Foreword’s Post

Latam based #fintech Yuno closes a round at the valuation of $150 million. #Yuno, a two-year-old startup specializing in payments orchestration, skyrockets to a staggering $150M valuation. This significant milestone is supported by a robust investment from prestigious backers such as DST Global Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global Management, KASZEK Ventures, and monashees. Originating from Latin America, Yuno is redefining the global payments landscape. Traditionally, multinational companies juggled numerous payment providers, acquirers, and banks to meet their global transaction needs. Yuno offers a transformative solution by integrating over 300 payment methods along with advanced features like fraud detection, one-click checkout, and smart routing technology into a single orchestration layer. This innovation simplifies payment processes, enhancing efficiency and security. The importance of Yuno's offering is underscored by its impressive client roster, including giants like McDonald's, Rappi, avianca, and inDrive, showcasing its capability to manage transactions across over 40 countries. This development highlights the growing recognition and demand for payment orchestration solutions, particularly in markets like Latin America, where cross-border transactions face unique challenges such as currency conversion and non-credit card payments. Yuno's latest funding round, led by DST Global Partners with a $25 million Series A investment, will fuel its expansion into Asia, Europe, and Africa. It also signifies the company's commitment to enhancing its platform and extending its global footprint, with operational bases in New York and Singapore poised for growth. As Yuno, founded by Julián Núñez and Juan Pablo Ortega, embarks on this next phase, it stands out for its focus on serving large enterprises, a niche that sets it apart from competitors primarily targeting small and medium businesses. With over 150 integrations worldwide, Yuno is set to become one of the main player in the global payments orchestration market—projected to reach nearly $7 billion by 2032—but a leading innovator driving change. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

📢 Calling all #Fintechs and #Startups! Join the 5th edition of the Worldline #ePaymentsChallenge and help shape the future of #digital #payments 🌐. This year's hybrid journey offers even greater rewards for the winners 🥇. Learn more about the competition and register today 👉 https://lnkd.in/dmp4TJAY

"Are you not worried about someone copying or developing your solutions?" - is a question we get asked frequently when we speak at so many events- from the Merchant Payments Ecosystem to Aviation Festival Americas. The short answer is no. The more companies that we see embracing split payments, the better. We are ready to meet that increased demand for value-added services at checkout in the aviation industry and beyond- however it takes off (pun intended). It's so important to keep sharing ideas in the Paytech space, creating a lasting impact of innovation and shared knowledge- so we'll be seeing you all around 👀 #Fintech #Paytech #Payments #paymentsolutions #networking #startup #events #speech #publicspeaking

In the past few years, funding to the #fintech sector has increased significantly. This is due to Indonesia’s fintech sector undergoing dynamic evolution over the past years. We have witnessed the beginning of the journey; nurturing pioneers like Xendit, Moka (acquired by Gojek), and Kudo (acquired by Grab). In this edition of Investment Insights, we are excited to share the #milestones of Indonesia’s fintech landscape with you. Learn the insights from our Principal, Yoshi Okubo, and Investment Professional, Gavin Adrian at https://lnkd.in/gBbrkp9N JULO Traveloka ShopBack KoinWorks Hijra Jack Komunal Indonesia Stockbit Bibit.id Fuse #EastVentures #InvestmentInsights #fintechstartup #fintechdevelopment

The Evolution of Grab - From Ride Hailing Pioneer to FinTech Powerhouse In a fascinating conversation at the Singapore FinTech Festival, Kell Jay Lim, Regional Head of GrabFin, shared his insights on the growth and transformation of Grab, a company that has become synonymous with innovation in Southeast Asia. Here are five critical insights drawn from our discussion revealing the journey of Grab from a ride-hailing service to a multifaceted digital platform. 1. The Power of Adaptation and Expansion Kell Jay Lim recounted how Grab evolved from its origins as a taxi booking app into a diverse digital platform offering food deliveries, grocery deliveries, and financial services. This trajectory highlights the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing environment. The decision to expand into food delivery, after acquiring Uber's business in Southeast Asia, was a pivotal moment. 2. Technological Self-Reliance: Building Custom Solutions A significant milestone for Grab was developing its mapping system, a move driven by the desire for a product tailored to regional needs. Lim's discussion about this strategic shift underscores how companies can gain from creating in-house solutions that cater to unique operational requirements. This move improved service efficiency, emphasizing the importance of technological self-reliance and innovation. 3. Financial Inclusion as a Mission Grab's journey into financial services wasn't just a business expansion; it was a step toward fulfilling its mission of empowering everyday entrepreneurs. Lim highlighted the financial struggles of drivers and small merchants who often find themselves excluded from traditional banking services. GrabFin's focus on providing accessible financial products, including loans and insurance, to this underserved demographic illustrates a commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity. 4. Building a Super App: A Seamless Ecosystem The evolution of Grab into a 'super app' allowed Lim to explain how integrating payment solutions like GrabPay improved user experience and opened doors to further financial services. This integration not only offers convenience to users but also cements customer loyalty and engagement, showcasing the benefits of a seamless, multifunctional digital ecosystem. 5. Future-Forward Thinking: Digital Banking and Beyond Lim discussed the launch of digital banks in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This strategic move illustrates Grab's forward-thinking approach, where leveraging the power of their platform and understanding their customer base's needs allows them to compete effectively in the digital banking space. It also highlights how companies can use their strengths to diversify into new, yet complementary, business areas. #innovation #technology #SouthEastAsia #FinTech #insurance Judy Tan Martin Ronfort Gabriel Lazaro Isabella Carvalho Petrina Ong Victoria Ho Karyn Faggello Juliana Lim Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/g4BREp9r

bunq's strategic surge: pioneering #AI and global expansion forge path to #IPO readiness! At the 'bunq update 24' event, CEO Ali Niknam revealed the remarkable success story of #Bunq, Europe's pioneering AI-powered #neobank. 🔸 Impressive milestones: Bunq has achieved a groundbreaking milestone of 11 million users and a staggering 55% increase in user deposits to €7 billion since July 2023. This highlights not only significant market traction but also the unwavering trust of consumers in the neobank's innovative approach. 🔸 Financial triumph: With a Q4 2022 profit of €2.3 million and a remarkable revenue surge to €99 million in 2022 (up from €42 million in 2021), Bunq is on a financial upswing. Recent capital infusions totaling €43 million in 2023 and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 118% in revenue further solidify Bunq's profitability and investment appeal. 🔸 Innovative Offerings: Bunq's strategic product launches, including Apple's Tap to Pay and the "bunq Payday" feature, showcase the neobank's commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions. The distribution of €50 million through "bunq Payday" underscores Bunq's customer-centric focus and the popularity of its features. 🔸 Global expansion: Bunq's acquisitions of Capitalflow and Tricount have significantly bolstered its growth narrative. Capitalflow's strength in business lending expanded Bunq's financial product offerings, while Tricount's user-friendly app added 5.4 million users, making Bunq the EU's second-largest neobank. 🔸 Bold move to the USA: In a strategic move, Bunq is set to conquer the US market, diversifying its revenue streams and enhancing its global presence. The pursuit of a US national charter signals Bunq's ambition to offer full #BankingServices, creating a seamless experience for expats and digital nomads facing challenges in the US. 🔸 Visionary global neo-bank: Bunq's vision is to become the premier global neobank for digital nomads and location-independent users. The commitment to strategic expansion aligns with this vision, strengthening Bunq's global positioning, customer convenience, and financial prowess. 🔸 IPO readiness: Despite the intricacies of US regulatory requirements, Bunq's confidence in its business model and international scaling capabilities remains unshaken. These strategic moves position Bunq advantageously for a potential IPO, showcasing proactive growth management and the ability to execute international expansion plans. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/dW7dv5_R 👉🏻 Get ready for an exhilarating experience as we gear up for our inaugural release of 2024! Brace yourself for an in-depth exploration into the world of Bunq. #DigitalBanking #FinanceTrends #BankingStrategy #FintechEvolution #FinanceInsights #BankingRevolution #DigitalTransformation #BankingInnovation #Finance #Banking #FinancialServices #Fintech #BankingNews #TechInFinance #FinancialNews #FinancialServices

Given the fragmentation that characterizes many parts of Asia Pacific’s fintech sector, consolidation could improve the competitive environment, reducing the need to heavily subsidize customers and allowing firms to invest more in research and development as well as improving the customer experience. Yet across the region, from the most affluent economies to those that are still developing, big-ticket M&A transactions remain few and far between. In the past five years, there have only been a handful, such as the 2020 merger of Gojek and Tokopedia, the National Bank of Australia’s acquisition of the Aussie neobank 86 400 in 2021 and Square’s purchase of Afterpay in 2021. #fintech #consolidation https://hubs.li/Q02tVDDT0