Neobank For Businesses Raises Its Valuation To $720 Million Despite Fintech Depression

Miami-based small enterprise banking platform Novo has raised $35 million from GGV capital at a pre-money valuation of $720 million, up from $610 million in January. The brand new funding spherical is an extension of its Sequence B fundraise earlier this 12 months.

Novo’s primary product is a enterprise checking account geared in the direction of small and medium-sized firms. The cellular financial institution presents purchasers an app market that permits them to plug instruments from third events like cost processor Stripe or accounting software program Quickbooks into their checking account.

“​Banks have largely pushed a one-size-fits-all product to very several types of companies and compelled that sq. peg by way of the spherical gap for a few years,” Rangel says. “We put that on its head and permit small companies to customise their very own merchandise by plugging within the instruments used to run the enterprise proper into the checking account.”

Novo’s projected income for 2022 is roughly $20 million, up from $8 million in 2021, the startup says. The corporate presently has slightly below 200,000 small enterprise prospects in contrast with 140,000 on the finish of 2021. Roughly half of incoming purchasers are switching from present banks, whereas the opposite half are newly shaped companies, in response to Rangel.

The corporate’s plan to compete in a crowded area of business-focused neobanks is by narrowing in on digitally-run small companies together with freelancers or skilled esports groups that make cash by way of subscriptions on streaming platforms like Twitch. Companies with few staff like neighborhood dental workplaces additionally match into Novo’s goal buyer.

In June, enterprise banking fintech Brex introduced that it will shut the accounts of small and medium-sized companies because it shifted focus to serving enterprise purchasers, except venture-backed startups. Rho’s focus is mid-sized companies with revenues between $10 million and $1 billion. Ramp targets a variety of companies from small firms to enterprise purchasers.

Novo’s valuation bump stands out in a market the place fintech valuations have dropped sharply over the previous 12 months. The $35 million deal doesn’t have favorable liquidation preferences for GGV Capital, CEO Rangel says, which suggests traders should not assured returns if the corporate fails or is bought. Liquidation preferences have develop into extra widespread as firms try to boost in a more durable atmosphere with out reducing their valuations. Within the public market, fintech shares are down 47% year-to-date.

Robin Li, a principal at GGV Capital, will be a part of Novo’s board as an observer. The extra capital brings the corporate’s whole fairness funding to $170 million. Its final fundraise was a $90 million sequence B spherical led by non-public fairness agency Stripes in January of this 12 months. Novo has landed spots on the Forbes Fintech 50 and Forbes Subsequent Billion Greenback Startups lists.

As for what the funds might be used for, Novo plans to proceed growing its lately launched small enterprise lending product. Moreover, the corporate goals to streamline small companies’ money circulation by way of merchandise like Novo Increase, which supplies firms same-day entry to income processed by its companion Stripe.