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Checkout.com Triples Valuation to $15bn with $450m Series C Fundraise, Accelerating Global Expansion

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Checkout.com, the leading Connected Payments™ solutions provider, today announced that it closed a $450 million Series C fundraising round. This gives the business a post-money valuation of $15 billion, making it the fourth largest fintech globally and EMEA’s most valuable venture-backed business(1), as the business continues to expand across the globe.

The Series C was led by Tiger Global Management, LLC, a New York-based technology investor that partners with dynamic entrepreneurs operating market-leading growth companies, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Spotify, ByteDance, and JD.com. Greenoaks Capital also joined the round along with participation from existing investors Insight Partners, DST Global, Coatue Management, Blossom Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, and Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund GIC.

Guillaume Pousaz, CEO and Founder of Checkout.com said: “Payments affect everything from the customer journey to a business’s ability to enter new markets or launch new products. This latest fundraise reflects our market-leading position and the size of our aspirations as we accelerate in our mission to empower merchants to build better products, drive more revenue and create innovative business models by reimagining interactions with financial services. Our new investors bring a wealth of experience across payments, technology and scaling companies – crucial knowledge for the next stage of our growth, as we continue to build our vision for the future of Connected Finance™.”

Investing in the Future of Payments

Research from McKinsey & Company highlights the scale of the payments opportunity, with total global payments revenue reaching just under $2 trillion in 2019(2). Meanwhile a recent report from Checkout.com in partnership with Oxford Economics(3) revealed the scale of the challenge that many merchants face, with $20.3 billion lost to false declines in payments in 2019 alone and more than $12.7 billion handed from first choice merchants to their competitors. Additionally, customers who gave up on their intended online purchase completely resulted in more than $7.6 billion of missed opportunity for merchants. Checkout.com addresses these issues by giving enterprise businesses the most proactive tools to drive best-in-class performance and more control through advanced data features, fraud management tools, and comprehensive reporting.

The fundraise comes as the global economy looks beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. While many organizations have historically relied on one-size-fits all payment systems, the need to drive improved performance, gain transparency across payments and extract valuable information from data is increasingly becoming a competitive differentiator. Checkout.com’s cloud-based unified platform enables merchants to manage payins and payouts at scale, while achieving better performance and improved acceptance rates globally. Leading ecommerce businesses such as Farfetch, Mango, Victoria’s Secret, L’Occitane and The Hut Group depend on Checkout.com for a fast, reliable, adaptable and safe platform that gives granular access to the data and pricing behind every transaction.

While Checkout.com’s profits from current operations will continue to be reinvested to power future growth, the new funding will be used to further grow its balance sheet and drive new innovative opportunities. With a total of $830 million raised within the last two years, Checkout.com’s readily available cash represents one of the strongest balance sheets across all global fintechs. This further strengthens the company’s resilience as a regulated entity in numerous markets and as the financial partner to its merchants. It also allows for continued strategic investments and product developments, like the Checkout.com Payouts solution which saw exponential growth over the last year.

Checkout.com Unveils North American Headquarters

In addition to today’s Series C funding announcement, Checkout.com is announcing the opening of its New York City office. The company first launched in the U.S. in 2017 and has operations in San Francisco. Together, the bicoastal offices will power the organization’s ability to meet the growing demand in the U.S. for Connected Payments™ solutions, as Checkout.com increases its focus on serving U.S.-based enterprises in domestic, global and cross-border payments. The company is also announcing an office in Denver. Globally, Checkout.com will hire an additional 700 people across all its locations  in 2021.

Checkout.com’s transformative approach to payments and payouts has garnered its reputation as the most trusted technology provider behind many of the most valuable fintechs and cutting-edge businesses, including Klarna, Revolut, Transferwise, Coinbase, and eToro. With a platform that can support both best-performing global payments and payouts, Checkout.com has become the backbone of the world-beating progressive business models, among the leading fintechs, streaming services, and marketplaces.

Scott Shleifer, Partner at Tiger Global Management said: “We are excited to partner with Guillaume and Checkout.com as they continue to build an innovative global payments and financial services platform trusted by leading internet companies. We believe the shift to digital commerce is still in the early stages, and Checkout.com’s focus on developing a best-in-class technology platform has positioned them to be a leader in the industry for years to come.”

In June 2020, Checkout.com announced its Series B which valued the business at $5.5bn and was led by technology fund Coatue Management. In 2020, it also announced the acquisitions of ProcessOut and PinPayments, as well as a strategic investment in Thunes.

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Sleep interiors brand gets job offer from Peter Jones despite not securing investment in Dragons Den

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LONDON, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tonight on BBC1, REMY founder Abeer Iqbal, entered the Den, and despite intense grilling and no investment, left with a six-figure job offer from Peter Jones

Abeer’s pitch began with the Dragon’s keen to experience his sleep-enhancing furniture. When Steven and Peter laid on his hero  ‘The Pod’, a reinvention of the beanbag, and under REMY’s best-selling ‘The Lounger’ weighted blankets, the dragons closed their eyes and pretended to snore. Which was ironic, as despite being told he’d enter the Den around 5pm, Abeer actually went in at 9.30pm, after the dragons had been receiving pitches since early that day, which to Abeer’s own admission “wasn’t easy”. Deborah Meaden said, “This might have been a fatal mistake to put your dragons to sleep before we start the pitch” – recognising that it had been a long day.

After 10+ years working in tech, helping multi-million pound businesses grow their empire at software giants like Shopify, Abeer experienced burn-out, which led him to develop REMY. Despite Abeer telling the dragons that he left the high-pressure industry due to stress and anxiety Peter Jones still offered him a job back in the rat race with a six-figure sum (which he still hasn’t taken). 

After leaving the Den, Abeer admitted feeling the “most anxious ever” and that he “just wanted to get back to his wife for a hug”.  Abeer shared, “I didn’t sleep for days, replaying every moment in my mind. I wanted to forget it.” But it’s not all bad, as Abeer explains, “the anxiety I experienced from the Den gave me a lightbulb moment and led me to create our most popular product yet – The Hugger Pillow. I needed a hug, so I created one”. 

Abeer continues, “I returned the next day to collect my items from the studio. I bumped into a fresh-faced Peter and Toukar in the carpark, they both praised my experience, Peter once again offered me a job and Toukar asked me to call him when I start the next business.”

The global ‘sleep economy’ is booming, projected to reach a record high of $585 billion this year. But Abeer felt he was unable to communicate this, “If I could have my time again, I would focus on the industry of Rest and Sleep rather than the specific products we were trying to innovate. I don’t think I articulated to the Dragon’s the size of the business opportunity that there is with REMY. In terms of what’s next, we are moving towards becoming a household name in rest and sleep but offering products in multiple categories.”

The Dragon that seemed to understand Abeer’s passion for this industry was Sara Davies, saying “I actually fundamentally don’t agree with what I’ve heard here. What I see in front of me, yes he is great at the e-commerce side of things but he gave up a career in corporate because he was passionate about this area. And if there’s one thing I know about business it’s that you will succeed when you pursue the thing you are passionate about. I wouldn’t discourage you to give up. Keep doing it and good luck. I think you could sell anything”.

You can watch Abeer Iqbal on Dragons’ Den on BBC iPlayer.

remysleep.com / @WEAREREMY

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Bitrue Coin (BTR) Analyzes User Behavior and Announces Upcoming Developments to Enhance Utility

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SINGAPORE, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bitrue, a leading cryptocurrency exchange serving over 10 million users globally, announces a focus on user behavior analysis to further develop the utility of its native token, Bitrue Coin (BTR).

“Understanding how our users interact with BTR is crucial for its continued growth,” states Robert Quartly-Janeiro, Chief Strategy Officer of Bitrue. “This analysis will guide upcoming developments that enhance the value proposition of BTR within the Bitrue ecosystem.”

The announcement follows a recent surge in interest surrounding exchange tokens, and digital assets used to pay for services to unlock benefits within specific cryptocurrency exchanges. Currently, BTR offers a compelling range of benefits to Bitrue users, including:

  • Reduced Trading Fees: BTR holders enjoy lower trading fees on the Bitrue exchange, incentivizing active participation in the platform’s marketplace.
  • Governance Voting Rights: BTR grants voting rights on select new listings, allowing users to influence the direction of the Bitrue platform.
  • Staking Opportunities: BTR holders can stake their tokens to earn passive rewards, providing an additional avenue for generating income within the Bitrue ecosystem.
  • Exclusive Airdrop Potential: BTR holders may be eligible for airdrops of new tokens listed on the Bitrue exchange, offering the chance to discover promising crypto projects early.
  • VIP Investment Caps: BTR unlocks higher investment caps for certain cryptocurrencies on the Bitrue platform, catering to high-volume investors.

“BTR already plays a multifaceted role in the Bitrue experience,” Quarterly-Janeiro continues. “By strategically expanding its utility based on user behavior analysis, we aim to solidify BTR’s position within the exchange token market and elevate its value proposition for our user base.”

The specific developments based on user behavior analysis are not disclosed at this time. However, Bitrue assures its users of continued transparency and will share details in due course.

Media Contact: Lily Ho, [email protected]

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Affordability, customisation and convenience: Term plans from India become more attractive and accessible for NRIs

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Term insurance from India emerges as preferred choice for NRIs seeking affordability and convenience

DUBAI, UAE, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Policybazaar, India’s leading online insurance marketplace, is witnessing a significant increase in non-resident Indians (NRIs) choosing term insurance from India via its platform. This surge is driven by the unparalleled ease, affordability and accessibility offered by the Indian insurance market. While several factors contribute to the growing interest in term insurance in India, affordability and convenience stand out as primary reasons. The demand among the 18-60 age group has seen an impressive 130% year-on-year growth, with India emerging as the preferred choice for NRIs.

The surge in demand from NRIs can be credited to several standout features and benefits. Term policies from India cost up to 30-50% less for NRIs residing in the UAE and Singapore. Additionally, policies with coverage of up to INR 5 crores can be easily obtained with tele-medical check-ups from India, eliminating the need for physical visits. Unlike some countries with restricted policy terms and coverage, Indian term plans offer coverage for longer duration, extending up to 99 years.

Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO, Policybazaar, states, “We are witnessing exponential growth in term insurance purchases from NRIs, particularly from the Gulf nations and Singapore. Policybazaar has focused its efforts on expanding term insurance protection in both Indian and overseas markets. The unmatched benefits offered by India, including competitive pricing, larger covers, and streamlined processing through video/tele medicals, are significant contributors to this demand. It is heartening to see NRIs realizing the importance of securing their dependents’ future and choosing Indian term insurance policies.”

Term Insurance for a 35 year old male, non-smoker
Policy term – 30 years

Country

India

UAE

Cover Amount

INR 2 Cr / AED 881 K

AED 900 K

Max Cover Upto

99 years

80 years

Premium in AED

AED 977.8

AED 1,539

Premium in INR

INR 22,193.00

INR 34,892.00

Free Add-ons

Early Payout on Terminal Illness + Waiver of Premium

Price Benefit

36% cheaper in India

Source: Policybazaar.com

NRIs are also eligible for 18% GST exemption* upon purchasing term insurance plans from India, when paying via their NRE accounts. This attractive pricing, along with the availability of longer-term plans, has led to a rise in demand among NRIs, especially from Gulf nations, where 65% of term insurance buyers hail from, with the UAE alone contributing 35%.

Rhishabh Garg, Head of Term Insurance at Policybazaar, adds, “The evolution in the Indian term insurance industry is marked by innovative offerings designed to meet the distinct needs of consumers overseas. The consumer-centric features in term plans from India are increasingly appealing to NRIs, which include return of premium at no extra cost, early pay-outs for terminal illness, premium waivers for permanent disability, and immediate pay-out of up to INR 2 lakhs on claim intimation for immediate obituary expenses.”

The accessibility of these plans is further enhanced through seamless processing for NRIs, whose average annual income exceeds INR 35 lakhs. Insurers now also offer a sum assured of up to 5 crores, ensuring adequate coverage based on Human Life Value (HLV) calculations. NRIs can also leverage Policybazaar’s search and comparison engine to browse the best suitable plans as per their needs and preferences.

With a commitment to providing comprehensive coverage and protection, Policybazaar continues to redefine the landscape of term insurance for NRIs, empowering them to secure their loved one’s future with peace of mind. As NRIs continue to seek comprehensive coverage and value-driven solutions, Policybazaar remains dedicated to delivering innovative term insurance products and services tailored to their evolving needs.

*Tax benefits are subject to change in tax laws

About Policybazaar.com

Policybazaar.com is one of India’s largest insurance marketplace. It is the flagship platform of PB Fintech, which owns the fintech brand, Paisabazaar.com, and lending & insurance marketplace in the UAE region, Policybazaar.ae. Policybazaar.com started with the purpose to educate people on insurance products and with its offerings has addressed the large and highly underpenetrated online insurance markets.

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