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Finom Secures €115 Million Series C as Challenger Bank Sets Bold European Expansion Agenda

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 23, 2025

Robust Funding Amidst a Competitive Landscape

Amid a tightening investment environment, Finom, an Amsterdam-based challenger bank, has attracted significant investor attention. The five-year-old startup, which targets small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) across Europe, recently secured a €115 million Series C equity round (approximately $133 million), following a $105 million growth funding round from General Catalyst earlier this year. This fresh capital comes as Finom reports a doubling of its revenue in 2024 and reinforces its strategic pursuits in a dynamic financial sector.

Innovative Business Model Driving Growth

Finom has positioned itself at the intersection of banking, invoicing, and emerging financial technologies such as AI-enabled accounting. By offering an integrated platform designed to simplify financial management for European SMBs, the company aims to render traditional accounting processes obsolete. CEO Andrey Petrov encapsulates this vision by suggesting that entrepreneurs may soon operate independently of conventional accounting services.

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Strategic Investments and Unique Funding Structure

The latest Series C round was led by AVP (formerly AXA Venture Partners), with participation from new investor Headline Growth and established backers, including Cogito Capital, General Catalyst, and Northzone. Unlike typical venture capital arrangements, the involvement of General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund, which contributed capital exclusively for growth initiatives, underscores a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes expansion over equity dilution. Chairman and co-founder Kos Stiskin noted that this innovative funding strategy, combined with the previous Series B round, could have expedited the company’s path to profitability.

Expanding Market Reach and Product Portfolio

Finom is not only concentrating on winning over clients from legacy banks but is also broadening its product portfolio. Strategic, opportunistic acquisitions are being considered to either increase customer bases or diversify product offerings. Although its operations are mostly confined to an electronic money institution (EMI) license in core markets like the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain, Finom is experimenting with lending in the Netherlands to validate its credit offerings—a critical component for any forward-looking fintech aimed at business clientele.

Leveraging AI and Transforming Leadership

Internally, Finom is embracing AI-driven efficiencies. The company is augmenting its team of 500 with new AI agents that automate routine tasks, thereby optimizing operational performance without significant headcount expansion. Additionally, the evolution of Finom’s leadership has streamlined decision-making processes. Having allowed Andrey Petrov to step into the sole CEO role while restructuring co-founder responsibilities has clarified its strategic vision, particularly as the company shifts focus towards larger European markets where challenger banks are fewer and traditional banks often underperform in serving SMBs.

A Vision for the Future

With its recent funding milestones and ongoing innovation, Finom is well-positioned to capitalize on the extensive opportunities within Europe’s vast SMB market. By focusing on integrated financial solutions and leveraging both technological advancements and strategic acquisitions, Finom aims to become a cornerstone in the European financial ecosystem—a goal that resonates with the continent’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

€50 Million Luxury Resort Planned For Ayia Napa

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 22, 2026

Ayia Napa could strengthen its position in the premium tourism market with a proposed €50 million mixed-use resort combining a hotel, serviced apartments, luxury bungalows and a beach club.

Aesara Investments Ltd has submitted an information form to the Department of Environment for a development to operate under the name Atlantica Wavemaster Hospitality. The project is planned for the Limnara area of Ayia Napa, along the coast south of Kryou Nerou Avenue, between the town centre and Cape Greco.

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Hotel, Apartments And Luxury Bungalows

The proposed resort will include a 324-room hotel with capacity for 648 guests, alongside a condo-hotel building containing 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Facilities are planned to include restaurants, bars, cafés, a spa with an indoor pool, a gym, shops, a multipurpose hall, a children’s club and a cinema.

A further 33 three-level luxury bungalows, each designed for two guests and featuring a private swimming pool, are planned for the southern part of the site. A beach club with a restaurant and an outdoor pool complex covering more than 6,300 square metres will also form part of the development.

The project includes 321 parking spaces, including 12 for people with disabilities, and 14,196 square metres of landscaped green space featuring local plant species.

Seasonal Hotel Operations And Year-Round Residences

The hotel is expected to operate from March to November, with peak occupancy during the summer season. The condo-hotel apartments, meanwhile, will be available for sale or long-term rental and intended for year-round residence. Owners and tenants will also have access to the resort’s facilities, including its pools, restaurants and fitness areas.

Construction is expected to take 24 months once the required permits are secured. At the busiest stage, the project could employ around 100 workers per day.

Environmental Restrictions Near Cape Greco

The site’s proximity to protected Natura 2000 areas has prompted strict environmental requirements. The Cape Greco Special Protection Area borders the site to the south, while a Special Area of Conservation lies approximately 50 metres away.

Conditions imposed by the Department of Environment include a maximum building height of five floors, or 18.5 metres, and restrictions on permanent structures near the coastline. The project must also use spider-web type glazing and low-intensity lighting to minimise disturbance to local birdlife.

According to the project’s consultants, the design has been prepared to comply with the environmental conditions and the final report on cumulative impacts for the Cape Greco Special Protection Area. The hotel and apartment building are positioned in the central and northern parts of the plot, away from the shoreline.

Within the designated no-build zone, located 40 metres from the boundary of the beach protection zone, only swimming pools are planned. The consultants state that these are not expected to affect protected species in the area.