London-based fintech startup Glyde has secured £450,000 in pre-seed funding, marking a significant step towards disrupting the foreign exchange (FX) market with a fresh approach that prioritises transparency and user control. Founded by brothers Ellis and Nathan Taylor, Glyde offers a currency platform designed to empower individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to send, receive, and convert over 50 currencies, choosing their own exchange rates rather than accepting those imposed by traditional providers. This model aims to improve profit margins, streamline cash flow management, and reduce administrative burdens for users.

The Taylor brothers’ mission with Glyde is to demystify foreign exchange, a sector often criticised for its opacity and costly broker fees. Ellis Taylor, CEO, emphasises that the longstanding complexity and lack of transparency in FX have constrained users—be they freelancers billing in euros, businesses paying overseas suppliers, or anyone managing cross-border income. He highlights their platform as a faster, clearer, and more cost-effective alternative. To complement this, Glyde has launched an FX calculator that reveals hidden fees commonly charged by traditional providers, helping users make more informed financial decisions without requiring personal data input.

The £450,000 investment round, led by Fuel Ventures, will fund the expansion of Glyde’s engineering team, accelerate product development, and support their ambitions for domestic and international growth. Mark Pearson, Managing Partner at Fuel Ventures, stressed the product’s appeal to diverse users—from digital nomads to e-commerce sellers and growing businesses—offering a tangible alternative to outdated FX systems entrenched in the market.

Glyde’s platform is positioned as a comprehensive treasury automation solution tailored to SMEs, an often underserved segment in cross-border payments. It provides a suite of sophisticated FX tools traditionally reserved for large corporations, including FX risk management, fixed spreads at 0.2%, no setup or maintenance fees, and local payment options like ACH, Fedwire, and SEPA. Users can convert and send currencies in just a few clicks, accessing features such as forward contracts, live currency charts, stop losses, and dedicated account manager support through live chat. The company claims to have already served over 100 SME clients, facilitating FX transactions across 140 currency pairs with partners having exchanged over $1 billion.

The startup distinguishes itself by combining a transparent, user-driven pricing model with automation and smart tools that simplify financial operations for SMEs. It has reported a high retention rate exceeding 90% after testing its white-label FX product for over three years. Its business model generates revenue based on a small percentage of FX transactions, ranging from 0.2% to 0.5%, positioning Glyde to compete with established fintech players like Revolut and Wise by offering more control and clearer cost structures.

As Glyde prepares for global expansion and the introduction of new features, the fintech community is watching closely. The company’s approach reflects a broader trend in the European fintech sector, where demand for improved transparency, efficiency, and user empowerment continues to rise. Glyde’s progress showcases how innovative technology combined with clear market insight can challenge legacy financial systems and offer SMEs scalable solutions in an increasingly interconnected world.

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Source: Noah Wire Services