Amsterdam-based fintech startup Tebi has raised €30 million (US$34 million) in a funding round led by CapitalG, Alphabet’s growth fund.

Existing investor Index Ventures also participated, bringing Tebi’s total funding to €56 million (US$64 million).

Founded by Arnout Schuijff, co-founder of Adyen, Tebi provides a platform for hospitality businesses to manage payments, reservations, and inventory.

The company, which has 35 employees, plans to use the funds to expand into the UK and grow further across Europe and internationally.

The funding will also support the development of AI features to boost business operations.

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🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Fintech solutions are transforming hospitality post-pandemic

Tebi is entering a sector where fintech integration has become increasingly critical for recovery and growth following COVID-19 disruptions.

The hospitality industry is actively adopting digital payment solutions and management tools to reduce operational costs and streamline financial management amid ongoing labor challenges 1.

This trend extends beyond mere payment processing, with hospitality businesses seeking comprehensive platforms that enhance guest experiences through features like instant monetary rewards for service issues and flexible loyalty programs 1.

Tebi’s all-in-one platform approach aligns with the industry’s growing recognition that technology integration can address multiple pain points simultaneously, from labor shortages to financial management, rather than requiring separate solutions for each challenge.

2️⃣ Tech founder transitions reveal the entrepreneurial “coding-to-leadership” journey

Schuijff’s transition from Adyen CTO to Tebi CEO represents a common evolution where technical founders must shift from hands-on programming to executive leadership.

His comment that “I miss doing the coding, but then I figured out that I could add more value… by actually doing what a CEO is supposed to be doing” illustrates the difficult transition many technical founders face when scaling companies [cited from original article].

The founder consciously balanced his technical background by recruiting commercial expertise, including leaders from Notion and Wolt, recognizing that technical excellence alone doesn’t guarantee market success.

Schuijff’s journey also demonstrates how personal passion projects (solving his favorite bar’s VAT reporting problems) can evolve into viable businesses when founders apply their enterprise-level expertise to previously overlooked small business challenges.

3️⃣ Strategic corporate-startup partnerships are reshaping fintech competition

Tebi’s connection with CapitalG highlights how strategic corporate relationships increasingly drive competitive advantage in fintech beyond just funding.

The founder specifically cited “touch points” with Alphabet properties like Android, Google Cloud, and Google Maps as a decisive factor in accepting CapitalG’s investment, emphasizing that they’re “bringing much more than just money” [from original article].

This pattern reflects the evolving relationship between established technology companies and fintech startups, where access to complementary technologies and distribution channels can accelerate growth more effectively than capital alone 2.

The global fintech market, valued at approximately $294.74 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $1,152.06 billion by 2032, is increasingly characterized by such strategic alliances rather than pure competition 3.

As fintech and traditional finance continue to converge, companies that strategically leverage corporate partnerships, as Tebi is doing with Google, can gain significant advantages in technology integration, market access, and customer acquisition.

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