Fintech PR
Orbital Raises £5M to Help Enterprises Realise the Potential of Blockchain Payments
Ahead of the widespread adoption of crypto payments by businesses worldwide, London-headquartered Orbital group announces its first institutional capital raise, having been profitable since launching in 2017
LONDON, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Orbital, the London, Tallinn and Gibraltar-based traditional finance and crypto payments platform for global enterprises, has raised £5M ($6.4M) in an oversubscribed growth round led by Golden Record Ventures, at an attractive valuation in which the founders are maintaining a large majority.
Participants in the round include New Form Capital, GSRV, Psalion and Luminous Futures. The funding marks Orbital’s first institutional capital raise, having been bootstrapped and profitable since being founded in London in 2017.
Orbital provides a range of traditional payment and global FX solutions, but where it deviates from the norm is that it also offers licensed crypto payment services, especially focusing on the business use cases for stablecoins in cross border payments.
Facilitating Fiat and Blockchain Payments
Orbital combines fiat and crypto business accounts to enable traditional, global enterprises, particularly those with exposure to emerging markets, to integrate stablecoins, as well as other major cryptocurrencies and traditional currencies, into existing payment flows. Its APIs further act as an embedded finance solution for stablecoin payments.
For example, companies can accept cryptocurrency payments from customers, off-ramp into traditional currencies like USD, GBP and EUR, and settle into IBAN accounts in minutes. Customers can instantly access new markets, without the need for a physical presence or domestic bank accounts, and if they so choose there’s no need to handle cryptocurrencies themselves.
Orbital is licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority as an authorised payment institution in the UK, and as a virtual currency service provider in Estonia, with other licences to be announced in the coming months.
Orbital’s first institutional capital raise comes ahead of it raising a Series A round, and, despite the current crypto bear market, off the back of its seven-digit monthly revenue having grown over 40% in the last 6 months. It has over 80 clients processing $250M of value every month. Orbital’s headcount is 95 globally, with three offices across London, Estonia, Gibraltar.
The funding round will enable Orbital to continue its rapid growth, secure additional licences in new jurisdictions, and further develop its product.
Corporate Crypto Circumspection
Deloitte’s Global Blockchain Survey found that 80% of senior executives believe that digital assets will be very/somewhat important to their respective industries in the next two years, while data from The Block and Bitquery shows that there were $10 trillion dollars worth of on-chain payments in stablecoins over the last 12 months alone.
However, despite the understanding that digital assets are necessary, adoption has been slow amongst corporates because of a lack of internal knowledge and a mistrust of the industry.
Among digital assets, payments in stablecoin are becoming rapidly more normalised for businesses operating globally because they offer significant benefits for cross border low value C2B and high value B2B payments, particularly when an emerging market is involved. However, although there is currently a plethora of tools available for this, many larger businesses and corporates have struggled to find an overarching solution that doesn’t upset existing banking relationships.
A Single Platform For Multi-Asset Payments
Orbital’s industry-first product bridges the gap between traditional finance and digital asset treasury solutions, offering a regulated, secure and frictionless experience for multinational corporates. It acts as a single point of access to a range of tools needed to run a treasury operation, including multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, global payments and digital asset custody. Orbital also offers its crypto payment rails via API allowing online merchants the ability to embed crypto payment into their own product or service.
Luke Wingfield-Digby, co-founder and Head of Corporate Development of Orbital, comments: “We believe all modern, global companies will require access to both blockchain and fiat payment rails, from one single platform, to effectively manage their business in the future. Orbital has been built by veterans who deeply understand the needs of large enterprises, which until now have been massively underserved. Our combined expertise in both traditional finance and crypto means that we are uniquely positioned to serve their demands. Bootstrapped and profitable since 2017, we’ve both grown rapidly and raised financing in a very difficult crypto bear market. Now we’re ready to scale even further and push our platform towards the bleeding edge of fintech.”
Jad Benabdelkhalek, General Partner at Golden Record Ventures, adds: “The Orbital team has developed a best-in-class, licensed technology platform that caters specifically to large corporates and enterprises. Up until now these have been underserved, meaning there is a distinct lack of competition, and a huge opportunity for Orbital to fill that gap. The global business community is starting to understand the value and importance of stablecoins and digital assets, and we are delighted to back Orbital which is at the forefront of enabling this change.”
About Orbital
Orbital is a London–Tallinn–Gibraltar based traditional finance and crypto solutions platform for global enterprises. It is a group of licensed providers of a range of traditional payment and global FX solutions, and also for crypto payments, especially focusing on the business use cases for stablecoins in cross border payments. The company has a headcount of 95 globally, with three offices across London, Estonia, Gibraltar. It has raised £5M, with its latest round led by Golden Record Ventures, with participation from New Form Capital, GSRV, Psalion VC and Luminous Futures.
Golden Record Ventures
Golden Record Ventures (GRV) is a London-based early-stage VC firm investing in blockchain applications within the fintech space. Founded in late 2022 by Managing Partners Filippos Kodellas and Jad Benabdelkhalek, the team draws from its investing and restructuring experience to support outliers in disrupting legacy products and services. With a focus on Europe and emerging markets, GRV actively seeks out innovation in payment solutions, asset management, capital markets and the infrastructure that binds them together. GRV has backed 7 companies to-date, including Parfin, Sylq and Freename.
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SINGAPORE, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), today announced that Wanshi Lin has been appointed as the Head of Singapore, effective immediately.
In this newly created position, Lin will oversee the company’s underwriting team in Singapore and spearhead business planning and market engagement on the company’s Lloyd’s Singapore platform. The establishment of a new leadership role in Singapore is demonstrative of Markel’s ongoing commitment to expanding its Asia Pacific operations and underwriting capabilities.
Lin will report to Christian Stobbs, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, in her new capacity.
Stobbs commented: “I’m thrilled about the energy and innovative ideas Wanshi will bring to this pivotal role. Singapore is our largest marketplace in the region for specialty products, and I’m confident that, under her leadership, we’ll further enhance our relationships with brokers and clients while building on the strong momentum achieved in recent years.”
Kevin Leung, Chief Underwriting Officer – Asia Pacific, adds: “It’s a delight to see Wanshi progress to take on this role. Her extensive experience, strategic insight and understanding of the Singapore market will be instrumental in strengthening our commitment to providing underwriting excellence to this important regional hub.”
Lin joined Markel in 2018 as an Assistant Underwriter – Marine, and since 2023 has been Senior Underwriter – Marine. Prior to Markel, Lin was Assistant Vice President at Marsh Singapore.
About Markel
We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions, as well as State National, our portfolio protection and program services operations, and Nephila, our insurance-linked securities operations. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.
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Fintech PR
FinVolution’s SVP Ming Gu speaks at Asian Financial Forum, highlighting opportunities in CreditTech for Southeast Asia’s underserved
HONG KONG, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech service provider in the pan-Asian region, reaffirmed its commitment yesterday to advancing financial inclusion through cutting-edge credit technology and strategic partnerships at the Asian Financial Forum 2025 in Hong Kong.
Dr. Ming Gu, Senior Vice President of FinVolution Group, shared his insights on how fintech innovation is transforming access to credit for underserved populations in Southeast Asia.
“Fintech is creating new pathways for underserved populations to access credit and financial support, empowering them to invest in their futures,” he said at a thematic workshop on the future of fintech in Southeast Asia.
Driving financial inclusion through innovation
Gu emphasized FinVolution’s mission to bridge the gap between financial institutions and underserved communities by leveraging advanced credit technology.
The company has built its business around serving young workers and small business owners from grassroots backgrounds, whose financial needs are often overlooked by traditional banks and other financial institutions.
Through user-friendly digital lending platforms and collaborations with local partners, FinVolution has supported over 6 million borrowers and facilitated loans exceeding US$3 billion in its markets outside China as of Q3 2024.
FinVolution’s AI-powered tools enable financial institutions to better assess creditworthiness, particularly for those without traditional credit histories, Gu explained.
Opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia’s market
Gu highlighted Southeast Asia’s potential as a key growth market for fintech, driven by its young population, e-commerce growth, and credit-driven consumption habits.
“Very few regions in this world can meet all these criteria,” he said, highlighting the underpinnings of Southeast Asia’s ascent as a fintech powerhouse. “Digital lending always goes hand in hand with the growth of e-commerce.”
“The number one factor driving financial inclusion and literacy is GDP per capita,” Gu said. “Fintech and other technologies serve as a tool to facilitate this process, but it is GDP per capita that remains the cornerstone of development.”
For instance, Indonesia’s ambitious Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision aims to accelerate the nation’s economic growth by at least 5% annually over the next two decades.
This initiative reflects the nation’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion and leveraging technology as a catalyst for sustainable progress.
“Indonesia is the place to watch over the next five to 10 years,” Gu added. “We are very bullish on Southeast Asia.”
Symbiotic relationship with regulators and financial partners
Despite these opportunities, challenges such as the lack of credit histories and increasing fraud risks persist, threatening the future of fintech in this region.
FinVolution combats these issues with advanced proprietary risk management systems and fraud prevention technologies.
Gu stressed the collaboration with regulators and financial institutions in creating a robust and inclusive financial ecosystem.
FinVolution itself adheres to stringent regulatory standards, securing necessary licenses and aligning with local laws. This endeavor coincides with steady improvements to Southeast Asia’s regulatory stringency in recent years, which are credited for creating an environment conducive to fintech innovation.
“I believe a symbiotic relationship between regulators and fintechs like us is crucial to Southeast Asia’s rise as a key global fintech hub,” Gu noted.
With over 100 financial institution partners, including digital banks and consumer finance companies, FinVolution provides end-to-end credit tech solutions that streamline processes and expand outreach.
FinVolution Group remains dedicated to driving financial inclusion and innovation in Southeast Asia. With a focus on technology and collaboration, the company aims to empower individuals and communities while fostering a thriving fintech ecosystem in the region.
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Fintech PR
Empowering Businesses of All Sizes: MyGuava Business Offers a New Standard in Financial Solutions
LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In today’s fast-growing world, businesses need more than traditional banking services – they require innovative financial tools tailored to their specific needs. MyGuava Business is focused on meeting these demands, offering a ground-breaking platform that caters to businesses of all sizes.
Tailored Solutions for Every Business Size
One of the defining features of MyGuava Business is its bespoke quality. The platform is designed to support businesses of every size and industry, offering flexibility that ensures no one is left behind. Start-ups and small businesses benefit from straightforward, easy-to-use tools that promote growth without unnecessary complexity.
Transparent and Competitive Pricing
At a time when hidden fees and unclear pricing structures are all too common, MyGuava Business stands apart with its transparent and competitive rates. Businesses can plan their budgets confidently, knowing there won’t be any unexpected costs. For small businesses, this affordability is an essential requirement.
Seamless Onboarding and User Experience
The platform’s user-friendly interface makes navigation intuitive, ensuring that even those without extensive technical expertise can get started quickly. Clear dashboards, always accessible customer support and step-by-step guidance make MyGuava Business a platform that any business can adopt with ease.
Comprehensive Product Offerings: Covering Every Aspect of the Financial Sector
MyGuava Business goes beyond traditional financial management by offering a diverse range of services that cover all payment needs, whether the business transacts in person or online. From business accounts simplifying cross-border payments to payment terminals, e-commerce solutions, cards, payment links and invoice creation, the platform provides businesses with versatile tools to seamlessly manage transactions.
Built In-House with Customer Needs in Mind
What truly sets MyGuava Business apart is that it is a comprehensive end-to-end payments solution provider – a direct result of its in-house development. Unlike many platforms that rely on third-party tools, every feature of MyGuava Business is purpose-built to meet the unique needs of its users.
A Vision for the Future of Business Finance
MyGuava Business is more than just a financial platform – it’s a partner in growth. By combining affordability, adaptability, and a customer-centric design, it offers businesses the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
In a world where adaptability and efficiency are crucial, MyGuava Business is the financial partner every business deserves. Discover more at myguava.com/business.
Contact:
Nikki Suleymanova
[email protected]
07443322377
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