London-based currency platform Glyde has recently secured £450,000 in pre-seed funding aimed at scaling its operations and accelerating product development. Founded by brothers Ellis and Nathan Taylor, Glyde seeks to reshape the landscape of cross-border money transfers by empowering individuals and businesses to send, receive, and convert money on their terms. Unlike traditional foreign exchange providers, the platform supports transactions in over 50 currencies, enabling users to select conversion rates themselves rather than accepting those imposed by intermediaries. This transparency promises improved profit margins, streamlined cash flow, and reduced administrative burdens.

Ellis Taylor, Glyde’s CEO and co-founder, emphasised the company’s mission to demystify the often opaque and expensive world of foreign exchange. Speaking about the platform’s approach, he noted that “foreign exchange has long been a black box” controlled by brokers and platforms offering little clarity. Glyde’s solution seeks to put control back into the hands of its users, whether they are freelancers billing in euros, businesses paying international suppliers, or individuals managing income across borders. The recent funding will primarily support the expansion of Glyde’s engineering team and facilitate a broader roll-out both domestically and internationally.

A concrete step in Glyde’s transparency mission is the launch of an FX calculator accessible without requiring any personal information. This tool reveals the true costs and hidden fees typically associated with conventional currency providers, helping users make informed decisions. Ellis Taylor highlighted that unveiling these hidden fees is essential to fostering greater clarity and competition within the foreign exchange market.

The funding round was led by Fuel Ventures, a UK-based venture capital firm known for backing early-stage technology companies across fintech and SaaS sectors. Mark Pearson, Managing Partner at Fuel Ventures, expressed confidence in Glyde’s potential to address a significant challenge in the modern global economy. He remarked that the product “hands real control back to users,” offering an alternative to outdated FX systems and serving a broad customer base including digital nomads, ecommerce sellers, and businesses experiencing international growth.

Fuel Ventures brings more than just financial support; it offers strategic guidance that could be instrumental as Glyde ramps up its customer acquisition and prepares for global expansion. By addressing a market long overdue for innovation, Glyde aims to bring transparency, flexibility, and user autonomy to a traditionally rigid and complex industry.

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Source: Noah Wire Services