Amsterdam-based fintech startup Klearly snaps €6 million in seed funding to transform how small and medium-sized businesses handle in-person payments. The round was led by Global PayTech Ventures, with participation from Antler, Elevate, and Shapers and notable angel investors, including former executives from Mollie and Adyen.
The fresh capital will expand the company into new European markets, enabling its SaaS partners to deliver seamless in-person payment solutions for SMB merchants.
How Klearly tackles the gap in the SMB market
Founded by Sam Koekoek, Eva Rosa Bian, Geus Walder, Guy Griv, and Edan Dil, Klearly empowers entrepreneurs to realise their business dreams through an intuitive payment solution. The company’s free app transforms smartphones into card terminals, allowing small and medium enterprises to accept payments without additional hardware.
Sam Koekoek, founder and CEO of Klearly, told TFN: “Klearly replaces outdated, bank-supplied hardware with data-driven technology that works on any device — Android, Apple, or modern terminals. We focus on the SMB market but work with bigger partners like Bolt. We are serving big partners who, in turn, serve SMBs.”
Under Koekoek’s leadership, Klearly aims to streamline its processes and expand services across the taxi, restaurant, and canal cruise industries, with plans to grow beyond the Netherlands. The company’s impressive track record includes onboarding 4,000 merchants and achieving 500% growth in payment volume in 2024, establishing itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing in-person payment providers.
Klearly tech: a phone-native payments app designed specifically for SMEs
Klearly’s application seamlessly integrates with smartphone hardware, transforming mobile devices into card terminals without requiring additional equipment. The company maintains transparency through a straightforward transaction-based fee structure, eliminating hidden subscription costs.
The company’s flagship offering, tap-to-pay, enables merchants to process payments swiftly and securely on everyday devices like smartphones. Industry analysts project that by 2028, tap-to-pay will handle €11.8 billion globally, a dramatic increase from €1 billion in 2023.
Unlike conventional payment solutions requiring separate card terminals, Klearly’s technology operates directly through users’ smartphones. The company has specifically engineered its solution for small and medium-sized businesses, addressing their unique operational requirements.
Koekoek added, “We operate in a highly competitive space. We offer the most flexible and customizable option for merchants and business owners. We have also built technology that can scale quickly, so we can work with sole traders and established retail and hospitality companies.”
In essence, Klearly provides a fully automated registration process, enabling businesses to begin accepting payments within minutes of enrollment. The app delivers comprehensive data insights, empowering enterprises to make data-driven decisions.
Moving away from traditional terminal devices
The global contactless payment market is projected to grow substantially, reaching $213.39 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% from 2024 to 2034. Governments and financial institutions are likely to continue supporting the growth of tap-to-pay technologies through favourable regulations and infrastructure investments.
“We are convinced the future is moving increasingly to tap-to-pay and away from traditional terminal devices. Being a tap-to-pay business means we will lead in building that future,” emphasised Koekoek.
Javier Perez, founder and managing partner at Global PayTech Ventures, comments, “We believe the winners in this space will be those that provide merchants with the flexibility to customise solutions that meet the unique needs of their businesses and modern customer demands.”
Martell Hardenberg, Partner at Antler Elevate, concludes, “With 40% of European POS systems still disconnected and €7.9 trillion in annual POS volumes, the market is primed for disruption with integrated solutions. There is a clear path for a new billion-dollar player to emerge. Klearly’s innovative technology and customer-focused approach position it perfectly to lead this transformation.”
The post Dutch fintech Klearly secures €6M to digitise in-person payments for SMBs appeared first on Tech Funding News.