UK fintech startup Stoa has raised $2.4 million in a pre-seed funding round to accelerate the growth of its cash management platform, which enables consumers and businesses to access upfront rewards on cash deposits.
The round was co-led by Bespokeist Partners and Ingenii Capital, with participation from Force Over Mass Capital and Fuel Ventures. Individual investors included Suneel Hargunani, formerly of Citi, Rachel Sestini, partner at Shaw Gibbs Group and co-founder of Canopy Capital, and other senior executives from the financial services sector.
Stoa combines behavioural finance, embedded banking infrastructure and merchant partnerships to create a platform that connects financial institutions, brands and customers.
The platform is now live in the UK for both consumers and businesses, allowing customers to place funds into fixed-term "Stoa Pots" and receive upfront rewards from partner brands instead of relying solely on interest payments. Deposits are held with regulated banking partners, with eligible funds protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Mike Saraswat, co-founder and CEO of Stoa, said:
The future of cash management is not just about interest rates. People want choice, tangible value and a clearer sense of how their money is working for them. Stoa is creating a new experience around idle cash by offering customers upfront rewards while keeping eligible deposits protected through regulated banking infrastructure.
According to the company, more than £600 billion is held in low-yield or non-interest-bearing consumer accounts in the UK, alongside more than £250 billion in SME cash reserves. The company aims to offer an alternative model that combines fixed-term deposits with upfront consumer rewards through partnerships with financial institutions and merchants.
The funding will support product development, partnership growth and the company's expansion in the UK and the United States. The company said it is building partnerships with financial institutions and merchants in the US ahead of a planned market launch.
Would you like to write the first comment?
Login to post comments