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- 📈 Marshmallow Raises $90m, Burns Insurance Rulebook
📈 Marshmallow Raises $90m, Burns Insurance Rulebook
Meta’s Monopoly? Regulators Swipe Left
This is Cliff Equity, the UK’s business newsletter that keeps you informed on what’s important in tech, business and finance in less than 5 minutes
In today’s stories:
Marshmallow Raises $90m, Burns Insurance Rulebook
Meta’s Monopoly? Regulators Swipe Left
18.6M Funding: BKN301’s Global Takeover Begins
The summary: Marshmallow’s cracking success proves that smart tech, a fairer mission, and a cheeky bit of disruption can turn an underdog into a £2 billion fintech powerhouse—jolly good show!
The details:
Marshmallow just bagged a cool $90 million from the likes of BlackRock and Portage—doubling its valuation to over $2 billion and making it one of Europe’s hottest fintech darlings. Not bad for a company that started by insuring people the big boys ignored.
They’re going global, darling! With fresh funds in the bank, Marshmallow’s plotting world domination—well, sort of. Expect new products, international expansion, and a proper shake-up of financial services for those hopping borders.
Still insuring the underdog—immigrants, young drivers, and folks with “colourful” credit histories. With data science, machine learning, and zero patience for faff, Marshmallow’s making insurance fairer, faster, and finally paperless.
Britain’s first black-owned unicorn isn’t just making headlines—it’s making a difference. Co-founded by twin brothers, it’s now insured over a million newcomers, pulled in half a billion in revenue, and is giving the old guard a much-needed kick up the spreadsheet.
Why it matters: Marshmallow’s rise shows that shaking up dusty old industries with clever tech and a bit of empathy actually works—and makes serious money doing it. It’s proof that fintech isn’t just for flashy apps and crypto bros, but can genuinely help the people most shafted by the system. Plus, it’s always nice to see a British startup give the corporate dinosaurs a proper run for their money, isn't it?
The summary: Zuckerberg’s back in court defending Meta’s empire-building ways, as the FTC tries to play digital referee in a punchy showdown of power, politics, and who really runs the social media show.
The details:
Zuck in the Dock: Meta’s head honcho Mark Zuckerberg donned his courtroom best to fend off the FTC’s claim he built a social media empire by hoovering up rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp instead of, you know, competing.
Smoking Guns & Old Emails: The FTC flashed decade-old emails where Zuck fretted about lagging behind Instagram, calling one a “smoking gun” while Meta insisted it was just innocent early-days navel-gazing.
The Defence: It Was All About the Filters: Meta claims it bought Instagram for its camera tech, not world domination—and says growing the apps made users' lives better, not more monopolised.
Politics, Power, and a Hint of UFC: Behind the scenes, Meta’s been cosying up to Trump, paying settlements, and stacking the board with allies—while politely ignoring questions about whether Zuck asked The Donald to kill the case over tea at the White House.
Why it matters: Zuckerberg’s in the hot seat because regulators reckon buying up rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp was less “innovation” and more “hostile takeover in a hoodie.” If the FTC succeeds, Meta could be forced to split up its empire—like a digital divorce with billions at stake. And with politicians, lawsuits, and UFC bosses all in the mix, it’s less about selfies and status updates, and more about who really controls the internet’s playground.
The summary: BKN301 is shaking up the fintech world with a sleek, scalable solution that’s bringing banking to the masses, raising millions, and expanding across the globe—because who needs outdated tech when you’ve got innovation on your side?
The details:
BKN301 to the Rescue: While old-school banks and trendy fintechs trip over tangled tech and legacy leftovers, BKN301 glides in with a slick API gateway that makes plugging in payments, wallets, and banking a breeze—no system surgery required.
Show Me the Money: They’ve just pocketed a cool £18.6 million in fresh funding (Series B, no less), luring big-name investors who clearly fancy a slice of the future of banking. Total raised to date? About £37.5M. Not too shabby for a startup born in 2021.
World Domination Plans (In a Nice Way): Already rubbing shoulders with 18 million daily users in MENA, BKN301 is now eyeing Europe, kicking things off in Italy with neobank HYPE. Next stop: a 36% EBITDA CAGR by 2028 and a world where everyone gets a fair crack at financial services.
Tech That Plays Nice: Unlike rigid rivals, their BaaS Orchestrator is the IKEA of banking tech—modular, scalable, and surprisingly easy to assemble. It’s built for global growth, regulatory mazes, and making banking as easy as ordering a flat white.
Why it matters: Traditional banks move like dial-up internet in a fibre-optic world—BKN301’s tech gives them a much-needed turbo boost without the usual IT heart attacks. With serious cash in the bank and a mission to bank the unbanked, they’re not just talking disruption—they’re doing it in places most fintechs can't find on a map. And if you're in finance and still faffing about with clunky systems, BKN301 might just be the nudge (or shove) you need into the 21st century.
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