Puma VCTs have invested in Runa, a leading global fintech infrastructure payments provider
Puma has led Runa’s latest funding round with a £4.25 million investment, backing the leading global fintech infrastructure payments provider, transforming how businesses deliver rewards, incentives, and payouts worldwide.
Founded in 2016 by Aron Alexander, Runa has built a platform that enables distribution of digital gift cards, prepaid cards, and, most recently, Pay to Bank Card functionality. Runa is reinventing access to digital money by providing the infrastructure for businesses to instantly send money to the people they serve, wherever they are. Runa has processed billions in payout volumes in the last 3 years across more than 45 countries, in 16 different languages and across a network of over 5,000 merchants including Amazon, ASOS, Xbox, John Lewis, and M&S.
The business has expanded its operations into the US, establishing a team in this region and is already generating a significant share of revenues from this market. The overall disbursements payment opportunity globally is considered to be worth $65 trillion1.
Businesses face high-level challenges around payouts to consumers and employees, including complex and time consuming payout processes, high costs and difficulty with cross-border payouts. To solve this issue, Runa has developed a payouts Application Programming Interface (API) which enables customers to integrate digital payouts for incentives, remittances or reimbursements into various applications seamlessly. Through this API, Runa has embedded its services into software platforms such as loyalty (YuLife, Perkbox) HR (Sodexo, Edenred) and gift card platforms (Tango, Prezzee). These integrations allow these software platforms to deliver digital gift cards efficiently to their users.
Leading the round, Puma’s £4.25 million investment forms part of a larger funding package alongside existing investors Albion Ventures, CommerzVentures, and 13books Capital. Runa will use the funding to scale its new payout options, international expansion and drive further customer acquisition.
Aron Alexander, Founder and CEO of Runa, commented:
“We believe payouts are the next frontier in payments — and Runa is uniquely positioned to lead. As businesses look for faster, more flexible ways to transfer value globally, we’re building the infrastructure to power that shift. We’re thrilled to welcome Puma as a new investor. Their belief in our mission and their track record of backing category-defining companies make them the perfect partner as we scale. Together, we’re going to redefine what payouts can be.”
Mark Lyons, Investment Director at Puma Growth Partners, added:
“Our investment in Runa reflects our confidence in the growth trajectory of the business and its high calibre leadership team who have extensive domain expertise and a really clear vision for scaling it globally. The launch of Pay to Card also significantly expands Runa’s addressable market. This investment aligns with our strategy to back high growth technology businesses that address a deep specific need, have proven traction and scalable infrastructure.
“We look forward to working with Aron and the wider team to support Runa as it continues to innovate and expand its footprint in the digital payments space.”