Breaking news

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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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

Moonshot’s Kimi K2: A Disruptive, Open-Source AI Model Redefining Coding Efficiency

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 14, 2025

Innovative Approach to Open-Source AI

In a bold move that challenges established players like OpenAI and Anthropic, Alibaba-backed startup Moonshot has unveiled its latest generative artificial intelligence model, Kimi K2. Released on a late Friday evening, this model enters the competitive AI landscape with a focus on robust coding capabilities at a fraction of the cost, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and scalability.

Cost Efficiency and Market Disruption

Kimi K2 not only offers superior performance metrics — reportedly surpassing Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 and OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 in coding tasks — but it also redefines pricing models in the industry. With fees as low as 15 cents per 1 million input tokens and $2.50 per 1 million output tokens, it stands in stark contrast to competitors who charge significantly more. This cost efficiency is expected to attract large-scale and budget-sensitive deployments, enhancing its appeal across diverse client segments.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Benchmarking Against Industry Leaders

Moonshot’s announcement on platforms such as GitHub and X emphasizes not only the competitive performance of Kimi K2 but also its commitment to the open-source model—rare among U.S. tech giants except for select initiatives by Meta and Google. Renowned analyst Wei Sun from Counterpoint highlighted its global competitiveness and open-source allure, noting that its lower token costs make it an attractive option for enterprises seeking both high performance and scalability.

Industry Implications and the Broader AI Landscape

The introduction of Kimi K2 comes at a time when Chinese alternatives in the global AI arena are garnering increased investor interest. With established players like ByteDance, Tencent, and Baidu continually innovating, Moonshot’s move underscores a significant shift in AI development—a focus on cost reduction paired with open accessibility. Moreover, as U.S. companies grapple with resource allocation and the safe deployment of open-source models, Kimi K2’s arrival signals a competitive pivot that may influence future industry standards.

Future Prospects Amidst Global AI Competition

While early feedback on Kimi K2 has been largely positive, with praise from industry insiders and tech startups alike, challenges such as model hallucinations remain a known issue in generative AI. However, the model’s robust coding capability and cost structure continue to drive industry optimism. As the market evolves, the competitive dynamics between new entrants like Moonshot and established giants like OpenAI, along with emerging competitors on both sides of the Pacific, promise to shape the future trajectory of AI innovation on a global scale.