Visa has agreed to acquire BioCatch for $2.4 billion in cash, in a deal that signals a broader shift in how payment fraud is being tackled. Rather than focusing only on whether a transaction looks suspicious, Visa is adding technology designed to identify potentially fraudulent behaviour before a payment even takes place.

BioCatch uses behavioural and device intelligence to analyse how people interact with digital banking services. Its technology examines thousands of signals, including keystrokes, touch gestures, device activity, and network information, to distinguish legitimate users from fraudsters in real time.

Moving Fraud Detection Upstream

The strategic value for Visa is that many modern scams cannot be identified simply by analysing the final transaction. An authorised customer may be tricked into sending money, an account may be taken over, or a fraudster may manipulate a user during a banking session.

BioCatch is designed to detect these patterns while the user is interacting with a financial service. Visa says this could help its clients address account takeovers, scams, money mules, and application fraud before they reach the payment stage.

BioCatch currently serves more than 350 banking clients across 21 countries, protecting 760 million users and 1.8 billion devices. Its network analyses around 19 billion user sessions each month.

A Broader Fraud and Security Strategy

The acquisition also fits into Visa’s wider investment in cybersecurity and fraud prevention. The company says it has invested more than $13 billion in technology and infrastructure over the past five years to protect the payments ecosystem.

For Visa, adding behavioural intelligence expands its role from securing transactions to helping financial institutions understand what happens before a transaction occurs. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the end of Visa’s fiscal second quarter of 2027.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Visa’s BioCatch acquisition highlights how fraud prevention is becoming increasingly proactive. Key lessons include:

• Fraud detection is moving from transaction monitoring toward behavioural intelligence.
  
  
• AI can help identify risk earlier by analysing patterns rather than isolated events.
  
  
• Financial infrastructure providers are expanding upstream into identity, authentication, and cybersecurity.

For fintechs, the opportunity is increasingly about preventing financial crime before it reaches the payment layer. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can help shape your fintech strategy and positioning.

Axle has raised $17.5 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered infrastructure for insurance workflows. The round was led by Base10 Partners, with continued backing from Y Combinator and Gradient Ventures, alongside Stage2 Capital, Cover Genius co-founder Chris Bayley, and other industry investors.

The latest funding follows a period of rapid growth for Axle. Over the past six months, the company has tripled the number of workflows it automates and now processes more than $100 billion in insurance coverage annually for over 4,000 businesses.

Making Insurance Data More Programmable

Insurance remains deeply reliant on fragmented systems, manual processes, and unstructured documents. Businesses often need to verify coverage, update policies, or monitor changes through a combination of phone calls, PDFs, and other disconnected workflows.

Axle is building what it describes as an AI-native clearinghouse for insurance. Its infrastructure connects to fragmented insurance systems, routes requests to the appropriate sources, and standardises unstructured information into a common format.

The result is a single API that businesses and AI agents can use to automate insurance-related workflows, including checking whether a customer has coverage, confirming requirements, and monitoring policy changes.

Expanding Across Insurance Markets

Axle says its technology currently supports businesses including mortgage lenders, auto dealers, rental companies, auto lenders, and employers, with customers including Rocket Mortgage, Avis, Experian, and Sonic Automotive.

The company plans to use the new funding to expand its engineering and go-to-market teams and extend its clearinghouse across more than 50 insurance segments covering Home, Auto, Renters, Commercial, and Specialty insurance.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Axle highlights how modern infrastructure can transform industries where critical processes remain highly manual. Key lessons include:

• AI can create significant value by connecting fragmented legacy systems.
  
  
• Standardised data infrastructure can enable new software and automation layers.
  
  
• Industry-specific APIs can become foundational infrastructure for entire ecosystems.

As financial and insurance services become increasingly programmable, fintechs have an opportunity to modernise the infrastructure supporting traditional industries. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can support your fintech strategy and growth.

Adyen is expanding its partnership with Toast into the U.S., extending a relationship that already supports Toast’s operations across Ireland, the U.K., Canada, and Australia. The agreement will bring Adyen’s payment infrastructure into Toast’s U.S. payments ecosystem as the hospitality technology platform continues to scale.

Toast facilitated more than $215 billion in gross payment volume across approximately 180,000 locations worldwide in the 12 months ending June 30, 2026. Its platform combines point-of-sale systems, online ordering, payments, and back-of-house technology for restaurants and retail businesses.

Scaling Payments Across Hospitality and Retail

Adyen has worked with Toast since 2021, providing a unified payments solution across multiple international markets. The expansion into the U.S. is intended to support reliable processing at the scale required by businesses handling high transaction volumes.

For Toast, integrating payment infrastructure across its technology platform can help reduce complexity while giving operators a more consistent experience as they expand. Adyen also highlights faster settlement and support for different payment methods as part of the expanded relationship.

Financial Infrastructure Moves Deeper Into Vertical Platforms

The partnership also illustrates how financial technology is becoming increasingly embedded within specialised business software. Toast combines payments with operational tools for restaurants and retailers, while Adyen provides payments and additional financial products through a single platform.

As vertical technology platforms expand, integrated financial services can become an important part of the overall product rather than a standalone payment function. Adyen’s existing capabilities include issuing, capital, and business accounts, creating opportunities to extend financial services within platforms such as Toast.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

The Adyen and Toast partnership highlights the growing importance of embedded financial infrastructure. Key lessons include:

• Integrated payments can strengthen specialised software platforms.
  
  
• Reliable infrastructure becomes increasingly important as transaction volumes scale.
  
  
• Embedded financial products can create new opportunities beyond core payments.

As fintech becomes more deeply integrated into vertical software, companies need a clear strategy for building and positioning financial products within broader ecosystems. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can support your fintech growth and market strategy.

Moove, a global mobility fintech, has raised $250 million in Series C funding at a $2.1 billion valuation as it expands its infrastructure platform for autonomous transportation. The round was led by Mubadala Investment Company and co-led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, and Ion Pacific.

The funding will support Moove’s autonomous vehicle operations, expansion into new markets, and development of its robotics-first depot infrastructure. The company also plans to more than triple its autonomous mobility workforce, growing from around 150 employees to approximately 500 by the end of the year.

Building the Financial and Operational Layer for Mobility

Moove is developing infrastructure that goes beyond autonomous vehicle technology. Its platform combines fleet ownership, financing, charging, maintenance, logistics, and operational management to help mobility fleets operate at scale.

Its robotics-first depots, known as “Nests,” are designed to charge, service, maintain, and coordinate autonomous vehicles around the clock.

Through its partnership with Waymo, Moove already operates as a third-party autonomous vehicle fleet manager, with operations live or announced in Phoenix, Miami, and London.

Scaling From Ride-Hailing Infrastructure to Autonomous Fleets

Moove’s autonomous strategy builds on five years of experience financing and operating mobility infrastructure for human-driven vehicles. Since launching in Lagos in 2020, the company has expanded to approximately 42,000 vehicles across 29 cities in 13 countries.

Today, Moove employs around 3,300 people globally and reports $420 million in annual recurring revenue. It has also expanded through acquisitions including Kovi in Brazil and Tokyo Taxi in Japan.

The latest investment gives the mobility fintech additional capital to extend this infrastructure model into autonomous transportation and support international expansion.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Moove demonstrates how fintech can evolve beyond traditional financial products by becoming embedded directly into physical infrastructure. Key lessons include:

• Financial infrastructure can unlock growth in capital-intensive industries.
  
  
• Combining financing, technology, and operations can create stronger platform businesses.
  
  
• Emerging mobility models create opportunities for fintechs to become part of the underlying infrastructure.

As mobility becomes increasingly technology-driven, fintech companies have an opportunity to provide the financial infrastructure that enables new transportation models to scale. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can support your fintech growth and market strategy.

Decade, a Brazilian AI-powered wealth management startup, has emerged from stealth with $85 million in seed funding. The round was backed by Greenoaks, Benchmark, and Diffusion, with the company describing it as the largest seed investment raised by a startup in Latin America.

Founded by former Nubank executives Vitor Olivier and Felipe Meneses, Decade is building a wealth management platform that combines proprietary AI models with human financial advisors. The company is currently available through a waitlist.

Combining AI With Human Financial Advice

Decade aims to bring investment management and financial planning into a single platform. Its technology is designed to track assets, identify inefficiencies in portfolios, and provide investment guidance based on a customer’s broader financial situation.

Each customer is paired with a senior human advisor who can be reached through WhatsApp or video. The advisor is supported by Decade’s AI model, which the company says can retain a customer’s financial context and previous conversations.

The approach is designed to combine the scalability and continuous analysis of AI with human involvement in financial decision-making.

Building AI-Native Wealth Management

Decade’s founders bring experience from Nubank and Hyperplane, the data intelligence company acquired by Nubank in 2024. Vitor Olivier now serves as Decade’s CEO, while Felipe Meneses leads the company’s AI development.

The startup is positioning AI as a way to make sophisticated financial analysis more accessible beyond traditional high-net-worth clients. Its technology is intended to continuously analyse financial information, monitor investments, and reason across a customer’s overall financial position.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Decade’s launch highlights how AI is changing the approach to wealth management. Key lessons include:

• AI can make continuous financial analysis more scalable.
  
  
• Combining automation with human expertise can strengthen trust in financial services.
  
  
• Personalised financial guidance is becoming more accessible through AI-native platforms.

As AI continues to reshape wealth management, fintech companies need to balance technological innovation with trust, expertise, and customer needs. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can support your fintech strategy and growth.

Faye, an AI-powered travel protection platform, has raised $50 million in Series C funding, bringing its total funding to $100 million. The round was led by Madrona, with participation from BRM and existing investors Portage, F2 Venture Capital, Viola Ventures, and Lumir Ventures.

The new capital will support Faye’s international expansion, strengthen partnerships with online travel agencies, airlines, and cruise operators, and accelerate the development of AI tools across underwriting, traveller assistance, and claims processing.

Automating the Travel Protection Experience

Faye is using AI to reduce the friction traditionally associated with travel insurance. Customers can purchase coverage through its app, submit claims digitally, and receive approved payouts directly through their mobile wallets.

The company expects AI to autonomously settle more than half of all claims by the end of the year. Faye also expects three-quarters of the remaining claims to be resolved during the first customer interaction.

Beyond insurance, the platform combines protection with services such as overseas telemedicine, eSIM connectivity, airport lounge access, concierge support, and its Faye Wallet product.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Travel Insurance

The funding will also support Faye’s fintech offering, with the company looking to make travel-related financial services more affordable and accessible while providing customers with support during their journeys.

Founded in 2022, Faye has expanded from travel protection into a broader platform combining insurance, financial tools, traveller assistance, and travel data. The company said it doubled its revenue over the past year and will use the latest investment to accelerate its international growth.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Faye’s growth demonstrates how fintech can be combined with specialised services to create broader customer propositions. Key lessons include:

• AI can automate complex processes while improving the customer experience.
  
  
• Combining financial products with adjacent services can create stronger platforms.
  
  
• Automation can become a competitive advantage when it addresses genuine customer friction.

As AI continues to reshape financial services, fintech companies need to identify where automation can deliver meaningful improvements. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can support your fintech strategy, positioning, and growth.

Yellow Card has secured $40 million in strategic funding to accelerate the expansion of its stablecoin infrastructure and Global USD Accounts platform. The investment round included SC Ventures by Standard Chartered, Sony Innovation Fund, Polychain Capital, Blockchain Capital, and several additional strategic investors.

The latest funding brings Yellow Card’s total equity financing to more than $120 million. The company plans to use the capital to expand its payment infrastructure, strengthen its presence in Latin America and Asia Pacific, and extend the stablecoin rails that connect businesses across global markets.

Building Cross-Border Financial Infrastructure

Yellow Card provides infrastructure that enables businesses to hold U.S. dollars, manage treasury operations, swap stablecoins, and send or receive payments through domestic banking rails across more than 50 countries.

Its Global USD Accounts are designed to simplify international business payments by combining traditional financial services with stablecoin capabilities. Rather than relying solely on correspondent banking, the platform enables businesses to access faster and more efficient cross-border transactions through blockchain-powered infrastructure.

The company says the platform is already used by customers including Visa and Western Union, highlighting growing enterprise interest in stablecoin-based payment solutions.

Institutional Support Signals Growing Stablecoin Adoption

The participation of investors such as SC Ventures and Sony Innovation Fund reflects increasing institutional confidence in stablecoin infrastructure as part of the future of global payments.

Yellow Card has processed more than $10 billion in transaction volume, supports over 50 currencies, and holds licenses, registrations, or authorisations across 22 jurisdictions in North America, Europe, and Africa. Alongside partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Coinbase, the company is positioning itself as an infrastructure provider connecting traditional financial institutions with digital asset payment networks.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Demand for enterprise stablecoin infrastructure continues to grow as financial institutions explore new payment models. Key lessons include:

• Stablecoin adoption depends on practical infrastructure that solves real business challenges.
  
  
• Strategic partnerships can accelerate credibility and enterprise adoption.
  
  
• Global expansion requires both regulatory readiness and strong local payment connectivity.

As digital payments continue to evolve, fintech companies need clear strategies to scale across markets while meeting enterprise expectations. Contact us to discover how Your Fintech Story can help shape your growth, positioning, and market strategy.

UAE-based startup Bundle has raised $5.5 million in pre-seed funding to develop a rewards platform designed to help businesses improve customer engagement without relying heavily on discounts or cashback.

The round was led by Ethereal Ventures and Further, with participation from Nascent, GSR, Scenius Capital, Anchorage Digital, and Nuwa Capital. Founded by Bader Al Kalooti and Mostafa Wanas, Bundle plans to use the funding to expand its platform into additional international markets and accelerate product development.

Turning Individual Rewards Into Shared Incentives

Bundle’s approach is based on pooling rewards budgets from multiple businesses. Instead of each company funding its own incentives independently, participating brands contribute to shared reward pools that can support larger prizes.

Customers engaging with participating businesses can then access these rewards, while the participating companies share the cost. Bundle believes this model could give smaller businesses access to incentives that would otherwise be difficult to fund individually.

The concept is designed as an alternative to traditional discounting, which can reduce margins without necessarily creating lasting customer loyalty. Bundle aims to use larger, shared rewards to create stronger incentives for customers while helping businesses manage acquisition costs.

Scaling a Networked Rewards Model

Bundle has already tested the concept through a pilot across five markets. During the trial, the company distributed $100,000 in rewards to more than 1,100 winners, including a $50,000 top prize.

The platform is initially launching in Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with more than 50 brands already participating. Its next challenge will be expanding the network while demonstrating that a larger pool of participating businesses creates greater value for both brands and customers.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

Bundle’s model highlights how startups can rethink established approaches to customer acquisition. Key lessons include:

• Shared infrastructure can help smaller businesses compete with larger companies.
  
  
• Customer incentives need to create value without putting excessive pressure on margins.
  
  
• Network effects can become a powerful growth driver when value increases as participation expands.

As customer acquisition becomes increasingly competitive, fintech and commerce startups need innovative ways to create sustainable value. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can help develop your growth and market strategy.

Chime is adjusting its organisational structure with a workforce reduction of around 10% as the digital banking company looks to improve efficiency through artificial intelligence and new operating models. The changes will impact approximately 150 employees from a workforce of about 1,500 people.

The restructuring comes as financial technology companies increasingly explore how AI can support productivity improvements, streamline internal processes, and help teams operate more effectively in a highly competitive market.

A New Operating Model for a Digital Banking Leader

According to Chime CEO and co-founder Chris Britt, AI is changing how companies organise work and creating opportunities for smaller teams to deliver results faster. The company plans to introduce a flatter structure, reducing complexity in some areas while building new capabilities where additional investment is needed.

Following its public market debut in 2025, Chime is focusing on balancing continued expansion with stronger operational efficiency. The company has grown by challenging traditional banking models through digital-first services, user-friendly experiences, and a focus on accessible financial products.

AI Becomes a Strategic Priority Across Financial Services

Chime’s workforce changes reflect a wider shift across the financial sector, where companies are evaluating how AI can transform operations and support future growth. Payment and financial services firms are increasingly integrating AI into their businesses as they look for ways to improve efficiency and adapt to changing customer expectations.

For fintech companies, the transition is not only about adopting new technology but also about developing the right organisational structures, skills, and processes to use AI effectively.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

AI adoption is reshaping how fintech companies approach growth and operations. Key lessons include:

• Technology investments need to be matched with organisational strategy.
  
  
• Building AI capabilities requires new skills and adaptable teams.
  
  
• Operational efficiency is becoming a key factor in long-term fintech competitiveness.

As AI continues to influence the future of financial services, fintech companies need clear strategies to adapt and scale. Contact us to explore how Your Fintech Story can help support your growth, positioning, and market strategy.

Onyx has raised $113 million in Series B funding to accelerate the development of its Secure AI Control Plane, a platform designed to help enterprises govern AI agents as they become increasingly embedded in business operations. The funding round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Cyberstarts, TCV, Conviction, FirstMark, Vintage Investment Partners, QuantumLight, and G Squared.

The investment will support Onyx’s mission of enabling organisations to maintain oversight of AI systems while allowing businesses to adopt autonomous technologies with confidence.

Building Governance for the Next Generation of AI

As AI agents become capable of performing more complex tasks across enterprise environments, the need for effective governance continues to grow. Onyx’s Secure AI Control Plane is designed to discover AI agents operating across browsers, endpoints, SaaS applications, and cloud environments while inspecting their actions before they are executed.

Rather than slowing AI adoption, the platform aims to provide enterprises with the visibility and control needed to deploy autonomous systems responsibly. According to the company, its technology already secures more than 1.1 million AI agents and monitors over 66 million AI sessions in real time across its enterprise customer base.

Addressing Risk in Critical Industries

Onyx sees its technology as particularly important for industries where AI-driven decisions can have significant real-world consequences. Sectors including financial services, healthcare, and energy increasingly rely on AI to support operational decisions, making governance an essential part of enterprise AI strategies.

The company believes that as organisations expand the use of AI agents, maintaining human oversight will become just as important as improving AI capabilities. The latest funding will help Onyx continue developing solutions that allow businesses to adopt advanced AI while reducing operational and governance risks.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

As AI adoption accelerates across regulated industries, governance is becoming a competitive advantage. Key lessons include:

• AI innovation must be supported by strong governance and oversight.
  
  
• Enterprise customers increasingly value security and compliance alongside AI capabilities.
  
  
• Solutions that integrate with existing business environments can help accelerate enterprise adoption.

As AI reshapes financial services and other regulated industries, building trusted technology requires both innovation and strategy. Contact us to discover how Your Fintech Story can help position your fintech for sustainable growth.