Volume Raises £4.72M to Disrupt Online Payments and Challenge Industry Giants
London-based fintech startup Volume has secured £4.72 million in funding to revolutionize online payments with its account-to-account (A2A) technology. This latest investment round, led by United Ventures with participation from Fabrick and existing investors, will fuel Volume’s expansion across the UK and Europe. The company aims to eliminate the hefty transaction fees charged by traditional payment processors like PayPal and Stripe, which often range from 2% to 8% and significantly impact small and medium-sized businesses. Volume’s A2A solution bypasses card networks entirely, allowing users to pay directly from their bank accounts through a seamless, one-click checkout process. This innovative approach offers merchants a flat-rate pricing model, resulting in substantial cost savings, while consumers benefit from a faster, more secure, and intuitive payment experience. Volume has already processed over $126 million in annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) within just eight months, demonstrating the growing demand for A2A payment solutions. The company is building a strong team with experienced hires from major fintech players like Curve, iZettle, and WorldRemit to support its ambitious growth and regulatory plans. As Volume expands into Europe and pursues FCA regulation in the UK, it is poised to disrupt the global payments landscape and unlock significant cost efficiencies for businesses and consumers alike.
Refute Secures £2.3M to Combat the Growing Threat of Commercial Disinformation
London-based startup Refute has raised £2.3 million in pre-seed funding to tackle the escalating problem of commercial disinformation campaigns. The funding round, led by Playfair and Episode 1 with participation from Notion Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, and prominent angel investors, will enable Refute to further develop its real-time detection and response technology. The company addresses a growing threat fueled by geopolitical instability and the rise of generative AI, which is increasingly being used to orchestrate sophisticated disinformation attacks against businesses, executives, and supply chains. These attacks, often launched by state-sponsored actors or opportunistic competitors, can spread rapidly through news outlets, social media platforms, blogs, and forums, posing significant reputational and financial risks to targeted organizations. Refute employs a quantitative approach, analyzing interconnected data, tracking narratives across multiple channels, and modeling threat behaviors to detect and mitigate these campaigns effectively. This approach minimizes false positives and ensures targeted responses to multi-channel disinformation efforts. The founding team, comprised of cybersecurity and data analysis experts, brings decades of experience to the table, positioning Refute as a key player in the fight against online disinformation.
Ecomtent Raises £1.1M to Optimize Retail Search for the Age of AI
London-based generative AI startup Ecomtent has secured £1.1 million in funding to help retailers adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-powered search. The funding round, led by MaRS IAF with participation from Twinpath, Techstars x eBay Ventures, and angel investors from leading retailers and tech companies, will enable Ecomtent to expand its platform and empower sellers to optimize their content for AI-driven search engines like Amazon’s RUFUS. Ecomtent’s platform utilizes generative AI to create optimized written and visual content, saving content teams significant time and effort. As AI-powered search continues to gain traction globally, tools like ChatGPT further highlight the growing importance of AI-driven discoverability in e-commerce. Ecomtent’s technology has already been adopted by major retailers, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving conversion rates by up to 30%. This funding will enable Ecomtent to accelerate its mission of reshaping how retailers approach content creation in the age of AI, ensuring they remain competitive in the evolving e-commerce landscape.
Loadar Secures £3.14M to Transform Freight Procurement for Large Enterprises
Freight procurement and management platform Loadar has raised £3.14 million in Seed funding to expand its operations and cater to the needs of global enterprises. The funding round, led by Frontline Ventures with additional backing from existing investor Techstart Ventures, will fuel Loadar’s expansion into the US market and enable the company to double its team size. Loadar addresses the inefficiencies inherent in traditional freight management by providing advanced procurement tools, automation, and real-time visibility into freight movements. Unlike traditional third-party logistics (3PL) solutions, Loadar seamlessly integrates into existing enterprise systems, streamlining processes and reducing transport costs by up to 15%. The platform enhances supply chain resilience, a critical need in the face of recent global disruptions. Loadar’s founder and CEO brings years of logistics experience, understanding the challenges enterprises face in managing complex carrier relationships and controlling substantial shipping expenses. This funding will allow Loadar to scale its innovative solution globally, helping large enterprises optimize their freight operations and improve their bottom line.
BVNK Raises £39.4M to Lead the Stablecoin Payments Revolution
Stablecoin payments infrastructure provider BVNK has closed a £39.4 million Series B funding round, led by Haun Ventures with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures, DRW VC, Avenir, and Tiger Global. This substantial investment will enable BVNK to expand its operations in the United States, establish offices in key financial hubs, and further develop its stablecoin payment solutions for businesses. BVNK has experienced remarkable growth over the past two years, achieving over $10 billion in annualized payment volumes and 200% year-on-year growth. The company partners with industry leaders like PayPal, Circle, and First Digital to facilitate faster, more cost-efficient, and borderless financial transactions. Stablecoins are transforming global payments by addressing challenges such as payment delays, high costs, and foreign exchange risks. BVNK’s platform enables businesses to seamlessly integrate stablecoins for various use cases, including global payroll, merchant settlements, and marketplace payouts, offering instant, reliable, and transparent transactions. As stablecoin adoption continues to accelerate, BVNK is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing market and reshape global financial systems.
NextSTEP Invests £490K in UK CleanTech Startups, Driving Sustainable Innovation
NextSTEP, a venture capital fund dedicated to CleanTech innovation, has invested £490,000 across five UK-based startups, each focused on developing sustainable solutions for a greener future. The investments span various sectors, including green hydrogen, biofuels, EV technology, regenerative agriculture, and eco-friendly RFID tags. The funded startups are pioneering innovative technologies with the potential to address critical environmental challenges. These include The First Element, which utilizes Smart Tank technology to generate green hydrogen; Nina Energy, which transforms agricultural waste into biofuels; ClearWatt, which develops an app for EV range and battery health certification; Algapelago, which focuses on seaweed-based products for agriculture; and Pulpatronics, which creates metal-free, recyclable RFID tags. NextSTEP’s commitment to pre-seed and seed-stage CleanTech investments highlights its dedication to fostering innovation in the early stages of development. By bridging the Italian and British markets, NextSTEP promotes cross-border collaboration and strengthens the CleanTech ecosystem across Europe. This latest round of investments demonstrates NextSTEP’s continued commitment to driving meaningful change and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.
