HSBC

JSP Safety

Mastercard

Anthos Capital

SBI Investment

Democratizing financial technology with a suite of API-based solutions

FinTech Infrastructure

Episode Six

Platforms that allow FinTechs to integrate banking services such as opening and maintaining accounts, facilitating card payments, etc.


Coastfields Leisure

Hoban Waste Management

Goldman Sachs

Deutsche Bank

Intel Capital

Wells Fargo

JPMorgan Partners

Citi

Nyca Partners

Providing AI-driven market intelligence and workflow automation to give firms an edge

Capital Markets Tech

Axoni

Companies that use blockchain technology to share and synchronize data and improve efficiency across the trading workflow and post-trade actions such as clearing and settlement.

CRiF

Santander Bank

we.trade

MioTech

Bain Capital Ventures

Barclays Investment Bank

JP Morgan

Pivot Investment Partners

DRW Venture Capital

Wells Fargo Strategic Capital

SC Ventures

OpenFin

Just Peel

Raisco

Rumble Gym

Welbeck Publishing Group

National Australia Bank (NAB)

Barclays Corporate Banking

Ensuring the right people access the right resources at the right time

Identity & Access Management

BioCatch

Platforms that manage and secure the digital identities and access rights of customers or users across various applications, services, and resources of an organization

Timeline Television

BusinessMobiles.com

BNP Paribas

Superdry

Cleankill

Dawn Capital

Evolution Equity Partners

ABN AMRO Ventures

AlbionVC

British Patient Capital

Accenture Ventures

Quantexa

Platforms that help companies meet anti-money laundering requirements and provide identity verification tools such as KYC checks.

Societe Generale

Standard Chartered Bank

Crédit Agricole

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

بنك المؤامرات

First Abu Dhabi Bank

MUFG Bank

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company

Naylor Industries

CIT Group

Rabobank

Keybank

Nomura

8minute Solar Energy

Global Net Lease

Vickers Venture Partners

Dymon Asia Capital

Integra Partners

Jubilee Capital Management

OSK Ventures International

FengHe Group

Spark Systems

State Street Corporation

Citi Ventures

Computershare

BNY Mellon

Clearstream

Proxymity

Neosfer

The FinLab

Illuminate Financial

ING Ventures

TransFICC

Platforms that help institutions such as asset managers, investment banks, and hedge funds to develop platforms to trade and operate brokerage services for various financial assets and instruments such as stocks, fixed income securities, derivatives, commodities, and foreign currencies.

Proactis

Emma Bridgewater

Goodordering

Bain & Company

Bangkok Bank

CTBC Bank

CryptoBLK

Contour

TDQ Steaks

COOK

HSBC Private Equity (Asia)

Sundaram Mutual Fund

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund

Axis Mutual Fund

SBI Mutual Fund

OMERS Capital Partners

Aditya Birla Sunlife Mutual Fund

Ashoka India Opportunities Fund

CSB Bank

A Perry

Motormax

Top Medical Clinic

Espresso Capital

Comerica Bank’s Technology

Round13 Capital

Sourced Group

Muntons

SockMonkey Studios

Highland Spring

Sutter Hill Ventures

General Catalyst

JP Morgan Chase

OUP (Osage University Partners)

American Express Ventures

Engineering Capital

J.P. Morgan Asset Management

AI-based solutions for evolving digital threats

Next-gen Cybersecurity

Menlo Security

Companies that provide platforms and technologies to protect enterprise data and infrastructure in the cloud from internal and external threats.

Kicki Andersson Invest Limited

Abcam

Singtel Innov8

Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia

Telkom Indonesia

Openspace

MDI Ventures

B Capital

EDBI

Heritas Venture Fund

Muang Thai Fuchsia Ventures

Humanica

CXA Group

Springfield Solutions

Transamerica Ventures

Mouro Capital

Digital Currency Group

London Stock Exchange Group

Middlegame Ventures

Nivaura

Investec

Banco Sabadell

Outward VC

InnoCells

9Yards Capital

Business Growth Fund

RED Industries

Tommies Childcare

<div>
 
 TransFICC is an e-trading technology company providing low latency connectivity for banks and asset managers trading in Fixed Income and Derivatives markets. The company resolves the significant problem of fragmentation in the fixed income and derivatives markets. It does three things such as translates Execution Venue API’s to a single API. Clients connect once to TransFICC's unified API, and TransFICC manages connectivity with the electronic venues from that point, uses low-latency, scalable and secure technology, essential to keep pace with price updates and not get beaten to trade by high-frequency trading firms, and provides timestamps for price and order messages. Measured in microseconds, timestamps record when data arrives at the bank or asset manager, helping to provide an audit trail, which supports Best Execution. TransFICC makes it easier to upgrade when venues change their application programming interfaces, compared with the enterprise systems of legacy firms, the firm claims. It also focuses solely on the business of providing market access. TransFICC was founded in 2016 and is based in London, England, United Kingdom.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 R3 is a financial innovation firm that focuses on designing and deploying DLT to build a new operating system for financial services. The firm provides the three requirements needed for direct digital collaboration: trust technology for multi-party applications, connected networks and ecosystems, and regulated markets expertise. This is said to deliver trust and secure exchange between parties. R3&rsquo;s enterprise technology and services enable direct digital collaboration in regulated industries where trust is critical. The platform is centered around leveraging the company&rsquo;s multi-party app development platforms, Corda and Conclave.
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Quantexa is a global data and analytics software company pioneering contextual decision intelligence.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Axoni is a technology firm that works with multiparty workflows and infrastructure that can automate synchronization of information and processes across capital markets. It provides core data infrastructure application creation and automation tools. The company&rsquo;s platform is an underlying framework that can connect with enterprise systems. It contains AxCore, a distributed ledger technology that regulates data between institutions. Axoni offers services such as high throughput, perpetual reconciliation, data privacy, lifecycle management, full-stack software solutions, modular architecture, and regulatory reporting.
 
 
 
</div>

Making banking work, without the paperwork

Neobanks

Merchant Money provides digital lending services such as secured and unsecured loans, bridging loans, and business cash advances, to SMEs in the UK. To be eligible for funding, businesses need to have been actively trading for at least 24 months with an average annual turnover of GBP 200,000. The company claims to provide a decision within 24 hours.The company offers tenors from 6 to 60 months for its secured and unsecured loans with amounts ranging from GBP 50,000 to GBP 250,000 for the former and GBP 50,000 to 750,000 for the latter. Both are at variable interest rates. The company also offers secured loans on tenanted properties for a period of up to two years at variable and fixed rates, bridging loan facilities, and cash advances for businesses.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnered with the British Business Bank as an authorized Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) provider. Through this scheme, Merchant Money can provide government-backed loan schemes for businesses ranging from GBP 10 million for individual businesses and up to GBP 30 million across a group.Funding and FinancialsIn February 2023, the company raised <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16305">GBP 115 million (~USD 139 million) in a funding round </a>led by Barclays Bank PLC and Quilam Capital. The funds were to be used to expand the company's loan books across its secured and unsecured business loans.

Brazil-based Nubank offers banking products and services via a web portal and a mobile app, with the application process being done entirely online. The company serves both B2C and B2B segments and operates in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.The company initially entered the neobanking space in 2014 by offering credit cards and focused on providing it at low interest rates, compared to established banks. Since then, the company has grown to offer the full spectrum of banking services, which includes checking accounts, debit cards (with ATM access), credit cards (with credit limits as low as USD 10 per month), and loans, following the receipt of its own banking license in Brazil in 2017. Checking accounts and debit cards are offered free of charge, and the company therefore solely generates income from these accounts from ATM and interchange fees.In addition to its banking products, the company also offers life and mobile insurance products and Peer to Peer (P2P) payment options via Pix (a payment platform introduced by Brazil’s Central Bank). The company also offers in-app shopping at retailers such as AliExpress, Dafiti, and Magalu, as well as a rewards program that enables customers to earn and redeem points at selected merchants.Nubank also provides a trading app–NuInvest–through which its Brazilian customers can trade stocks and cryptocurrency, with the company charging ~0.02% per transaction. In addition, it launched its loyalty program, backed by its native cryptocurrency Nucoin, to customers in Brazil <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16847">in March 2023 </a>. Members will receive a fixed amount of Nucoins for every BRL spent with their debit or credit card as well as on any cryptocurrency purchases through its app. The Nucoins can be converted into cash or frozen and used to advance in the loyalty program and gain access to future incentives such as coinback rewards and lottery tickets. Moreover, Nubank was selected by the Central Bank of Brazil in August 2023, to <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21164">test Drex </a>, a central bank digital currency (CBDC); the pilot phase is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.The company has also expanded its footprint to Mexico and Colombia. In Mexico, it provides both credit cards and savings accounts, however in Colombia, it only offers credit cards. It also had plans to launch digital checking accounts in Colombia by the end of 2023 after it received the Colombian banking license in August 2022.Key customers and partnerships As of February 2024, the company served more than 90 million customers, with the majority located in Brazil.The company partnered with Brazilian lending platform Creditas ( <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/5565">in September 2021 </a>) to allow its customers gain access to the latter’s platform to obtain loans, and EBANX (in July 2023) to launch a new alternative payment service for international purchases called NuPay. In addition, it collaborated with insurance provider Chubb to offer <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19597">life </a>and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20948">home </a>insurance offerings on its platform.Funding and financialsIn December 2021, Nubank was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading symbol NJ, raising nearly USD 2.6 billion, at a valuation of USD 41.5 billion, making it the most valuable listed financial institution in South America. The fresh funds were expected to be funneled into Nubank’s expansion into Mexico and Colombia.In addition, it secured a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15777">three year USD 150 million loan </a>from the International Finance Corp (the private lending arm of the World Bank) in January 2023, to expand its operations and improve access to financial services in Colombia.For the full year 2022, the company generated a total revenue of USD 4.8 billion (up 182.2% YoY), while it incurred net losses of USD 364.6 million.

Travel Tech

<div>
 
 Blueground is a vacation rental company that provides a selection of premium homes in popular neighborhoods globally, available for stays of one month or longer. Its tech-enabled platform offers a fully digital experience, complete with customer support and various services such as apartment cleanings, grocery delivery, and wellness offerings. The company caters to both short- and long-term rentals, and its apartments can serve as alternatives to traditional student housing, with options available for foreigners and expats in some countries.
 
 
 The company has a portfolio of thousands of apartments across 31 cities worldwide, including major cities in the US, UK, France, Italy, Greece, and Dubai. All Blueground listings are fully furnished by the company's design team, eliminating the need for renters to purchase, transport, or sell furniture. Each apartment is equipped with digital and connected infrastructure, enabling tenants to manage their apartment and arrange services through Blueground&rsquo;s mobile app.
 
 
 Blueground collaborates with major property owners to secure long-term leases for units, which it then furnishes and rents out on more flexible terms. Rental periods can range from one month to five years, with rates set on a monthly basis, often resulting in more favorable prices for medium- to long-term stays compared to short-term pricing structures. The company's streamlined booking process allows renters to secure an apartment without the hassles associated with traditional rental procedures. Furthermore, tenants have the flexibility to switch to any other Blueground listing during their rental period, allowing them to adjust their preferences or explore different locations.
 
 
 The company generates revenue through rental income; a majority of the company&rsquo;s monthly rentals in the US are priced between ~USD 47,000&ndash;122,000.
 
 
 Blueground has expanded its global presence and offerings through three strategic acquisitions. In June 2023, it acquired Nestpick to build a network of third-party furnished apartment providers, aiming to add 50,000 units by 2024. The acquisition of US-based Travelers Haven in February 2023 bolstered its workforce and was projected to increase its 2023 revenue to USD 600 million, enhancing its corporate service, Blueground for Business. The 2022 acquisition of Brazilian startup Tabas enabled Blueground's entry into the Latin American market, meeting the region's growing demand for furnished, flexible rentals. These acquisitions align with Blueground's goal to expand its presence to 50 cities by 2025.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 For 2022, the company recorded 33,500 guest stays and a 93% global occupancy rate across its rentals. Overall, the company had over 5,500 apartments under its portfolio as of January 2022.
 
 
 In August 2022, Blueground partnered with Laundryheap to provide laundry and dry-cleaning services for guests residing in Blueground apartments in select cities. In March 2020, the company partnered with luggage storage startup Stasher to use its global network to provide executives with an option to leave their luggage in a safe place before checking in.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In September 2021, Blueground raised USD 180 million in a Series C funding round led by WestCap. In addition, Blueground raised a USD 40 million debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank. 
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27991">
 March 2024
 </a>
 , the company raised USD 45 million in a Series D round led by Susquehanna Private Equity Investments. Funds&nbsp; were earmarked to expand into new markets and to make substantial technology investments. Further, the company is also eyeing a potential initial public offering (IPO). 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Paris-based BlaBlaCar operates a carpooling service that matches drivers with excess seating to passengers in need of a ride, typically over a distance of 300 km (~186 miles). Riders can search for their desired trip and pay the driver in cash once the ride is complete, while drivers receive bookings by posting their journey details, vehicle information, and the per-rider cost. The per-ride cost is capped by BlaBlaCar on the trip cost to prevent car owners from making a profit. It also offers a carpooling marketplace for daily commutes between users&rsquo; homes and workplaces, called BlaBlaLines.
 
 
 BlaBlaCar generates revenue through transaction fees, equaling 10&ndash;12% of the total ride cost. BlaBlaCar claims to be the world's leading community-based travel network, with more than 100 million members across 22 markets (January 2023).
 
 
 BlaBlaCar has made more than 10 acquisitions to bolster its carpooling offering, with the most notable acquisitions including that of French carpooling providers, Carpooling.com (2015) and Less (April 2018), and Russian provider, BeepCar (August 2018). BlaBlaCar ventured into bus rides by launching BlaBlaBus following the acquisition of Ouibus, the bus division of France&rsquo;s national railway company, SNCF, in November 2018. Other acquisitions include bus-ticketing platforms, Octobus (April 2021) and Busfor (September 2019).
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In September 2021, BlaBlaCar teamed up with Swiss Re and L'olivier Assurance, a French motor insurance expert under Admiral Group, to launch BlaBlaCar Coach, which is a smartphone app that provides drivers with customized guidance and advice for safer driving and comes with an annual car insurance policy. Other partners include French multinational insurance company, AXA, and scooter startup, Voi.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28108">
 April 2024
 </a>
 , BlaBlaCar gained a EUR 100 million (~USD 108 million) revolving credit facility with several major banks based in France, the UK, and US. The funds were allocated for company expansion with emphasis on acquiring smaller companies with funding difficulties.&nbsp;
 
 
 Other notable funding rounds included the company&rsquo;s&nbsp; EUR 95.7 million (~USD 115 million) funding round in April 2021, which came at a valuation of USD 2 billion.
 
 
 
 
 
</div>

Bringing the benefits of blockchain to the enterprise

Enterprise Blockchain Solutions

<div>
 
 ConsenSys offers a suite of blockchain solutions that include 1) Diligence (smart contracts) 2) Infura (provides API access to the web 3) MetaMask (a Web3 mobile wallet) 4) Quorum (blockchain for business), and 5) Truffle (developer tools and testing). These solutions make it easier for businesses and developers to build blockchain-based solutions functioning on the Ethereum network.&nbsp;
 
 
 Consensys Quorum is an open-source blockchain platform that is designed for enterprise environments. It was initially developed by J.P. Morgan and later acquired by ConsenSys. Quorum is built upon Ethereum, inheriting its architecture and smart contract functionality, additionally including enhancements specific for enterprise use. Notably, Quorum supports private and permissioned blockchain networks. Quorum also introduces private transactions and private contracts that are not visible to the entire network but only to the parties involved.
 
 
 ConsenSys&rsquo; product suite also includes Decentralized Finance (DeFi) solutions for institutions and crypto enterprises, support for customers to build their own DeFi application, and support in running staking operations for customers. Furthermore, the company offers support for the creation and management of NFTs and digital collectibles using the ConsenSys NFT solution and powering decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) across various uses such as customer care and education.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company had over 2,000 global clients and partners as of May 2023, with its key client base including Microsoft, Ernst &amp; Young, and Proctor &amp; Gamble.&nbsp;
 
 
 ConsenSys has aggressively pursued collaborations and partnerships to support the adoption of its product suite for various uses. This includes a launch of a marketplace for institutional staking in March 2023, in partnership with Allnodes, Blockdaemon, and Kiln, built upon the MetaMask wallet. Another example is the launch of Sports Illustrated Tickets (SI Tickets) in May 2023, in partnership with Sports Illustrated and built by ConsenSys as a self-service ticketing and event management solution. Amazon Web Services is also a key product partner, specifically supporting ConsenSys&rsquo; Ethereum-based solutions.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In March 2022, ConsenSys raised USD 450 million in Series D funding at a valuation of over USD 7 billion. The round was led by ParaFi Capital and supported by new investors such as Temasek and Softbank. The funds were to be primarily used for the expansion of MetaMask, including a re-design and planned rollout of support for extensions. Additionally, the funds were aimed at supporting the global customer growth of the Infura development suite.
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 R3 is a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) company that offers a permissioned, distributed application platform (Corda) that can be used across traditional financial services applications. The platform is able to integrate with existing enterprise solutions and offers features such as digital identity management, digital notarization, and network mapping with use cases across digital asset marketplaces, cross-border transaction solutions, tokenized loans and security solutions, and digital smart bonds.&nbsp;
 
 
 R3 offers digital applications to corporations to improve traceability, digitize assets, and improve how payments are made. Companies also have access to various business networks and existing payment systems on Corda. Additionally, corporates are able to build their own solutions on the platform, with support from R3 in terms of the development and management of corporate applications.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 R3 was initially formed by a consortium of nine banks, which increased to over 60 partners in the first year since inception. As a result, the company is able to collaborate and work together with financial services companies to support the adoption of Corda across the ecosystem. Some key partners that have worked with R3 on potential use cases include HSBC, Nasdaq, MUFG, and Vodafone.&nbsp;
 
 
 Additionally, the company offers multiple partnership programs for startups and disruptors that seek to use the Corda network, including the Partner Program and the R3 Development Fund.
 
 
 In December 2023, the company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24919">
 partnered with RYVYL
 </a>
 , a blockchain-based payments infrastructure platform, to develop and launch a novel BaaS solution, RYVYL Block. This joint solution offers relevant tools and building blocks required for businesses to develop secure distributed ledger infrastructure and integrate blockchain technology into existing business frameworks, specifically in areas such as banking and high-volume data processing.
 
 
 
</div>

From fast food to fine dining, everything but the kitchen sink is suddenly just a tap away.

Online Food Delivery

<div>
 
 Gousto is a subscription-based recipe kit startup based in the UK. Customers have the option to select from two-person or family box options, with a choice between two and four recipes that may price a serving between USD 3.80 to USD 7.90. Gousto has a range of recipes catering to different customer preferences such as vegetarian, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, DIY pizza bases, lean in 15, healthy choice, 10-minute meals as well as oven-ready options.&nbsp;
 
 
 Gousto 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8713">
 raised USD 230 million
 </a>
 in February 2022. The round followed an infusion of 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7648">
 USD 150 million
 </a>
 in January 2022. Both rounds were led by Softbank&rsquo;s Vision Fund 2. The company intended to use the funds to double its tech team by the end of 2022.
 
 
 The company reported revenue growth of 67% YoY to GBP 315 million (~USD 393.8 million) in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10005">
 FY2021.
 </a>
 Gousto reported that it had sold 90 million+ meals in 2021 compared to 53 million meals the previous year. EBITDA was up 10% YoY to&nbsp; GBP 20 million (~USD 25 million) in FY2021, while net cash from operations reported growth of 136% YoY to GBP 37 million (~USD 46.3 million).&nbsp;
 
 
 
</div>

Quantum information processing is slowly becoming a reality, ushering in a new technological era.

Quantum Computing

<div>
 
 Classiq offers programmers a platform to develop quantum algorithms incorporating automation and synthesis technology, which enables the automatic translation of human ideas into quantum circuits. This will allow programmers to focus on high-level creative coding instead of spending long hours on the low-end gate-level coding.
 
 
 Founded in 2020, Classiq is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. The quantum software startup raised USD 10.5 million in Series A funding in January 2021 bringing the company&rsquo;s total funds raised to USD 14.5 million. The company plans to use the proceeds to grow the team, specifically adding more software engineers with expertise in physics. 
 
 
 
</div>

New technology allows individuals and organizations to become carbon intelligent

Carbon Management Software

Greenly is a French carbon management startup particularly focused on SME customers. The company provides automated carbon accounting, AI-powered analytics, and a recommendation engine to reduce CO2 emissions. Greenly’s API uses businesses’ reporting process to get more granular data, which is then used to generate a carbon report according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards. In October 2023, Greenly launched its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22998">Climate Rating System</a> that assesses company performance in areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, climate strategy, and environmental initiatives to generate a Climate Score.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has integrated its mobile application for tracking carbon footprint in banking transactions into banks such as BNP Paribas, Tink, and Pixipay. In March 2023, Greenly partnered with <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006017/en/MetricStream-Partners-with-Greenly-to-Enable-Customers-to-Accelerate-ESG-and-Sustainability-Program">MetricStream</a> to include carbon accounting in the latter’s ESG disclosure reports. In October 2023, the company joined with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22818">Carbonfuture</a> to provide durable carbon removal credits to its customers. On the heels of this partnership, Greenly became a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=49">Xero App Partner</a> to integrate carbon accounting for Xero subscribers. As of February 2024, Greenly products were used by over 1500 companies, and the company had tracked more than 28 million tons of CO2 emissions.Funding and financialsThe company’s most recent funding was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27816">March 2024</a>, when it raised EUR 48 million (USD 52 million) in a Series B funding round led by Fidelity International Strategic Ventures. In <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/21/greenly-helps-you-measure-your-carbon-emissions-from-a-modern-dashboard/">April 2022</a>, the company raised EUR 21.27 million (~USD 23 million) in a Series A round co-led by Energy Impact Partners and XAnge investment fund to scale operations and teams across the US and Europe.In <a href="https://siliconcanals.com/crowdfunding/greenly-raises-2-53m/">September 2021</a>, Greenly raised EUR 2.53 million (~USD 3 million) in a funding round led by French Partners VC fund, BPI (French Tech Investment arm), Alexandre Prot, Bertrand Jelensperger, and Thibault Lanthier. The funds were used for the development of its B2B SaaS software.

Menlo Security offers cloud security products including a secure enterprise browser and AI-powered threat blocker as well as data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities, phishing protection, and email security. The company’s technology focuses on isolating web content and executing it in the cloud, ensuring only safe data reaches devices.The company had 270 employees in 2020, having added 70 staff in that year.Key customers and partnershipsMenlo serves customers across the financial services, healthcare, and government sectors, including JP Morgan Chase &amp; Co, HSBC, Singapore Airlines, AON, Hamilton Medical, and Japan Post Holdings. The company reportedly also serves a number of Global 2000 and Fortune 500 firms.As of February 2024, Menlo had partnered with VMware, Splunk, and Fujitsu.&nbsp;Funding and financialsIn November 2020, the company raised USD 100 million in Series E funding, at a valuation of USD 800 million. The round was led by Vista Equity Partners, and the company expected to use the funding to accelerate go-to-market initiatives and expand the company’s product organization. The company also reported an increase in sales of 155% YoY with its average deal value doubling YoY.

<div>
 
 Episode Six offers a digital ledger and payment processing infrastructure for banks and merchants to build new solutions or modernize their legacy infrastructure. Payment processing solutions include infrastructure to issue and manage physical and virtual cards (prepaid, debit, and credit) and digital wallets, with features such as interest accrual, repayment processing, and amortization schedules.&nbsp;
 
 
 Its payment infrastructure reportedly supports currencies, languages, and regulatory requirements across the globe, thereby supporting multinational business operations. Episode Six reportedly operates in 38 countries (as of May 2023), with teams in the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia, among others.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company expanded its platform in September 2023, by launching a &ldquo;business now, pay later&rdquo; solution for commercial banks to meet working capital needs of small and medium-sizes enterprises (SMEs), through tailored installment offerings.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customer and partnerships
 
 
 In April 2024, Episode Six 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28529">
 partnered with
 </a>
 Saudi Arabia-based Loop, an e-money institution, to expand product reach across Saudi Arabia. In February 2024, Episode Six was selected to join the 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26668">
 Mastercard Engage Programme
 </a>
 , a program that allows collaborators to accelerate time to market on product innovation to offer installment payment solutions across Europe.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In May 2023, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18872">
 Episode Six raised USD 48 million
 </a>
 in Series C funding, led by Avenir, to invest in scaling its business and driving go-to-market efforts. 
 
</div>

Hydrogen Economy

Lhyfe is a French developer and supplier of green hydrogen solutions for the mobility and industrial sectors.Lhyfe supplies renewable and locally produced hydrogen through its onshore, offshore, or on-site production units. These use renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower to produce green hydrogen via water electrolysis and are delivered through pipelines or in dedicated containers. According to the company, the hydrogen production units are located within a few tens of kilometers of the end user to reduce CO2 emissions and transportation risks.In 2021, in France, the company launched what it claims to be the world’s first industrial green hydrogen production site directly connected to a wind farm, followed by the world’s first offshore green hydrogen pilot platform at sea (known as “Sealhyfe”) in 2022. Its on-site green hydrogen plant in Denmark became operational in 2024. Lhyfe has two other sites in France in the Occitanie (Lhyfe Occitanie) and Brittany (Lhyfe Bretagne) regions which became operational in December 2023.In March 2023, the company made its first investment by acquiring a 49% stake in Flexens, a Finnish developer of renewable and green hydrogen and power-to-x projects, which is expected to spur the commercial deployment and Finland-based projects of both companies.Lhyfe has several other sites under construction throughout Europe, including,1. France: Lhyfe has plans to build plants in Le Cheylas (with a production capacity of two tons per day, by mid-2025) and in Bussy-Saint-Georges (with a production capacity of two tons a day, by 2026).2. Germany: Lhyfe reported plans to build its first large-scale green hydrogen production plant in Baden-Württemberg in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23316">October 2023</a>. The facility, with an installed capacity of 10 MW, is expected to produce up to 4 tonnes of green hydrogen per day and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2024. The company also plans to build a plant in Lubmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with a capacity of 330 tons of green hydrogen per day to be commissioned in 2029, and a plant in Brake, Lower Saxony, with a capacity of 10 MW.3.Spain: In November 2023, the company announced the development of a green hydrogen plant with a capacity to produce 5 tons of green hydrogen per day), for which it received a grant of up to EUR 14 million (USD 15 million) from H2 Pioneros, with production targeted for 2026.4. UK: In February 2024, Lhyfe announced the development of its first UK plant (Lhyfe Wallsend) with an initial capacity of 20 MW, with the support of Shepherd Offshore, a marine and energy services company.Key customers and partnershipsLhyfe operates in 12 European countries including France, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark, with several projects in the pipeline. The company has also entered into several development, supplier, and customer partnerships.In November 2023, Lhyfe reached an agreement with HYmpulsion, a provider of hydrogen refueling stations, to supply several of its sites with green and renewable hydrogen generated at a new production site in Le Cheylas for a period of ten years.In November 2023, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Flexens, and Lhyfe formed a partnership to develop and build an integrated energy island solution to enable large-scale offshore wind and green hydrogen production in Åland, Finland. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25831">January 2024</a>, Lhyfe signed an MoU with the UK's Source Galileo to establish commercial-scale green hydrogen production facilities in the UK and Ireland. A month later, it partnered with SAF+ International Group, a producer of e-SAF (electro sustainable aviation fuel), to produce e-SAF from green and renewable hydrogen at a production site in Le Havre, France, with a commercial launch planned for 2030.Lhyfe has also signed several corporate power purchase agreements such as with EDP Renewables (January 2024), Kallista Energy (October 2023), and VSB Energies Nouvelles (September 2023), to strengthen its European network of renewable electricity supply partners.Funding and financialsLhyfe's latest funding was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25720">December 2023</a>, when the company secured a EUR 28 million (~USD 30.5 million) funding package from several banks, including Crédit Agricole Group, BPCE Group, HSBC, and Crédit Mutuel Océan. Lhyfe intended to use the funds to build and operate additional production units.In May 2022, the company was listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris.

Buy Now, Pay Later

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 Based in the UK, Divido operates an online marketplace connecting lenders, retailers, and payment partners. Divido offers a white-label infrastructure service to retailers so that they can offer BNPL services to their customers at the point of sale. The platform partners with multiple lenders that perform credit decision-making for loan origination and extend credit to consumers. This is in stark contrast to B2C and B2B platforms, which make the credit decisions in-house and partner with one lender to fund loans given out to customers, thus assuming the credit risk.
 
 
 The financing can be applied at the retailer’s checkout both online and in-store. By partnering with multiple lenders, retailers can offer higher acceptance rates and lower fees for installment financing as lenders on the platform compete to provide financing. Divido generates revenue through commissions when retailers use its platform to facilitate BNPL transactions. As of June 2021, the platform had more than 1,000 customers, including BNP Paribas, Nordea, Mercedes-Benz, Lastminute.com, and Lenovo.
 
 
 In October 2019, Divido partnered with BNPL provider Splitit to offer the latter’s payment solutions to Divido’s retail clients as an additional payment option at checkout.
 
 
 In June 2021, Divido raised USD 30 million in a Series B funding round led by HSBC and ING. As of June 2021, the company is available in 10 markets, and its Series B funding is intended to ramp up its international expansion plans.
 
 
 
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Alternative Living

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 Blueground offers short-term and long-term apartment rentals in several cities across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. It's portfolio consists of 9,500 apartments across 27 cities in 15 countries.The company also enables guests to search, book and request for ancillary services such as home clearing via its app.
 
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Riding together toward a sustainable future

Shared Mobility

<div>
 
 BlaBlaCar is the world&sbquo;&Auml;&ocirc;s leading long-distance carpooling community, connecting people looking to travel long distances with drivers going the same way. They travel together and share the costs of the journey. The platform is engineered to create a secure, trust-based community with declared identities and full member profiles. Members can even specify how chatty they are from &sbquo;&Auml;&uacute;Bla&sbquo;&Auml;&ugrave; to &sbquo;&Auml;&uacute;BlaBlaBla&sbquo;&Auml;&ugrave;, hence the name BlaBlaCar. BlaBlaCar is creating a global people-powered network with a trusted community of drivers and passengers. Backed by Accel Partners, Insight Ventures, Index Ventures, Lead Edge Capital, Baring Vostok and ISAI, it operates in 22 countries across Europe, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil and India. The site and free mobile apps provide a range of features to create a secure, trust-based community and easy connections between drivers and passengers. BlaBlaCar is based in Paris with offices across a dozen of countries.
 
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AI, robotics, and IoT to streamline the flow of goods and information

Logistics Tech

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 Huboo is a UK-based ecommerce fulfillment services provider offering services in inventory management, order logistics, warehousing, and shipping. The company caters to various industries including toy and games, tech and electronics, food and beverages, homeware and accessories, sportswear, fashion, etc. Its unique hub model creates micro-warehouses within its larger warehouses to improve efficiency and reduce time spent on picking products.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company operates a network of fulfillment centers across Europe (mainly the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and Germany) and has partnered with courier companies worldwide to provide services globally. The company claimed to have shipped 15 million+ products over the 12 months ending November 2023.
 
 
 The company operates on a volume-based pay-per-use business model. Its standard subscription packages include 1) Silver (GBP 50/USD 60 per month) for dispatching up to 300 orders per month; 2) Gold (GBP 150/USD 185 per month) for dispatching up to 1,500 orders per month; 3) Platinum (GBP 450/USD 560 per month) for dispatching up to 5,000 orders per month; and 4) corporate packages with custom pricing. Services such as express delivery, international shipping, return handling, custom packaging, etc. can also be added.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of November 2023, Haboo served 1,200+ customers including Kuroa, Fibropharma, Kikakinis, Au Vodka, Flare Audio, JS Health, Legless Games, JDE Coffee, Primal Soles, Moving Beans, Coblo, and Azio Beauty.
 
 
 The company has integrations with multiple platforms to ensure a smooth fulfillment process. Such integrations include:
 
 
 1. Platforms and marketplaces: Amazon, eBay, Shopify, BigCommerce, Etsy, TikTok Shop, Bluepark, Magento, Squarespace, Wayfair, Wish, Wix, and WooCommerce
 
 
 2. Inventory, order, and channel management platforms: Brightpearl, Channel Advisor, Channel Engine, Linnworks, Netsuite, Serlo, and ChannelGrabber
 
 
 Its other integrations include customer relationship management (CRM), marketing tools and agencies, and compliance and tax service providers.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24506">
 In November 2023,
 </a>
 Huboo raised GBP 29 million (USD 36.6 million) in funding from existing investors, including Ada Ventures and Maersk to drive profitability.
 
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Sports Tech

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 Minute Media is a media and technology brand focused on two main pillars—platform and content. Minute Media’s platform serves as the company’s foundation, powering its content as well as enabling the evolution of other market-leading digital media brands. To date, Minute Media’s owned and operated destinations include The Players’ Tribune, 90min, DBLTAP, Mental Floss, The Big Lead and FanSided.
 
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