Previse raises $11 million in funding round

The FinTech Previse announced they had raised $11 million in funding led by Mastercard and Reefknot Investments in a company press release today. Previse also got investments from existing investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Hambro Perks, and Augmentum Fintech.

Previse’s current funding round brings its total raised capital to more than $21.8 million and will support continued growth, as the business rolls out its instant payment technology, InstantPay, to more large corporate buyers all over the world.

Previse was founded in 2016 and says they currently process about 100,000 invoices a day with its goal to be to handle payments for five million suppliers within the next five years.

In the press release, Previse highlight that ‘payment of invoices by traditional methods often takes months. This is disproportionately damaging to SME suppliers as it reduces their cash flow and limits opportunities for investment and growth. The current crisis has highlighted the devastating cost of this systemic inefficiency’.

Previse’s software works by artificial intelligence analysing the data of the corporate buyer to detect the few invoices that need manual intervention, so that the rest are paid instantly, reducing hours businesses need to spend on invoicing.

Previse is part of Mastercard’s Start Path programme, and Mastercard has used InstantPay with a select group of its own suppliers as part of an ongoing effort to make B2B commerce more efficient and sustainable.

This is not the first time Mastercard has linked itself with FinTechs, with the company partnering with FinTech credit service LayBuy in early February 2020.

Paul Christensen, Co-founder and CEO, Previse, said:

 “This backing and investment from our new partners will support Previse as our instant payment technology, InstantPay, moves to adoption by more large corporate buyers all over the world.  Now, more than ever, it is important to increase the resilience of supply chains and support SMEs that economies across the world depend on. The best way to do this is for large corporates to pay invoices fast. We give corporates the tools and incentives to do that, at our risk and with 3^rd party (bank) capital.

“Previse is on a mission to get five million suppliers paid instantly, within the next five years, and this funding will help us achieve this goal.

“Reefknot and Mastercard have recognised the benefits InstantPay brings to the economy and have chosen to invest in Previse due to the profound impact it will have on supply chains globally.”

Marc Dragon, Managing Director, Reefknot, said:

 “We are excited about supporting the application of Previse’s leadership in using its technology and AI capabilities to transform global commerce.

“Previse has identified and is addressing a huge problem which affects businesses all over the world, with a solution which is a win-win for suppliers and buyers.

“We are pleased to be part of their journey to promote sustainable supply chains by getting businesses paid instantly.”

James Anderson, Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Products, Mastercard, said:

 “The business world has accelerated, but the payments that enable it remain stuck in neutral. Effort needs to be applied to more strategic work and back-offices need tools to help streamline operations. It is solutions and innovations like those being driven by Previse and Mastercard, through banks to their corporate customers, that will help businesses support their suppliers, and liberate them from inefficient processes.”

George Davies, Partner, Hambro Perks, said:

 “Having identified the potential in Previse and backing them from day one, we are delighted to continue to support the outstanding team on their mission to get suppliers paid, instantly. This is needed now more than ever and we look forward to welcoming and working alongside Reefknot and Mastercard as we support Previse on this journey.”

Martyn Holman, Partner, Augmentum, said:

“Much has been made of FinTechs enabling a more efficient economy, and in Previse we have a leading example of just such a company – addressing a crucial aspect of large corporate/SME relationships which are often one-sided to the detriment of the SME. The Previse solution addresses this issue with a win-win proposition and if adopted widely will make the SME sector more efficient and more robust, and better able to prosper in an increasingly competitive market.”