{"id":22612,"date":"2022-09-20T08:42:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T06:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage-fp.webenv.pl\/blog\/?p=22612"},"modified":"2023-02-22T12:45:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T11:45:41","slug":"top-10-leading-fintech-companies-you-must-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/top-10-leading-fintech-companies-you-must-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 leading FinTech companies you must know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although in 2022<\/a>, those \u201cunicorns<\/strong>\u201d are no longer as rare as the mythical creatures, it’s still an impressive milestone to reach in the investors’ world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering an enormously successful wave of seed funding in 2021 and the rate at which innovative digital products and tools are developed these days, industry sources state there are approximately 1,100 start-ups<\/a> with that status in mid-2022. Roughly 20%<\/a> of them are in the fintech game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are ten of the American ones we’re keeping a close eye on: from powerful giants<\/strong> to wave-making leprechauns<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Stripe \u2013 Payments infrastructure for the internet<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $95 billion (March 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Practically every fintech ranking includes Stripe<\/a>. Because ignoring this groundbreaking start-up would mean not acknowledging the historic example it set for the \u201cunicorn\u201d club. The company was founded in Silicon Valley in 2010. 12 years later, it is the most valuable American private fintech and the fourth one globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Stripe, everything is about effective payment processing online<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nasdaq <\/strong>chose it because of its robust security <\/strong>and reliability<\/strong>. Urban mobility company Lime, on the other hand, was looking for improved accuracy and speed of financial reconciliation. In January 2022, Spotify partnered with the start-up \u201cto help creators easily monetize subscription content<\/a>.\u201d And those are only three examples from Stripe’s impressive client list<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: The company’s founders are Irish. Hence, the HQs are in Dublin and San Francisco. This duality emphasizes the start-up’s presence in two big financial markets on both sides of the Atlantic. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Chime \u2013 The mobile banking everybody loves<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $25 billion (August 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

What’s the most annoying thing when keeping your money in the bank? We bet it’s the associated fees (speaking from experience).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chime<\/a><\/strong>‘s founders thought so, too. So they decided<\/a> to offer free checking<\/strong> (current) accounts instead<\/strong>. They chucked in zero overdraft fees with cash advances in the bundle, too. And you don’t even need a minimum balance to open a free mobile bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, it might not sound so unusual anymore. However, when the company was founded ten years ago, it was still very much a novelty.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: Chime boasts 13 million active accounts in 2022, compared to eight million in 2020. That’s more than New Zealand’s and Hong Kong’s populations combined. Not all customers have free checking accounts, but that number tells you a lot about the bank’s rising popularity. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


OpenSea \u2013 How many NFTs have you already minted?<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $13.3 billion (January 2022) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you’re still not well-versed in the NFT subject<\/strong>, can you truly call yourself a 21st-century entrepreneur? The market for this digital asset is growing as quickly as the temperatures are rising in the UK in summer 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OpenSea<\/a> brags about being the original peer-to-peer platform providing a marketplace for NFT buyers. Its history is fairly recent (it was established in 2017), but it already processes \u201cabout $3 billion in NFT transactions monthly<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not without its challenges, OpenSea has made a free minting tool <\/strong>available to virtually any user. So if you’ve ever wanted to give it a shot, it’s your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before everyone is an NFT owner.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: The platform’s founders will go down in history books as the first NFT billionaires, too. They reached that status in January 2021 already. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


GoodLeap \u2013 A sustainability marketplace<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $12 billion (October 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Renewable energies, and especially solar power, are hot topics these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As more businesses and individuals embrace environmentally-friendly initiatives<\/strong>, switching from traditional fossil-fuel sources to more sustainable methods of energy production is a necessity if we want our children to have a future on this planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GoodLeap<\/a> (fka Paramount Equity from 2003-2017 and Loanpal until 2021) is well aware of that. The start-up’s execs bring the combined forces of solar energy generation systems<\/strong> and mortgage broker experience. The company makes it easier for homeowners to secure financing for greening their households. Some eco-friendly solutions they back are battery storage, smart home devices, energy-efficient windows, or water-saving turf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: In January 2021, the company was the top solar lender in the US. If this statistic doesn’t impress you, we don’t know what else can. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Deel – International payroll made easy<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $12 billion (May 2022) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before the pandemic, remote work<\/strong> was a privilege. In 2022, it is normality. Businesses have learned that geographically-dispersed teams and hiring experts abroad are no longer obstacles to getting the job done well. Chances are your staff are also partially based elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until Deel<\/a> came along in 2018, the only challenge remaining was hiring <\/strong>and remunerating overseas employees<\/strong>. The start-up’s comprehensive platform provided a practical solution for that, \u201cbuilt for today’s world of work.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deel offers a range of other useful services: ensuring compliance with local laws, non-traditional payment options, including Revolut<\/strong>, PayPal<\/strong>, or cryptocurrencies<\/a>, facilitating access to health insurance, or helping with visas for foreign workers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: Due to the nature of its business, Deel is, obviously, a remote-first start-up as well. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Kraken \u2013 A crypto exchange for everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $10 billion (projected \u2013 June 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you’re an investor, you know what’s crackin’ anyway. So this leading platform would be your go-to place for 120+ cryptocurrencies<\/strong>, amongst them Bitcoin and Ethereum, that you can exchange for fiat (regular) money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is it one of the most trusted online marketplaces in the world, but it’s also one of the oldest. Investopedia called it \u201ca good choice for new and experienced crypto investors<\/strong>.\u201d And Forbes Advisor <\/strong>gave it a 4.6-star rating, citing sophisticated features, good customer service options, and relatively low Bitcoin withdrawal fees as its main advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a company entering its teenage years (11 in July 2022), Kraken<\/a> has already proved its \u201cwisdom\u201d beyond its age. The start-up doubles down on cybersecurity and is particularly uncompromising about protecting its users from potential hacks.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: Kraken reports its pricing to the Bloomberg Terminal, which makes it that much more credible in the trading world. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Cedar \u2013 It pays to care<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $3.2 billion (March 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

When you recover from being unwell, the last thing you need is another headache related to payments for your treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter Cedar<\/a>, a start-up that strives to alleviate some more pain from that traditionally cumbersome process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New York company, started in 2016, is in the business of removing obstacles <\/strong>in \u201ctoday\u2019s fragmented healthcare <\/strong>system [that] frustrates everyone.\u201d It’s a payment and engagement solution used by hospitals and other medical organizations to interact with their clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedar’s consumer-friendly platform, labeled \u201cThe Cedar Advantage\u201d, takes the clients through the whole process: from pre-service (appointment booking) to post-visit (billing breakdown). Like many other innovative products, it was birthed after the co-founder’s \u201cnightmarish personal journey through the healthcare system<\/a> led to confusion, frustration, and disappointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: In the sector brutally tested in the pandemic times, we hope that investment in digital health solutions will continue to improve patients’ journey. Cedar is a perfect example of necessity turned opportunity. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Caribou \u2013 Car payments under control<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $1.1 billion (May 2022) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Americans love their cars. The country is so big that an automobile is often the best, if not the only, means of transport. Hence, insurance and other car-related payments are probably a common worry for the US population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caribou<\/a> wants to change that. It claims that if \u201ccars offer flexibility and freedom, payments shouldn\u2019t hold you back<\/a>.\u201d As a result, it aims to make car owners aware that their best deal is not always the best one<\/strong>. Secondly, it wants to educate <\/strong>them on how to make savings next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the company has only recently joined the \u201cunicorn club\u201d, its innovative angle leverages the value of local lenders. Thanks to that partnership, the start-up can offer its clients a more competitive rate portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: Goldman Sachs is one of the investors behind Caribou. We’ll just leave it at that. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Human Interest \u2013 Helping employees save for retirement<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $1 billion (August 2021) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

In a world driven by purchasing power and hedonism, hardly anybody thinks of retirement. We’re used to spending our earnings here and now. That avocado on toast story, \u201cblaming<\/strong>\u201d the millennials for not knowing how to invest money, might be slightly exaggerated. But the truth is that, as a global society, we’re not very good at saving up for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Interest<\/a> noticed that worrying trend already in 2015. This 401(k) (pension-oriented) has developed a digital retirement benefits platform<\/strong> that allows<\/a><\/strong> the employees of small and medium-sized companies \u201cto launch a retirement plan <\/strong>in minutes and put it on autopilot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it seems to have gained the traction it deserves. Since the pandemic <\/strong>has taught people how important it is to have a financial buffer, Human Interest’s client base and revenue have significantly grown in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: The start-up is currently preparing for an IPO in 2023. So this is probably the final call to get on the bandwagon. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

You are expecting number ten now, correct? But instead, there’s an honorable mention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Klarna \u2013 Buy now, pay later<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n Valuation: $46 billion (with an estimated drop to $30 billion \u2013 May 2022) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

While not exactly a US company, we can’t omit this post-purchase payment<\/strong> start-up in this ranking, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Established in 2005 in Stockholm, it began operations in the States ten years later. Along with enormous success <\/strong>on the other side of the Atlantic, it is also \u201cEurope’s most valuable private tech company<\/strong>\u201d to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swedish start-up speaks to every consumer’s dream, regardless of their country of origin. Klarna’s <\/a>core business ponders the question: Wouldn’t it be nice to buy something but not have to pay for it right away? And the answer is \u201cyes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n Unicorn fact: The start-up doesn’t make money from those postponed payments. Instead, it charges \u201cretail partners for affiliate marketing and payments services.\u201d <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n


Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although they are now public companies, Airbnb<\/strong>, PayPal<\/strong>, and Google <\/strong>are sometimes considered 21st-century \u201cunicorns\u201d as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their story is almost like a fairy tale. It’s a little about fighting dangerous dragons<\/strong>, seeking the advice of wise wizards, and gradually gathering the riches to become \u201ckings<\/strong>\u201d of their respective \u201cterritories<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if that \u201cfantastic\u201d journey is any indication of where being a \u201cunicorn<\/strong>\u201d can ultimately take a start-up in the future, smart investors should pay even closer attention to progressive fintech companies<\/strong> in 2022. Like the ones we presented above.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n \n \n
\n

\n Join the winners! <\/h3>\n \n
\n

Achieve your business goals with technology<\/strong> and get the product that is well adapted to your environment.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n Discover our software services<\/span>\n \n <\/use>\n <\/svg> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

$1 billion worth – this is what earns a start-up the \u201dunicorn\u201d status. When the term was first coined in 2013, only about 6% of all privately-owned software and internet companies made that elusive list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":22613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[998],"tags":[2092],"coauthors":[1949],"class_list":["post-22612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-it-business-news","tag-fintech"],"acf":{"reading-time":"7 min","show-toc-sublists":false,"image":null,"logo":null,"button1":{"button1_type":"","button":null},"button2":{"button2_type":"","button":null},"person":{"person_photo":null,"person_name":"","person_position":""}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22612"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.future-processing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=22612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}