Clerq, a payments platform specialising in high-ticket transactions, has raised $21m to accelerate its mission to modernise the checkout experience across industries reliant on outdated payment methods.
The round includes a $12m Series A led by 645 Ventures, with participation from existing investors FirstMark Capital, Fika Ventures, Commerce Ventures, and Dash Fund. New strategic investors Friedkin and Yossi Levi, founder of Car Dealership Guy, also joined the round.
Clerq provides a digital payments platform designed for industries traditionally underserved by card-first payment systems. The company’s technology replaces manual payment options such as cheques and wire transfers with fast and easy account-to-account transactions, helping merchants reduce friction and risk while maintaining profitability.
The company plans to use the latest funding to expand its product capabilities and reach additional high-ticket verticals, strengthening its position as a key enabler of account-to-account payments in the U.S. market. The fresh capital will also support scaling its technology to meet growing demand from large enterprises.
Clerq has seen a surge in adoption, reporting 6x revenue growth over the past year. Its platform is already processing hundreds of millions of dollars in payments for Fortune 500 retailers, major online marketplaces, and companies in sectors such as automotive, powersports, and home and office.
Josh Holm, chief financial officer of Friedkin Automotive, said, “Clerq has helped our dealerships provide a smooth, modern checkout experience for our customers, avoiding clunky payment methods like checks, without incurring expensive card fees. The company’s solution is unique in the market, and we jumped at the opportunity to join the funding round.”
645 Ventures co-founder and managing partner Nnamdi Okike said, “At 645, we invest in founders who have purity of motivation and deep insights into their customers and markets. While many companies aim to introduce new payment methods into existing industries, often unsuccessfully, Truett and Ben developed a deep understanding of the payment challenges of automotive dealerships and developed a product that has been a game-changer for both dealers and their end customers. We’re excited to partner with them as they scale this platform within the automotive industry and into new industries, driving meaningful account share and creating significant value for their customers.”
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