The business-to-business invoicing and payments platform company Billie has successfully raised €30 million in Series B funding. Leading the round was Creandum, who were joined by SpeedInvest, Picus and GFC.
Billie, a German-based FinTech start-up focused on revolutionising business-to-business (B2B) invoicing and payments, has successfully raised €30 million in a Series B funding round. Leading the investment was Creandum, a renowned European venture capital firm, joined by SpeedInvest, Picus Capital, and Global Founders Capital (GFC). This substantial capital injection will enable Billie to accelerate its growth and expand its disruptive approach to a traditionally complex and inefficient sector.
Founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneurs, Billie has set out to modernise the B2B payments landscape, drawing inspiration from the fluidity and customer-centricity seen in business-to-consumer (B2C) and e-commerce payment models. Unlike consumer payments, B2B invoicing is often slow, manual, and riddled with operational risks such as late payments and defaults. Billie’s platform aims to digitise and automate these processes, providing small and medium-sized enterprises with a seamless and secure way to manage outgoing invoices, finance their receivables instantly, and outsource risk management.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Billie’s co-founder Dr Matthias Knecht highlighted the pain points the platform seeks to address: “Small and medium-sized businesses can handle all their outgoing invoices through our platform, get instant financing for each invoice and also outsource the collections process as well as coverage of default risk to Billie. It’s an exciting, highly automated piece of mind product that lets SMEs focus on what they do best and have Billie handle the operational burden of invoice management and default coverage.”
Bridging the Gap Between B2B and B2C Payments
Billie’s innovative approach is grounded in the observation that B2B payments have lagged behind the rapid technological advancements made in the B2C world. While consumers enjoy near-instantaneous payments, multiple payment options, and transparent processes, many SMEs still grapple with paper invoices, delayed payments, and the challenge of managing credit risk manually. Billie’s platform eliminates these inefficiencies by providing an all-in-one digital solution that automates invoicing, financing, and risk management.
One of the key differentiators is the platform’s instant financing feature, which allows businesses to get immediate cash flow based on outstanding invoices. This service is particularly critical for SMEs that often suffer from liquidity constraints caused by extended payment terms from customers. By turning invoices into instant working capital, Billie empowers businesses to improve cash flow stability and invest in growth without the usual delays.
Billie takes on the default risk by underwriting the invoices and handling collections if customers fail to pay on time. This risk mitigation aspect offers SMEs peace of mind, enabling them to focus on core operations rather than chasing payments or worrying about bad debt.
Strong Investor Confidence and Growth Prospects
The €30 million raised in Series B funding reflects strong confidence from prominent venture capital businesses in Billie’s business model and growth potential. Creandum, which has a track record of backing successful FinTechs such as Klarna and iZettle, led the round, signalling a significant vote of confidence in Billie’s innovative technology and market opportunity.
Existing investors SpeedInvest, Picus Capital, and GFC also participated, reinforcing their commitment to Billie’s mission. This infusion of capital will allow Billie to accelerate product development, scale its customer base across Europe, and enhance technological infrastructure to support growing demand.
Since its inception, Billie has gained traction by addressing a pressing market need. The SME segment, often underserved by traditional financial institutions, represents a huge opportunity. By offering a transparent, user-friendly, and automated invoicing and financing platform, Billie is unlocking access to working capital for thousands of businesses and streamlining their payment operations.
A Platform Built for SMEs
Billie’s user-centric design and automation make it a powerful tool for SMEs, which frequently operate with limited financial and administrative resources. The platform simplifies a traditionally complex process into a few intuitive steps:
- Businesses upload and manage all outgoing invoices through the platform.
- Each invoice can be financed instantly, providing immediate liquidity.
- Billie assumes credit risk and manages collections, reducing operational burdens.
This seamless integration of services helps SMEs reduce administrative overhead, improve cash flow, and mitigate credit risk, all of which contribute to a healthier financial foundation.
Scaling Up and Innovating
With fresh funding, Billie plans to broaden its reach into new European markets, expand product offerings, and invest in artificial intelligence and data analytics to further refine credit risk assessment and automate customer interactions. The goal is to create a fully integrated, smart invoicing ecosystem that adapts to the dynamic needs of modern businesses.
Dr Matthias Knecht emphasises that the company is not just digitising an old process but fundamentally changing how SMEs interact with payments and financing. “Our vision is to build a platform where invoicing, financing, and credit management are completely intertwined and fully automated, creating unparalleled efficiency and reliability for our customers,” he said.
Billie’s €30 million Series B funding marks a pivotal moment in its journey to transform B2B payments and invoicing. By providing SMEs with a digital platform that simplifies invoicing, offers instant financing, and manages default risk, Billie is setting new standards for the sector. The backing from heavyweight investors like Creandum and the continued support from SpeedInvest, Picus, and GFC underscore the strong market demand and the promise of this innovative FinTech.
As Billie scales and innovates, the company is poised to become a key player in the European FinTech space, helping reshape the way businesses handle their payments and unlock new financial opportunities.