This week’s version of Finovate International options latest fintech information from Canada.
Wealthsimple secures $750 million at valuation of $10 billion
Canadian fintech Wealthsimple has raised CAD $750 million at a post-money valuation of CAD $10 billion. The funding spherical consists of each a CAD $550 million major providing and a secondary providing of as much as CAD $200 million. Dragoneer Funding Group and GIC led the spherical, which additionally featured participation from new investor Canada Pension Plan Funding Board (CPP Investments) in addition to present buyers Energy Company of Canada, IGM Monetary Inc. ICONIQ, Greylock, and Meritech.
“This increase displays deep confidence from new and returning buyers in our mission and our function as a defining Canadian firm,” Wealthsimple Co-Founder and CEO Michael Katchen mentioned. “We have been intentional in selecting companions dedicated to the long-term way forward for Wealthsimple. These are well-respected, international leaders with a confirmed observe file (of) scaling class leaders, and who consider in our imaginative and prescient for the way forward for monetary providers.”
Based in 2014 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Wealthsimple presents a collection of low-cost monetary options to assist Canadians construct wealth. The corporate’s platform options self-directed investing, managed portfolios, digital asset investing, tax submitting, advisor providers, and extra in a single, built-in expertise. Wealthsimple serves three million Canadians and has $100 billion in belongings underneath administration.
“Few corporations have achieved what Wealthsimple has in the previous couple of years,” Dragoneer Funding Group Companion Christian Jensen mentioned. “The Wealthsimple staff has constructed an expansive monetary platform that thousands and thousands of Canadians belief. They’re not simply taking part in Canada’s monetary providers trade; they’re redefining it.”
Earlier this 12 months, Wealthsimple unveiled a waitlist for its first bank card, which topped 300,000 Canadians within the first six months. The corporate’s fundraising information follows a worthwhile 2024 and present profitability in 2025, as properly. The capital infusion will assist Wealthsimple speed up its product roadmap in investing, spending, and credit score, in addition to help the corporate’s efforts to develop its platform.
Fintech funding slows in H1 forward of potential rebound in H2
Talking of funding and Canadian fintech, KPMG’s Canada Fintech Funding Report is an effective way to rise up to hurry on the funding tendencies which might be supporting fintech innovation in Canada. The report was printed in August, and focuses on funding tendencies from the primary half of 2025.
Whereas the report signifies that Canadian fintech funding fell considerably in comparison with worldwide tendencies, the report authors recommend that the primary half of 2025 represented a normalization within the wake of file excessive ranges of funding in 2024. Areas of investor curiosity embrace AI, particularly agentic AI, and digital belongings, which characterize a continuation of tendencies from 2024. A extra constructive regulatory tone towards cryptocurrencies—particularly stablecoins—within the US has been credited for this rebound in curiosity in digital belongings. The report additionally famous some curiosity in quantum computing amongst insurers.
“Final 12 months was exceptionally sturdy for fintech funding, thanks to 2 main take-private offers,” Dubie Cunningham, a Companion in KPMG in Canada’s Banking and Capital Markets Apply, defined. “Since then, funding exercise has dropped to extra steady ranges. In reality, when you think about the financial shifts similar to tariffs affecting international commerce, funding within the first half was fairly strong in comparison with historic ranges. There’s nonetheless a variety of dry powder able to be deployed by buyers, however they’re demonstrating extra selective habits than in earlier years. They’re searching for high quality corporations and we’re seeing longer tails for maturing mid-to-large stage personal fairness offers.”
Learn the total report.
Coming to Canada: Atlanta’s Rainforest and Lebanon’s Whish Cash
This week reminds us of how enticing Canada is to a rising variety of fintechs world wide. Rainforest, a embedded funds firm primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia, introduced just lately that it’s seeking to develop to Canada. The corporate, based in 2022, secured $29 million in funding in September, taking its whole capital raised to $57.5 million. The thought of increasing to Canada, as Rainforest Founder and CEO Joshua Silver defined to International Atlanta, represents greater than a regional enlargement for the corporate itself. The transfer would additionally assist Rainforest’s platform shopper develop their choices in a brand new market.
Rainforest focuses on funds partnerships with software program suppliers that focus on companies in underserved trade sectors. These software program suppliers themselves are an underserved section of the trade—processing $50 million to $2 billion in annual funds. Rainforest presents an embedded funds resolution that allows software program platforms to offer a strong funds expertise for his or her finish retailers with out having to register as a cost facilitator with card networks.
Hailing from even farther away than the Peach State the place Rainforest resides is Whish Cash. Headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, and controlled by the nation’s central financial institution, Whish Cash introduced this week that it had secured monetary providers licenses in Canada. The regulatory approvals are the primary for the corporate outdoors of the MENA area, and is a part of a world enlargement that features coming into markets within the US, the UK, the EU, and Australia.
“Securing our Canadian license is a monumental step that validates our compliant, customer-focused mannequin and units the muse for our worldwide enlargement,” Whish Cash board chairman Toufic Koussa mentioned. “This transfer is about extra than simply coming into a brand new market; it’s about strategically connecting high-diaspora communities with dependable monetary infrastructure, starting with North America. We’re dedicated to constructing a regulated, clear international ecosystem that actually serves our customers.”
Whish Cash presents a spread of digital monetary providers together with payroll, fund transfers, and billpay. Based in 2019, the corporate’s e-wallet, cash remittance, and e-distribution platform has a person base of greater than 1.5 million. The corporate’s international enlargement is being supported by partnerships with corporations similar to Visa, Mastercard, Ria, and Terrapay.
Right here is our take a look at fintech innovation world wide.
Central and Southern Asia
Pakistan-based fintech startup ZAR raised $13 million for its expertise that allows shopper to transform money into stablecoins.
Indian fintech infrastructure firm Falcon introduced a partnership with expertise consulting agency Tech Mahindra.
Alipay+ and HUMO, Uzebekistan’s nationwide cost system, teamed as much as facilitate cross-border funds.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Blockchain infrastructure and cryptocurrency supplier Binance unveiled QR code funds in Argentina
Kueski and dLocal staff as much as convey Purchase Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers to retailers in Mexico.
Nubank and OpenAI partnered to launch ChatGPR Go in Brazil to offer people better entry to ChatGPT’s superior capabilties at a decrease value.
Asia-Pacific
Remittance supplier Viamericas partnered with Dong Phuong Cash Switch to develop entry to remittance providers all through Vietnam.
Japanese fintech JPYC launched the nation’s first yen-denominated stablecoin.
Malaysian fintech Instapay earned a spot on CB Insights’ International Fintech 100.
Sub-Saharan Africa
South African fintech SME Snapshot launched up to date model of its enterprise administration dashboard.
Nigeria’s Flutterwave partnered with Polygon to launch a stablecoin cost community throughout 34 African international locations.
Kenya’s Alternative Financial institution teamed up with Safaricom to energy cross-border cash transfers.
Central and Japanese Europe
Coinbase and Tink teamed as much as convey Pay by Financial institution crypto funds to prospects in Germany.
Lithuanian regtech IDenfy partnered with Australian remittance service supplier J Foreign exchange Cash Switch.
Finlayer and Salt Edge annnounced a partnership to convey open banking to small and medium-sized companies in Romania.
Center East and Northern Africa
Saudi Arabian Purchase Now Pay Later agency Tabby boosted its valuation to greater than $4.5 billion within the wake of a secondary share sale.
Israel-based Viola Credit score closed its third credit score fund at $2 billion, topping its authentic goal of $1.5 billion.
Lebanon-based fintech Whish Cash secured monetary providers licenses in Canada.
Picture by Harrison Haines
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