an oversubscribed Series A funding round, accumulating $11m.
The funding round was spearheaded by Deciens Capital, known for its commitment to backing early-stage founders in the FinTech sector. Additionally, Pipeline Capital Partners and Runa Capital also participated, bolstering the financial backing for Sydecar.
Sydecar’s core functionality includes automating essential processes such as banking, compliance, contracts, and reporting, significantly easing the burden for venture fund managers. The platform is tailored to improve the onboarding and overall experience for General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs), enhancing transparency regarding investments, fees, and funding status.
Furaha secures $10m funding to revolutionise education financing in Africa
Furaha, a purpose-driven lending platform headquartered in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has announced its mission to enhance financial inclusion across sub-Saharan Africa.
The platform recently secured $10m in funding, a joint investment between SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s FinTech investment arm, and Yabx Technologies, part of the Tech Mahindra Group. SC Ventures contributed $7m, while Yabx provided the balance through technology transfer agreements.
Furaha leverages advanced technology and alternative lending capabilities to deliver accessible financing solutions. The platform combines SC Ventures’ risk management expertise with Yabx’s AI-driven lending infrastructure to reduce costs and broaden access to underserved communities.
Karmen raises $9.4m to enhance revenue-based financing solutions for SMEs
French startup Karmen has raised $9.4m in a funding round to enhance its instant financing products aimed at small businesses facing working capital challenges.
The round includes a mix of equity and debt, with Seventure Partners taking an equity stake in the company, while Financiere Arbevel and Bpifrance contributed debt funding, according to a report from TechCrunch.
Karmen operates in the competitive space of instant financing for SMEs, facing competition from other French firms such as Silvr, Defacto, Unlimitd, and Hero.
This funding follows Karmen’s earlier announcement of securing a €100m debt vehicle, which serves as the foundation for its short-term loan offerings.
Passbolt raises $8m to enhance team access management solutions
Passbolt, an open-source credential and access management platform for organisations, has raised $8m in a Series A funding round.
The investment was led by Airbridge Equity Partners, based in the Netherlands, with participation from existing investors Expon Capital’s Digital Tech Fund, ScaleFund, Seeder, Dedicated, Bondi Capital, Carricha Capital, and LBAN.
Notable industry veterans such as Christophe Bianco, co-founder of Excellium Services, and Xavier Buck, co-founder of Datacenter Luxembourg, also contributed to the round.
Doti AI raises $7m to transform enterprise information access with secure AI
Doti AI, a Work AI platform known for enabling secure, real-time access and leverage of internal knowledge for enterprises, has raised $7m.
The investment was spearheaded by F2 Venture Capital, complemented by notable contributions from Jared Kasner, General Partner at Ineffable Ventures, and Guy Flechter, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Sola Security.
Doti AI operates within the rapidly expanding enterprise AI market, which is expected to balloon from $113.5bn in 2023 to over $300bn by 2030. This growth is largely fueled by the increasing need for tools that not only enhance decision-making but also streamline enterprise workflows. Unlike conventional solutions that might take months to deploy, Doti AI boasts a deployment time of under an hour, whether on-premise or cloud-based. This quick integration feature, combined with the platform’s ability to consolidate data from various platforms into a secure, unified source, uniquely positions Doti AI at the forefront of enterprise solutions.
EBRD leads $7m investment in Axoflow to streamline enterprise security data
Axoflow, a cutting-edge cybersecurity startup, announced today that it has raised a $7m seed round.
The funding was led by EBRD Venture Capital, with significant reinvestments from existing partners Credo Ventures and e2vc. This reaffirms the market’s confidence in Axoflow’s mission and its future growth trajectory.
The company, which specializes in enhancing how enterprises manage security data, secured this investment to expand its groundbreaking security data curation pipeline. This system is designed to significantly improve data quality and reduce costs associated with security information and event management (SIEM) systems, all without the need for coding.
Cybersecurity startup Axoflow secures $7m seed funding led by EBRD
Axoflow, a cybersecurity startup focused on improving the quality and accessibility of security data, has secured $7m in a seed funding round.
The round was led by EBRD Venture Capital, with continued support from existing investors Credo Ventures and e2vc, who have increased their stakes in the company.
Axoflow specialises in providing enterprises with an automated security data curation pipeline that enhances data quality while significantly reducing costs. The company’s platform eliminates the need for manual, code-heavy data management by automating the discovery, classification, parsing, and enrichment of security data. This solution aims to enhance threat detection, response capabilities, AI integration, and compliance efforts.
Spikerz raises $7m to enhance AI-powered social media security solutions
Spikerz, a cybersecurity company focused on protecting businesses and individuals from social media threats, has raised $7m in funding.
The investment round was led by Disruptive AI, with contributions from Horizon Capital, Wix Ventures, Storytime Capital, and BDMI, according to a report from New York Tech.
The company provides an AI-driven security platform designed to tackle the growing threats associated with social media usage. Spikerz’s technology offers protection against phishing attacks, impersonation attempts, bot infiltration, and shadowbanning, helping users safeguard their accounts and maintain their digital presence.
Zynap raises €5.7m to revolutionise cybersecurity with generative AI
Barcelona-based cybersecurity startup Zynap has announced its latest funding round, securing €5.7m to enhance its threat intelligence solutions and fuel expansion plans.
The funding round was co-led by Kibo Ventures and Kfund, with participation from key business angels, according to a report from EU Startups.
The investment is set to accelerate Zynap’s technology development and support its expansion into new markets.
Zynap provides cutting-edge threat intelligence solutions that deliver actionable insights to enterprises and managed security service providers (MSSPs).
Flourish Ventures leads $5.2m pre-A investment in MEA’s MoneyHash
MoneyHash, the pioneering payment orchestration platform in the Middle East and Africa, has announced a successful $5.2m pre-A funding round.
The investment was spearheaded by Flourish Ventures, a renowned global FinTech investor with a portfolio including industry leaders like Chime and FlutterWave. This round also welcomed new investors such as Saudi’s Vision Ventures, Arab Bank Venture Capital, and Emurgo Kepple Ventures, with the round marking Jason Gardner, founder and former CEO of Marqeta, making his inaugural MEA investment. The financing also saw continued support from existing backers COTU, RZM Capital, and Github founder Tom Preston-Werner.
MoneyHash operates as a comprehensive payment orchestration platform, designed specifically to address the diverse and complex payment landscape of emerging markets. The platform is engineered to integrate seamlessly with existing payment providers, offering a unified API for both pay-in and pay-out operations, which helps optimize transaction routing and enhance fraud prevention.
CIBC Innovation Banking backs Infinity with £5m corporate debt financing
CIBC Innovation Banking has provided £5m in corporate debt financing to Infinity, a leading European call tracking and analytics provider.
The funding aims to accelerate Infinity’s growth by enhancing its product development and improving customer experience.
Founded in 2011, Infinity specialises in helping businesses optimise customer call interactions. Its platform provides deep insights into call performance, enabling companies to understand which marketing campaigns drive phone calls and make data-driven decisions. Infinity serves industries such as travel, automotive, property, financial services, and healthcare.
Spanish InsurTech Weecover raises €4.2m to fuel global expansion
Weecover, Spain’s leading embedded insurance provider, has successfully raised €4.2m in its latest funding round as it sets its sights on international expansion.
The funding round was led by Swanlaab Venture Factory, with participation from Nauta Capital, La Roca Capital, Bankinter, Prosegur, and Íope Ventures, the investment vehicle of Telefónica Seguros and Wayra, according to Finextra. It also included previous backers, namely Astorya VC.
Founded by Jordi Pages and Rafael Gallardo, Weecover provides APIs and technology solutions to connect insurers with consumer distributors seamlessly.
UAE FinTech Pluto secures $4.1m pre-Series A to boost Saudi expansion
Pluto, a UAE-based corporate card and expense management platform, has secured $4.1m in a pre-Series A funding round.
The announcement follows the company’s milestone of surpassing AED 1bn in spend under its management, according to a report from Zawya.
The funding round saw participation from both existing and new investors, including Rhino Ventures, Born Capital, Goanna Capital, Evolution VC, Freesearch VC, and Tiferes VC.
Pluto offers an all-in-one financial management solution, integrating dynamic budget tracking, AI-powered corporate cards, petty cash management, procurement, invoice processing, and vendor management into a single platform.
Red Flag Alert enhances market position with £4m Series A+ funding
Red Flag Alert, a Manchester-based business intelligence platform, has recently clinched a £4m Series A+ investment.
The funding round includes contributions from the Foresight Group and Ric Traynor, founder and executive chairman of Begbies Traynor. This financial boost marks a significant milestone, coming 18 months after a £3.5m private equity investment from Foresight Group, according to Business Cloud.
Smart Data Foundry secures £3m funding to revolutionize UK financial research
Smart Data Foundry has recently been awarded a £3m funding from Smart Data Research UK, a component of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
According to Finextra, this significant investment aims to advance the financial health studies of millions of UK households by ensuring secure access to extensive financial behaviour data, economic resilience, and regional economic activity.
The newly funded Financial Data Service will join a network of five other data services across the country, positioning the UK as a leader in smart data research and innovation. The initiative promises to provide researchers with safe and effective methods to access and utilize smart data accumulated from various digital interactions, such as mobile apps, navigation systems, social media, and shopping.
Clean energy FinTech CapeZero secures $2.6m to transform project financing
CapeZero, a software platform aimed at simplifying financial workflows for clean energy developers, has secured $2.6m in a seed funding round.
The investment was led by Powerhouse Ventures, with participation from Climactic, Avesta Fund, Virta Ventures, and Stepchange.
The funding will enable CapeZero to accelerate the development and expansion of its platform, which aims to streamline and standardise the complex processes involved in securing tax equity and project financing.
Qumis secures $2.2m to transform insurance workflows with AI
Qumis, an innovative AI-powered platform designed to assist insurance professionals, has announced the successful closure of a $2.2m pre-seed funding round.
The round was led by Armory Square Ventures, with additional participation from MTech Capital, Grand Ventures, Alumni Ventures, BrokerTech Ventures, Sean Harper, co-founder and CEO of Kin Insurance, and Tom Vander Schaaf, former General Partner at Edison Partners, according to InsurTech Insights.
Launched in 2023, Qumis leverages artificial intelligence and deep legal expertise to simplify complex insurance processes.
The platform is designed to analyse policies, identify coverage gaps, and provide detailed recommendations, empowering insurance professionals to make informed decisions with greater speed and accuracy.
Egregious lands $1m pre-seed funding to tackle AI-driven disinformation
Egregious, an advanced analysis platform focused on combating AI-driven deception, disinformation, and polarisation, has secured $1m in a pre-seed funding round.
The investment was co-led by leading UK venture capital firms, Fuel Ventures and Oxford Capital.
The funding will support Egregious in furthering its mission to defend organisations from the misuse of AI. The company’s platform leverages AI-ready social media intelligence tools and narrative intelligence solutions to identify and mitigate the risks posed by AI-powered deception across various sectors.
RegTech startup Adclear secures £510k to automate FCA marketing compliance for FinTechs
Adclear, a RegTech startup focused on automating marketing compliance for FinTech companies, has secured £510,000 in pre-seed funding.
The investment round was backed by Haatch, Force Over Mass, and Founders Capital.
The company provides AI-driven solutions to help FinTech firms meet the stringent marketing regulations set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Adclear’s platform is designed for high-risk sectors, including investments, loans, foreign exchange (FX), contracts for difference (CFDs), spread betting, and digital assets.
Prominent FinTech firms such as Plum, Creditspring, and Trade Nation have already adopted Adclear’s platform to streamline their compliance processes.
Visa invests in Moniepoint to accelerate digital payments for African SMEs
Moniepoint, a Nigeria-based business payments and banking services platform, has secured an investment from Visa, a global leader in digital payments.
The funding, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed, brings Visa alongside a group of notable investors in Moniepoint, including Development Partners International, Google’s Africa Investment Fund, Verod Capital, Lightrock, QED Investors, Novastar Ventures, British International Investment (BII), FMO, Global Ventures, and Endeavor Catalyst.
Founded in 2015 by Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike, Moniepoint, formerly known as TeamApt, provides a comprehensive financial platform designed to support Nigeria’s extensive SME network. The company offers a suite of services, including digital payments, business bank accounts, credit facilities, and management tools.
ZeroPath launches AI-driven code security platform after securing seed funding
ZeroPath, a cybersecurity company backed by Y Combinator, has announced the public launch of its AI-powered code security platform.
The company’s solution leverages large language models (LLMs) to detect complex security vulnerabilities within codebases.
In conjunction with the platform’s launch, ZeroPath has successfully closed its seed funding round, which was led by SurgePoint Capital. Other participants in the round include Y Combinator and angel investor Paul Graham.
ZeroPath’s platform integrates deep program analysis with LLMs to uncover intricate security flaws that traditional tools often miss. It has previously identified critical security risks such as remote code execution vulnerabilities, authorisation bypasses, and business logic flaws in large open-source repositories.
QuSecure secures Accenture investment to combat future quantum threats
Accenture has made a strategic investment in QuSecure, a leader in post-quantum cybersecurity, through its investment arm, Accenture Ventures.
This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive post-quantum cybersecurity solutions, enabling government agencies and private businesses to mitigate the emerging risks posed by quantum computing.
San Mateo-based QuSecure, founded in 2019, offers QuProtect, an advanced quantum security-as-a-service platform. The solution integrates zero-trust architecture with next-generation quantum-resilient technology, safeguarding networks, cloud infrastructure, edge devices, and satellite communications with minimal disruption to existing systems.
CYFIRMA secures strategic investment from MDI Ventures to bolster cybersecurity in Southeast Asia
CYFIRMA, a Singapore-based cybersecurity company, has received a strategic investment from MDI Ventures, the venture capital arm of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom Group).
The investment aims to fuel CYFIRMA’s expansion within Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and extend its global market presence. Backed by MDI Ventures, CYFIRMA plans to enhance its research and development efforts, focusing on creating advanced solutions to tackle the growing sophistication of cyber threats.
CYFIRMA’s core business revolves around combining cyber intelligence with attack surface discovery and digital risk protection. This synergy produces early warnings and personalized, contextual insights into potential cyber threats, offering clients a hacker’s perspective to prepare for and mitigate impending attacks.
