London-based Zilch, a consumer payments FinTech redefining digital commerce through AI-powered payment solutions, has raised $176.7m in a fresh debt and equity funding round.
The round was led by KKCG, with participation from BNF Capital and several strategic investors. The raise also included an expansion of Zilch’s securitisation facility with Deutsche Bank, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory.
Founded in 2020, Zilch operates a consumer payments platform designed to eliminate high-cost credit while rewarding customers for the retail value they generate.
The company’s platform connects more than 5.3m users with leading global retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Tesco and Sports Direct.
The new capital will be directed towards enhancing brand visibility through above-the-line marketing campaigns, accelerating product development and platform upgrades, and exploring potential mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its market position.
The funding comes on the heels of Zilch’s launch of two major products: Intelligent Commerce, an AI-driven platform that converts live engagement data into real-time insights for merchants, and Zilch Pay, a one-click checkout solution expected to launch in the first half of 2026. Both products aim to deepen consumer engagement and expand Zilch’s share of digital commerce.
Zilch CEO and co-founder Philip Belamant said, “In just five years, we have rewired the relationship between brands and their customers, offering a different way to pay that brings mass benefits to both consumers and merchants. This funding reflects strong confidence in our team, strategy and execution, enabling us to continue scaling at pace. Our newly launched products are already driving outsized growth, and with the support of a world-class group of debt and equity investors, we’re well positioned for the next phase of expansion. In a market where many have found raising capital difficult, the network and strategic leadership of my co-founder, Sean O’Connor, have been instrumental in helping us achieve this outcome and we are excited for the year ahead.”
Zilch chief financial officer Hugh Courtney added, “Our ability to attract world-class investors at a time when many remain highly selective in their capital deployment is testament to the strength of the business we are building. Future-proof innovation, diversified revenue streams and a highly engaged customer base are all critical factors in our rapid growth and we look forward to working with our shareholders to build on these successes, eliminate high-cost credit and rewire the economics of commerce.”
KKCG US Advisory CEO Karel Komarek Jr. commented, “KKCG is all about finding new solutions in established industries and creating sustainable value. Zilch’s impressive track record demonstrates that its approach to using technology to challenge the status quo and re-engineer the credit landscape delivers exceptional value for consumers and businesses. We’re looking forward to being part of this exciting next stage of their journey.”
Copyright © 2025 FinTech Global
