Exploring B2B FinTech with Our Series A
- Peter Johnson
- Dec 20, 2023
- 4 min read
We are delighted to announce that Aria has achieved a tremendous milestone: a €15M Series A financing round led by 13books Capital and backed by influential investors and industry leaders. This crucial step marks an important chapter for us at Aria and a turning point for the entire B2B payment landscape.
It is absolutely incredible that only 7% of the whopping $120 trillion in annual B2B payments are digital. Here at Aria, we are dedicated to bridging that gap and making the payments process for B2B as easy and convenient as what consumers experience in B2C payments. Our platform enables B2B marketplaces, Software as a Service companies, and Enterprise Resource Planning companies to gain access to a variety of payment methods and terms for easy and instant payments.
Aria first developed in 2020 due to difficulties that my colleague Vincent and I faced while working as freelancers. We were hindered by payment delays and financial instability, which are both drawbacks of freelancing.
We initially focused on freelance invoice finance, before expanding our reach to the wider B2B market. Our decision to begin with freelancers was based on their strong need for cash flow management, as they often encounter long payment delays from major clients. We thus tailored our solutions to suit the particular requirements of freelancers.
As we progressed, it became evident that the intricacies and cash flow issues inherent in B2B trades are universal, irrespective of the size of the companies involved. This prompted us to diversify our business model to cater to all such transactions. We are driven by the notion that all B2B exchanges require efficient funds management. Currently, Aria is a prominent figure in Europe in relation to deferred payments, especially those associated with contingent workforce platforms.
Our outlook is to not just expand, but to establish authentic worth within the FinTech field. We are set on being something more than yet another company that was given too much money. Our plan for a Series A round is focused on reaching profitability, strengthening our market standing, and developing extensive expansion, particularly in the UK and France.
Starting with only 15 ambitious and talented staff members, our company has now grown to include 40 people. We believe in taking a ‘smart-scaling’ approach to our growth — expanding with the intention of achieving our long-term objectives and upholding our core values. Despite our rapid growth, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering exceptional customer service. One way that we do this is through automating internal operations in our products, thus increasing both efficiency and responsiveness. In addition, we are making major investments in the research of risks related to fraud, credit and litigation, which not only amplifies our ability to grow, but also allows us to manage those risks successfully.
A measured approach to growth, taking into account our priorities, is integral to our Series A strategy. This approach not only allows for expansion in size, but additionally in areas rooted in value, efficiency, and the preservation of features that make Aria distinctive.
This funding will be critical in allowing us to target new areas of focus, particularly SaaS platforms and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Our core mission is to make transactions easier to handle on any B2B platform. We recognize that in the business environment, the speed of transactions is not just a convenience but a requirement.
As we continue to grow and provide services for more companies, we are thrilled to announce our plans to venture into the European market. We recognize the need to ensure our platform offers the best payment solutions for businesses and are committed to meeting this challenge.
At Aria, we focus on streamlining payments, thus crafting a much more enjoyable experience. We don't seek to completely recast the process, but instead, are striving to better it and make every transaction more efficient and every interaction between users more pleasant.
Aria is more than just a FinTech solution -- it's a shift towards modernising B2B transactions. We're not only streamlining payments; we're transforming how business deals are done in our ever-digitalising world. Our comprehensive 'deferred payment' system isn't limited to financing. It spans a broad array of services which include: funding, in-depth KYC/KYB protocols, assessing debtors' risks, sophisticated anti-fraud measures, debt insurance, and efficient debt collection.
Aria is more than just a tool – it's a commitment to providing an exceptional user experience. We strive to give businesses of all sizes the flexibility, efficiency, and digital transformation they need to make complicated processes simpler. We are focused on creating seamless transactions all the way to payment; our aim is to replicate the intuitive nature of B2C transactions and provide B2B interactions with the same level of simplicity and efficiency. By doing this, we aim to meet the changing needs of the industry.
I'm very appreciative of all who have aided in Aria's progress.
As we contemplate our voyage, it's amazing to take into account how far we've come: what we accomplished during the first three months of 2021 now requires merely a single day to complete in the year 2023. Our utmost gratitude is extended to the Aria team, who have been committed and working intensely for the past few years. Your endeavors were essential to our growth.
We are grateful for our customers' faith in us. Your assistance has been indispensable in our mission to provide an exceptional embedded payment experience.
To our investors, we cannot express enough gratitude for your trust in our vision. Your backing has allowed us to become what we are today and to continue to progress.
As the year 2024 comes to an end, I am filled with joy to have been on this journey with all of you, and to receive such excellent news!
This message is from Clément representing the Aria team.
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