London-based fintech Yaspa has secured $12 million in a funding round led by Discerning Capital to boost its expansion into the US. The firm’s AI-driven instant payments platform targets regulated gambling operators, aiming to tackle chargebacks and enhance player protections amid evolving compliance demands.
Yaspa, a rapidly growing fintech firm based in London, has secured $12 million in a funding round led by Discerning Capital, with additional investments from Metavallon and TechStars Ventures. This influx of capital is set to accelerate Yaspa’s expansion into the United States, where it has recently incorporated a new entity headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Yaspa specialises in instant payment and identity verification services, utilising a combination of open banking technology and artificial intelligence. Its flagship product, Intelligent Payments, is a real-time payments platform designed to enhance customer intelligence for regulated businesses, particularly in high-risk sectors like gambling. By connecting identity and payment data, Yaspa aims to offer faster, more secure, and cost-efficient bank payments compared to traditional card-based transactions.
James Neville, Yaspa’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted the significance of the funding as a pivotal step in adapting and scaling their technology for the U.S. market. He emphasised the company’s commitment to supporting businesses focused on compliance, player safety, and user experience—a response to the evolving regulatory landscape within the gambling sector in the U.S.
Discerning Capital’s Partner, David Williams, who will join Yaspa’s board, echoed this strategic focus, stating that Yaspa’s solution addresses two critical challenges in regulated gambling payments: chargebacks and player protections. He expressed strong confidence that operators who compare Yaspa’s account-to-account (A2A) payment product with existing providers would choose Yaspa for its innovative approach.
Yaspa’s technological foundation is built on open banking, a sector regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company has established a robust presence across the UK and several European markets, and the latest funding round marks a deliberate push into the U.S., where payment dynamics and compliance requirements present unique opportunities and challenges.
This round’s participation by TechStars Ventures aligns with the accelerator’s ongoing efforts to back promising fintech startups globally. TechStars, with nearly two decades of experience supporting early-stage companies through mentorship and investment, recently increased its funding terms to provide greater capital to startups within its programs. The accelerator is also actively raising a new $150 million fund geared towards expanding its global footprint, underscoring its commitment to nurturing innovative ventures like Yaspa.
The partnership with Metavallon, a VC firm with a history of supporting fintech innovations, also reinforces Yaspa’s growth trajectory. Metavallon’s involvement contributes not only capital but validation of Yaspa’s potential to transform payment processes within regulated sectors.
As Yaspa embarks on its U.S. market expansion, the company faces a landscape characterised by complex regulatory demands and a pressing need for more secure and efficient payment solutions. The fresh funding equips Yaspa with the resources to hire local talent, forge essential strategic partnerships, and tailor its platform to meet market-specific requirements, positioning it to be a significant player in the competitive payments infrastructure space.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://tech.eu/2025/07/02/yaspa-receives-12m-investment-to-fuel-us-expansion/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://tech.eu/2025/07/02/yaspa-receives-12m-investment-to-fuel-us-expansion/ – Yaspa, a London-based fintech company, has secured $12 million in funding led by Discerning Capital to support its expansion into the United States. Metavallon and TechStars Ventures also participated in this funding round. Yaspa offers instant payment and identity services, leveraging open banking technology and AI to enhance customer intelligence through its real-time payments solution, Intelligent Payments. The company, headquartered in London, processes payments across Europe and has recently established a U.S. entity in Atlanta, Georgia. CEO James Neville expressed enthusiasm about entering the U.S. market, focusing on compliance, player safety, and user experience as the market matures.
- https://metavallon.vc/portfolio-companies/yaspa/ – Metavallon VC, a venture capital firm, has invested in Yaspa, a fintech company that connects identity and money to simplify and accelerate payments. Founded in 2017 by former Worldpay CTO James Neville, Yaspa uses open banking to provide instant bank payments that are faster, more secure, and more cost-effective than cards. The company helps regulated businesses seamlessly verify customers and their payments. Yaspa is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and operates widely across the UK and Europe. Metavallon VC’s investment supports Yaspa’s growth and expansion in the fintech sector.
- https://www.techstars.com/ – Techstars is a global startup accelerator that provides mentorship-driven seed-stage investment programs for early-stage companies. Founded in 2006, Techstars has invested in over 4,800 companies across various sectors, including fintech, health tech, and clean tech. The accelerator offers startups access to a vast network of mentors, investors, and corporate partners, aiming to help them succeed and scale. Techstars operates in multiple cities worldwide, including London, New York, and Berlin, and has a strong track record of supporting innovative startups through its comprehensive programs.
- https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/18/techstars-increases-startup-funding-to-220000-mirroring-yc-structure/ – Techstars, a nearly 20-year-old startup accelerator, announced new terms for startups entering its three-month program, increasing its investment to $220,000. This amount includes $20,000 in exchange for 5% equity and $200,000 in the form of an uncapped SAFE note with a ‘most favored nation’ clause. This adjustment aligns Techstars’ funding structure more closely with that of Y Combinator, which increased its funding to startups three years ago. The new terms aim to provide startups with more capital while adjusting the equity stake Techstars takes in exchange for its investment.
- https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/06/techstars-raising-capital-new-fund.html – Startup investor Techstars is actively raising capital for its next fund, aiming to raise up to $150 million. The accelerator, which offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs across 36 cities and 12 countries, plans to use the new fund to support its global expansion efforts. Techstars has previously invested in notable businesses like Canopy, Rheaply, and Veho. The new fund comes at a time when venture capital activity across the U.S. is on a decline, making investors like Techstars increasingly important for early-stage companies seeking funding.
- https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/30/techstars-global-expansion/ – Techstars, a startup accelerator founded in 2006, secured a $42 million investment led by SVB Financial Group, the holding company of Silicon Valley Bank, with participation from Foundry Group. The funding aims to accelerate Techstars’ global expansion efforts, enabling the firm to invest in early-stage startups across various sectors. Techstars operates 49 accelerator programs in 35 cities across 16 countries and has invested in approximately 490 new startups per year. The company plans to use the fresh funds to grow Techstars Studio, which builds and launches its own companies, and Techstars Ecosystem Development, which helps communities grow and sustain startup economies.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no prior publications found. The earliest known publication date is July 2, 2025. No evidence of recycled content or republishing across low-quality sites. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No identical quotes were found in earlier material. The quotes are unique to this report, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Tech.eu, a reputable organisation known for its coverage of European technology and startup news. This enhances the credibility of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about Yaspa’s $12 million funding round and its expansion into the U.S. market are plausible and align with the company’s recent activities. The report provides specific details, including the involvement of Discerning Capital, Metavallon, and TechStars Ventures, which are verifiable entities. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications, and the structure is focused and relevant to the claim.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reputable organisation. All claims are plausible and supported by specific details. No signs of disinformation or recycled content were found.
