Venture funding

Fueling its market expansion, U.K. earned wage access startup Wagestream has raised £20 million (about $25 million) in a Series B fundraiser from several VC firms.

Checkout.com’s $150 million funding round triples the e-commerce company’s valuation to $5.5 billion, and it follows an even larger $600 million bet on Stripe this spring.

APEXX Global has completed a Series A fundraiser, bringing in $8 million from existing and new U.K. and Scandinavian investors to expand its payments platform.

Starling Bank has raised £40 million (about $49 million) in its latest fundraiser as it steps up its support for small businesses, bringing its 2020 total to £100 million (about $123 million).

Sony has invested in digital transaction security firm MagicCube, citing it as the Sony Innovation Fund's first investment outside of Japan.

Coronavirus has taken a massive toll on suppliers, and emerging invoice methods are getting thrust into the mainstream to rescue cash-strapped businesses.

The strength of the post-coronavirus recovery will determine if that's enough for the digitally focused challenger to battle well-capitalized banks.

Paytronix, whose technology enables mobile payments and ordering at restaurants, has received $10 million in funding to help support increased demand for its services through the pandemic.

While the entire economy will slow due to stay-in-place orders and temporary economic shutdowns, payments fintech is expected to fare much better than other investment sectors due to these trends.

Payments unicorn Stripe contends it has the financial power to apply its technology to coronavirus medical care, remote telework, business funding, and easier onboarding for companies that have been suddenly thrust into an internet existence.

Airwallex has raised $160 million in a Series D fundraising round to expand global payment offerings for small businesses and enterprises.

Japanese digital wallet provider Kyash has raised $45 million in a fundraiser to expand its mobile offerings to help Japan convert to a cashless society during the coronavirus outbreak.

New Vision 3, a Bulgarian venture capital firm backed in part by European Union grants to encourage SMB innovation, has announced it's dividing a $2.7 million investment among three Bulgarian fintech firms.

Payments technology is a relative bright spot as coronavirus’ economic fears hit venture capital, since an emergency can be a catalyst for early-stage innovation designed to ease digital commerce.

Payhawk, a European paperless expense management provider, has raised €3 million (about $3.3 million) in a seed funding round led by Earlybird Venture Capital.

Australia’s Airwallex group is seeking about $200 million in a series D equity funding round to bankroll its cross-border payments business globally, according to people familiar with the matter.

Payments software company SpotOn Transact has completed a $50 million funding round that included investments from 01 Advisors, a firm founded by former Twitter executives.

BBVA and venture capitalist Anthemis Group are providing seed funds to U.K. fintech Wollit that will offer a subscription-based cash flow product for gig economy workers.

The savings and credit building startup Self Financial has raised $20 million in a Series C funding round to help fuel its expansion to serve financially struggling consumers.

Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. is investing more than $700 million in Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab, gaining access to millions across the region that use the mobile app to book cars and meals.