Globally, the fintech market size is expected to reach $460 billion this year.
Digital payments user base is 3.5 billion.
The fintech revolution is in full swing. With the global fintech market projected to hit $460 billion this year and a staggering 3.5 billion people using digital payments, finance startups are reshaping how money moves, how businesses grow, and how individuals access financial services.
From AI-powered banking assistants to embedded investment tools, these startups are driving innovation and challenging traditional financial institutions.
Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for inspiration for startup opportunities in finance or a finance enthusiast tracking the latest disruptors, this list covers 10 game-changing finance startups, plus ideas for the next wave of financial innovation.
Let’s dive into the future of finance.
What is a finance startup?
A finance startup is a company that leverages technology to develop innovative financial solutions for individuals, businesses, or institutions. These startups aim to improve, streamline, or disrupt traditional financial services such as banking, investing, lending, payments, and financial management. Unlike established financial institutions, finance startups prioritize agility, scalability, and digital-first experiences, making financial services more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective.
Many finance startups fall under the umbrella of fintech (financial technology) and utilize cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, automation, and data analytics to create smarter, faster, and more personalized financial solutions.
Common types of finance startups include:
Digital banking platforms
Investment and wealth management apps
Lending and credit solutions
Embedded finance providers
Financial infrastructure platforms
Finance startups are reshaping how people save, invest, borrow, and transact, bridging gaps in accessibility and efficiency left by traditional financial institutions.
How does fintech fit into the picture?
Fintech is at the core of finance startups, driving the innovation that enables them to compete with or complement traditional financial services. The fintech revolution has transformed consumer expectations, making digital-first, user-friendly, and on-demand financial services the new norm.
Traditional banks and financial institutions are increasingly partnering with or acquiring fintech startups to stay competitive, proving that fintech is not just an industry disruptor but a driving force in modern finance.
How are finance startups revolutionizing finance?
Finance startups are reshaping the financial industry by making services more accessible, efficient, and personalized. Traditional banks and financial institutions have long relied on legacy systems, slow processes, and rigid structures, leaving gaps in customer experience, accessibility, and innovation. Finance startups fill these gaps by using cutting-edge technology to streamline financial services, reduce costs, and offer smarter solutions. The ways their filling the gaps include:
Automation and AI-powered decision-making: Finance startups are replacing manual processes with AI-driven automation. This improves risk assessment, fraud detection, credit scoring, and investment management, making financial services faster and more accurate.
Embedded finance: Businesses can now offer financial services directly within their platforms without being banks. Startups like Atomic and DeFacto enable fintech and B2B platforms to integrate investing, lending, and payments seamlessly.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain: Finance startups such as Gauntlet are making blockchain-based financial services safer and more efficient, optimizing risk management for DeFi protocols.
Personalized financial solutions: Traditional financial services often take a one-size-fits-all approach, but startups like Found and Kudos Technologies tailor banking and rewards optimization based on individual financial behavior.
Faster and more inclusive lending: Traditional lending is slow and bureaucratic, often leaving small businesses and underbanked individuals behind. Startups like Capitalize and DeFacto offer faster access to credit by using real-time financial data rather than outdated credit models.
Regulatory and compliance innovation: Finance startups such as Hapax are using AI to simplify compliance for financial institutions, making it easier for banks to stay updated with complex regulations without relying on expensive consultants.
Making wealth management accessible: Investing was once reserved for high-net-worth individuals with access to financial advisors. Startups like Arta Finance and Atomic provide AI-driven investment strategies and embedded trading solutions, making wealth-building more inclusive.
10 great finance startups changing the industry
Here are 10 finance startups you’ll definitely want to be watching.
1. Merge
Year established: 2020
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $75 million
Merge simplifies software integrations by providing a unified API that connects businesses with hundreds of platforms across HR, payroll, accounting, and finance. Instead of spending months building and maintaining multiple integrations, companies can "integrate once" with Merge, significantly reducing development time and costs. Trusted by global brands like Revolut, Brex, and BetterHelp, Merge is accelerating the future of seamless software connectivity.
How they are changing the industry:
One API for all integrations: Eliminates the need to build and maintain multiple connections.
Faster product development: Helps companies launch integrations in days instead of months.
Reduces engineering burden: Frees up developer resources for core product innovation.
Enterprise-level security: Ensures compliance with industry standards like SOC 2 and GDPR.
2. Arta Finance
Year established: 2021
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $92 million
Bringing AI-powered wealth management to a broader audience, Arta Finance provides accredited investors with access to alternative assets, personalized portfolios, and exclusive financial opportunities. Traditionally, these tools were only available to the ultra-wealthy, but Arta is making them more accessible through its digital family office model. Founded by former Google executives, the company is leveraging technology to democratize elite financial strategies.
How they are changing the industry:
AI-driven wealth management: Uses advanced algorithms to optimize investments.
Exclusive financial opportunities: Grants access to private market investments typically reserved for high-net-worth individuals.
Personalized investment strategies: Tailors wealth management to individual financial goals.
Simplified alternative asset access: Provides exposure to hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital with lower barriers.
Democratizing financial growth: Bridges the gap between everyday investors and the sophisticated tools used by family offices.
3. Gauntlet
Year established: 2018
Location: New York, USA
Funds raised: $45 million
Optimizing risk in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, Gauntlet provides financial modeling and risk assessment for blockchain protocols. By leveraging simulations and advanced analytics, the platform helps DeFi projects enhance capital efficiency, manage volatility, and reduce systemic risk. With clients like Aave, Compound, and Uniswap, Gauntlet is shaping how on-chain economies remain stable and scalable.
How they are changing the industry:
Advanced risk modeling: Uses simulation-based analytics to predict and mitigate financial risks in DeFi.
Optimizing capital efficiency: Helps protocols maximize liquidity while maintaining financial security.
Enhancing protocol governance: Provides data-driven insights to improve decision-making for decentralized organizations.
Strengthening DeFi stability: Reduces systemic risk by identifying potential market vulnerabilities.
Trusted by leading protocols: Works with major DeFi platforms like Aave, Compound, and Uniswap to ensure financial resilience.
4. Hapax
Year established: 2024
Location: Texas, USA
Funds raised: Undisclosed
Hapax is an AI-powered knowledge assistant built specifically for the financial services industry. It provides highly accurate, validated responses for banking professionals. Unlike generic AI models, it is trained on 13 years of proprietary financial data from CBANC, including 20,000+ documents, 10,000+ hours of videos, and over 230,000 banker conversations. By delivering precise answers with citations, Hapax helps smaller banks and credit unions bridge the information gap that separates them from large financial institutions.
How they are changing the industry:
Purpose-built AI for banking: Designed exclusively for financial services, unlike off-the-shelf LLMs.
Regulatory compliance expertise: Helps banks navigate complex regulations with validated, citation-backed responses.
Bridging the gap for smaller banks: Provides the same high-level insights available to large institutions, making compliance and decision-making more accessible.
Enhancing operational efficiency: Reduces reliance on expensive consultants by providing instant, expert-level insights across compliance, marketing, vendor vetting, and internal policies.
5. Capatalize
Year established: 2020
Location: New York, USA
Funds raised: $15 million
Millions of Americans lose track of their 401(k) accounts when changing jobs, leaving behind valuable retirement savings. Capitalize makes it easy to find, manage, and roll over old 401(k) accounts through a seamless online platform. By automating what was once a tedious and confusing process, the company helps users consolidate their retirement savings efficiently. Recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions and Forbes’ Top 50 Fintech Companies, Capitalize is transforming the way individuals take control of their financial future.
How they are changing the industry:
Simplifying 401(k) rollovers: Automates the process of transferring old accounts into active retirement plans.
Helping users reclaim lost funds: Finds and consolidates forgotten 401(k) accounts, preventing lost retirement savings.
Bridging the financial literacy gap: Makes retirement planning more accessible through easy-to-use technology.
Powering financial institutions: Provides technology-driven rollover solutions for banks and investment firms.
Award-winning innovation: Recognized for its impact by TIME, Fast Company, and Forbes.
6. Kudos Technologies
Year established: 2021
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $17 million
Navigating the world of credit card rewards and payments can be overwhelming, but Kudos Technologies is making it effortless with its AI-powered smart wallet. The consumer fintech platform helps users maximize credit card rewards, optimize spending, and make smarter financial decisions in real time. By integrating with multiple cards and merchants, Kudos ensures that users always get the best benefits from their existing credit cards.
How they are changing the industry:
AI-powered smart wallet: Recommends the best credit card for each purchase to maximize rewards.
Seamless payment optimization: Helps users take full advantage of cashback, points, and travel perks.
Integrated across multiple cards: Works with various issuers to streamline payment choices.
Enhanced financial transparency: Empowers users to make data-driven spending decisions.
7. Martini.ai
Year established: 2019
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $6 million
Understanding credit risk and financial insights is critical for lenders and investors. Martini.ai is redefining how this data is analyzed for that very purpose. Using agentic AI technology, the company delivers real-time credit risk assessments and company research that enhance financial decision-making. Martini.ai’s leverage of AI-powered insights streamlines underwriting, improves risk modeling, and enhances credit profiling for financial institutions.
How they are changing the industry:
AI-driven credit risk analysis: Provides real-time insights into a company’s creditworthiness.
Agentic AI-powered research: Uses autonomous AI agents to deliver in-depth financial intelligence.
Improved underwriting efficiency: Helps lenders make faster, data-backed credit decisions.
Streamlined risk modeling: Enhances how financial institutions assess borrower stability.
Bringing transparency to credit markets: Delivers clearer insights into firm credit profiles for better investment decisions.
8. DeFacto
Year established: 2021
Location: Paris, France
Funds raised: $30.2 million
Small and medium-sized businesses often face challenges accessing fast and flexible financing. DeFacto provides embedded lending solutions that integrate directly into B2B marketplaces, fintech platforms, and software providers, offering instant access to credit. Businesses can secure financing at the point of need, without dealing with slow, traditional loan applications.
How they are changing the industry:
Instant credit access: Provides fast financing solutions embedded within business platforms.
Seamless integration: Connects directly with B2B marketplaces and fintech providers.
Data-driven underwriting: Uses real-time financial data to assess creditworthiness.
Empowering SMBs: Helps small and medium-sized businesses secure funding without friction.
Scalable lending model: Supports a variety of industries with flexible loan options.
Simple transparent pricing: Clear pricing of 0.05% per day with no hidden fees, ensuring businesses understand their borrowing costs upfront.
9. Found
Year established: 2020
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $73 million
Freelancers and self-employed professionals often struggle with managing finances, taxes, and banking. Found offers a business banking platform designed specifically for independent workers, combining banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools into one seamless app. The platform eliminates the need for multiple financial services by automating expense tracking, tax calculations, and invoicing in a user-friendly interface.
How they are changing the industry:
Banking built for freelancers: Provides a tailored financial solution for independent workers.
Automated tax management: Calculates tax estimates and sets aside funds for payments.
Expense tracking and invoicing: Helps users manage business finances effortlessly.
10. Atomic
Year established: 2020
Location: California, USA
Funds raised: $65.1 million
Fintech companies looking to offer wealth management and trading capabilities often face regulatory and operational hurdles. Atomic provides an embedded investing platform that enables businesses to integrate investing, direct indexing, and tax-loss harvesting without the complexity of in-house development. The platform empowers fintechs to seamlessly launch investment features, expanding access to wealth-building tools for a broader audience.
How they are changing the industry:
Embedded investing solutions: Allows fintechs to offer investment products without building them from scratch.
Regulatory and compliance support: Handles operational complexities so businesses can focus on growth.
Ethical investing and direct indexing: Provides personalized portfolio management tools.
Tax-loss harvesting: Optimizes investment strategies to reduce tax burdens for users.
Expanding wealth access: Enables more companies to offer high-quality investing experiences.
3 fintech startup ideas
While there are a lot of strong players there are still unmet opportunities in the finance SaaS space. Here are three finance app ideas:
1. AI-powered contract intelligence for financial agreements
Businesses and financial institutions deal with complex legal agreements, including loan agreements, investment contracts, and vendor financing terms. Reviewing and managing these contracts manually is time-consuming and prone to human error.
Solution: A SaaS platform that automates contract review, compliance checks, and risk assessment using AI and natural language processing (NLP). The system would highlight risky clauses, regulatory concerns, and key obligations, making it easier for financial professionals to manage agreements efficiently.
Target users: Banks, fintech lenders, investment firms, and legal teams handling financial contracts.
2. Real-time payroll and tax optimization for gig workers
Freelancers and gig workers struggle with irregular income, unpredictable tax liabilities, and lack of employer-sponsored benefits.
Solution: A real-time payroll and tax optimization SaaS that integrates with payment platforms, gig marketplaces, and neobanks to help freelancers automatically set aside taxes, optimize deductions, and access instant pay advances.
Target users: Freelancers, gig workers, self-employed professionals, and solopreneurs.
3. AI-driven alternative credit scoring for small business lending
Many small businesses struggle to get financing due to traditional credit scoring models that do not account for alternative data such as real-time revenue, customer sentiment, and transaction history.
Solution: A SaaS platform that analyzes non-traditional data sources like cash flow, customer reviews, social media engagement, and supplier payments to provide an alternative credit score for small businesses. This would help lenders make data-driven credit decisions beyond traditional credit bureau data.
Target users: Alternative lenders, fintech platforms, small businesses, and credit unions.
Thinking about starting a finance SaaS startup?
Bringing a finance SaaS startup to life is about more than just a great idea—it’s about execution. From securing funding and navigating regulations to marketing your product and acquiring customers, there’s a lot that goes into building a successful company. But none of it matters if the product itself isn’t rock solid.
That’s where having the right development team makes all the difference. Finance SaaS products require secure, scalable, and compliant infrastructure, and trying to build an in-house team from scratch can be slow, costly, and risky. You need developers who understand financial APIs, compliance requirements, and performance at scale—all while keeping development timelines short so you can get to market faster.
At DevSquad, we specialize in building high-performance SaaS products while founders focus on growing their business. Instead of worrying about hiring developers, managing a product roadmap, or fixing bugs, you can concentrate on customer acquisition, partnerships, and scaling your company—while we build the software that powers it all.
Building a SaaS product? Learn more about our SaaS development process.
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