Financial technology is, by a long way, the hottest startup sector in Europe in terms of money raised.
But which are the most exciting startups and scaleups? Which are the ones to watch in 2021?
Our team of experts at Sifted have chosen a list of more than 100 exciting companies we think you need to know about, with an added “Sifted take” to provide an extra layer of insight on the most interesting.
It's a mixture of the big and the small, the well known and the under the radar. But all are making waves. Keep reading below and stay informed about Europe’s new economy!
(P.S The data is from European Startups with valuation estimates from Dealroom. If there is anyone missing from this list, or anything is wrong, please let us know by email at [email protected]).
Key
Year founded
Amount raised
Last funding round
Valuation
Employees
Klarna
Payment solutions for online stores and 'Buy Now Pay Later' provider
fintech / payments
sifted.eu/articles/klarna-employee-millionaires-ipo-valuationStockholm, Sweden
2005
€3,100m
GROWTH EQUITY
€9.6bn
1000-5000
Klarna
Payment solutions for online stores and 'Buy Now Pay Later' provider
fintech / payments
sifted.eu/articles/klarna-employee-millionaires-ipo-valuationStockholm, Sweden
2005
€3,100m
GROWTH EQUITY
€9.6bn
1000-5000
Revolut
Mobile banking app that allows you to hold, exchange and transfer without fees in 25+ currencies
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/revolut-disruptive-innovationLondon, UK
2015
€2m
SERIES E
€5bn
1000-5000
Revolut
Mobile banking app that allows you to hold, exchange and transfer without fees in 25+ currencies
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/revolut-disruptive-innovationLondon, UK
2015
€2m
SERIES E
€5bn
1000-5000
Checkout.com
Offers credit card and alternative payment methods
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/checkout-venture-investorLondon, UK
2012
€755m
SERIES C
€13.6bn
500-1000
Checkout.com
Offers credit card and alternative payment methods
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/checkout-venture-investorLondon, UK
2012
€755m
SERIES C
€13.6bn
500-1000
N26 Group
Bank account that can be managed entirely from a smartphone
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/n26-top-director-departsBerlin, Germany
2013
€744m
SERIES D
€3.2bn
1000-5000
N26 Group
Bank account that can be managed entirely from a smartphone
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/n26-top-director-departsBerlin, Germany
2013
€744m
SERIES D
€3.2bn
1000-5000
Monzo
London-based digital-only bank platform
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/inside-monzo-2-0-powerplayersLondon, UK
2015
€622m
SERIES H
€1.5bn
1000-5000
Monzo
London-based digital-only bank platform
banking / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/inside-monzo-2-0-powerplayersLondon, UK
2015
€622m
SERIES H
€1.5bn
1000-5000
Starling Bank
Mobile-app based bank
banking / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/starling-2020-resultsLondon, UK
2014
€876m
LATE VC
€540m
500-1000
Starling Bank
Mobile-app based bank
banking / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/starling-2020-resultsLondon, UK
2014
€876m
LATE VC
€540m
500-1000
Rapyd
A fintech-as-a-service platform makes it simple to integrate local payment and fintech capabilities into any application
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/full-list-fintech-unicorns-europe/London, UK
2016
€427m
SERIES D
€2.3bn
100-500
Rapyd
A fintech-as-a-service platform makes it simple to integrate local payment and fintech capabilities into any application
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/full-list-fintech-unicorns-europe/London, UK
2016
€427m
SERIES D
€2.3bn
100-500
WorldRemit
Online money transfer business.
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/2021-fintech-ipoLondon, UK
2010
€330m
SERIES D
€818m
500-1000
WorldRemit
Online money transfer business.
payments / fintech
sifted.eu/articles/2021-fintech-ipoLondon, UK
2010
€330m
SERIES D
€818m
500-1000
wefox
Insurtech broker for insurers and end-customers
marketplace & ecommerce / insurance
sifted.eu/articles/samsung-insurance-wefox/Berlin, Germany
2015
€837m
SERIES C
€1.5bn
100-500
wefox
Insurtech broker for insurers and end-customers
marketplace & ecommerce / insurance
sifted.eu/articles/samsung-insurance-wefox/Berlin, Germany
2015
€837m
SERIES C
€1.5bn
100-500
GoCardless
Simple and cheap way to take payments online: no merchant account, no credit card fees, no hassle
payments / banking
sifted.eu/articles/gocardless-the-inside-storyLondon, UK
2011
€198m
SERIES F
€882m
100-500
GoCardless
Simple and cheap way to take payments online: no merchant account, no credit card fees, no hassle
payments / banking
sifted.eu/articles/gocardless-the-inside-storyLondon, UK
2011
€198m
SERIES F
€882m
100-500
Auxmoney
Peer-to-peer loan marketplace
marketplace & ecommerce / mortgages & lending
sifted.eu/rankings/german-startups-top-rankingsDüsseldorf, Germany
2007
€175m
GROWTH EQUITY
€750m
100-500
Auxmoney
Peer-to-peer loan marketplace
marketplace & ecommerce / mortgages & lending
sifted.eu/rankings/german-startups-top-rankingsDüsseldorf, Germany
2007
€175m
GROWTH EQUITY
€750m
100-500
Primary Bid
Automates the aggregation of retail demand
investing / legal
primarybid.comLondon, UK
2012
€57m
SERIES B
€182-273m
50-100
2012
€57m
SERIES B
€182-273m
50-100
Satispay
Mobile payments for consumers and businesses
payments / fintech
satispay.comMilan, Italy
2013
€155m
SERIES C
€248m
100-500
2013
€155m
SERIES C
€248m
100-500
Solarisbank
Enables other companies to perform banking services
banking / payments
solarisbank.comBerlin, Germany
2016
€345m
LATE VC
€1.4b
100-500
Solarisbank
Enables other companies to perform banking services
banking / payments
solarisbank.comBerlin, Germany
2016
€345m
LATE VC
€1.4b
100-500
2015
€247m
SERIES C
€591m
500-1000
2015
€161m
LATE VC
€710m
100-500
Lydia
All your payment needs - in one app
payments / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/lydia-venmo-france-startup/Paris, France
2011
€142m
SERIES B
€313-469m
Lydia
All your payment needs - in one app
payments / mobile app
sifted.eu/articles/lydia-venmo-france-startup/Paris, France
2011
€142m
SERIES B
€313-469m
Thought Machine
Building Technology to Revolutionise Banking
banking / deeptech
sifted.eu/articles/fintech-equity-packages-europe/London, UK
2014
€139m
SERIES B
€139m
100-500
Thought Machine
Building Technology to Revolutionise Banking
banking / deeptech
sifted.eu/articles/fintech-equity-packages-europe/London, UK
2014
€139m
SERIES B
€139m
100-500
2007
€138m
DEBT
€1bn
100-500
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