This SumUp company profile covers the company's valuation, revenue, funding rounds, investors and history. SumUp works in fintech, with a focus on payments for small businesses. It was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom. Its latest valuation on record is €8 billion (about US$8.5 billion) (June 2022). Every figure links to a public source, and anything the company hasn't disclosed is marked as such.
Revenue
| Metric | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital raised | €1.5 billion (about US$1.6 billion) in total capital, including debt, after the 2022 round | June 2022 | SumUp press release |
Funding history
| Date | Round | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2022 | Equity and debt | €590M (about US$624M; about half equity, half debt) | €8B enterprise value | Bain Capital Tech Opportunities (lead); BlackRock, Centerbridge, Crestline and others | FinTech Futures |
SumUp timeline
Key dates from the sources on this page, oldest first. Metric snapshots are listed after the funding events.
- 2012 — SumUp is founded in London by Daniel Klein, Marc-Alexander Christ and co-founders.
- Jun 2022 — Equity and debt: €590M (about US$624M; about half equity, half debt), valuing the company at €8B enterprise value. Investors: Bain Capital Tech Opportunities (lead); BlackRock, Centerbridge, Crestline and others.
- June 2022 — Capital raised: €1.5 billion (about US$1.6 billion) in total capital, including debt, after the 2022 round.
Investors
Overview
SumUp provides card payment tools and business software to small merchants. It became known for its low-cost card readers that connect to a smartphone, letting market traders, hairdressers, taxi drivers, cafés and other small businesses accept card payments without long contracts or monthly fees. Over time it added point-of-sale systems, online payments, invoicing, a business account and card, loans and booking tools, aiming to become an all-in-one financial platform for micro and small businesses. It operates in dozens of markets across Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, and is one of Europe's largest private fintech companies.
SumUp was founded in 2012 by a group of entrepreneurs including Daniel Klein and Marc-Alexander Christ. The company started in Berlin and moved its headquarters to London, and it has large operations in Germany, Bulgaria, Brazil and other countries. Its timing coincided with the spread of contactless cards and smartphones, which made mobile card acceptance practical for millions of small businesses that had previously relied on cash.
Products
- Card readers: affordable devices, from simple readers paired with a phone to standalone terminals with built-in receipts.
- Tap to Pay: payment acceptance directly on a smartphone without extra hardware.
- Point-of-sale systems: tills and software for restaurants and shops, including inventory and staff management.
- Online payments: payment links, invoices, online stores and gateway services.
- Business account and card: a free business account with instant access to card takings.
- Financing: merchant cash advances repaid from future card sales in some markets.
Funding
SumUp raised early funding from investors including Groupon, American Express Ventures and Goldman Sachs. In June 2022 it announced a €590 million (about US$624 million) round, roughly half equity and half debt, led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities with BlackRock, Centerbridge, Crestline and others, giving it an enterprise value of €8 billion (about US$8.5 billion). The company said total capital raised had reached about €1.5 billion. The 2022 round was raised near the peak of fintech valuations; since then, there have been reports of SumUp shares changing hands at much lower valuations in secondary transactions, so the €8 billion figure should be treated as a historical mark.
Business model
SumUp earns most of its revenue from transaction fees, a percentage of each card payment it processes. It also sells hardware, charges subscriptions for point-of-sale and software features, and earns from financing and other financial services. Its model relies on serving very large numbers of small merchants at low cost, using simple sign-up, self-service support and inexpensive devices. Each merchant processes relatively small volumes, so scale and efficient operations are essential for profitability.
Competition
SumUp competes with Square (Block), Zettle (PayPal), Stripe Terminal, Adyen for larger merchants, Dojo and Teya in the UK, Mollie for online payments, local banks' merchant services, and, in Brazil, companies such as Stone, PagSeguro and Mercado Pago. Competition is fierce and fee levels have fallen, pushing payment companies to add software and financial services to keep merchants.
SumUp at a glance
SumUp is a London-headquartered payments company founded in 2012 by Daniel Klein, Marc-Alexander Christ and co-founders. It serves millions of small merchants with card readers, point-of-sale systems, online payments and business accounts. It was valued at €8 billion (about US$8.5 billion) in a June 2022 round led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, a mark that predates the fintech downturn.
Timeline
- 2012: founded and launches its first card reader.
- 2013–2019: expands across Europe and into Brazil and other markets.
- 2020–2021: adds online payments, business accounts and acquisitions as small merchants move online during the pandemic.
- June 2022: raises €590 million at an €8 billion enterprise value.
- 2023–2026: focuses on profitability and broader software for merchants, with an IPO discussed as a possibility.
Why small merchants matter
Small businesses make up the majority of businesses in most countries, but traditional payment providers often found them unprofitable to serve, imposing setup fees, contracts and minimum volumes. SumUp and its peers lowered the barriers, which helped bring millions of businesses into card payments. The challenge is that small merchants are price-sensitive and many close each year, so providers must keep acquisition and support costs low while offering enough value to retain them.
From payments to software
As card readers became commoditised, SumUp and its rivals moved towards software. A restaurant using SumUp's till for orders, tables, staff and inventory is less likely to switch than one using only a card reader. Business accounts and financing add revenue and deepen relationships. This shift mirrors what Square did in the United States, and it's central to how investors judge whether small-merchant payment companies can sustain margins.
Who uses SumUp
SumUp's merchants include market traders, cafés, restaurants, hair and beauty salons, retail shops, tradespeople, taxi drivers, event organisers and freelancers, mostly micro and small businesses.
Valuation context
SumUp's €8 billion mark was set in 2022. Listed payment companies' valuations fell sharply afterwards, and secondary market reports have suggested lower values for SumUp shares. Until a new primary round or listing sets a fresh price, the 2022 mark is the latest official figure. Our guide to the largest private fintech companies compares related firms.
Risks
- Fee pressure: intense competition reduces margins on payments.
- Merchant churn: small businesses close often and switch easily.
- Credit risk: financing products expose it to losses in downturns.
- Stale valuation: its last official mark predates the fintech correction.
Questions for merchants
- What are the total fees, including hardware and any subscriptions?
- How fast are payouts, and are there fees for instant access?
- Does the point-of-sale software fit your type of business?
Latest developments (October 2026)
SumUp may wait longer to list. Bloomberg reported in 2026 that the payments company is considering pushing its planned London IPO from the second half of 2026 into 2027, as noted by Sifted. Earlier reports said banks including Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and JPMorgan were lined up for a float that could value it at more than US$10 billion, according to FinTech Weekly. SumUp has also launched free personal accounts in six European countries. Its last priced valuation is from 2022. See our largest UK startups guide.
What to watch
Watch for an IPO decision, profitability updates, new funding and growth in software and banking products. Our guide to upcoming tech IPOs gives wider context.
Takeaways
Small merchants can accept card payments with little upfront cost. Founders can see how serving overlooked customers at scale can build a large company. Investors should treat its €8 billion valuation as a 2022 mark.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the public sources below. Where sources disagreed, we used the company's own announcement or a primary news report. Private-company data changes; check the date beside each figure.
Frequently asked questions
What does SumUp do?
SumUp is a fintech / payments for small businesses company headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2012.
What is SumUp's valuation?
SumUp was valued at €8 billion (about US$8.5 billion) as of June 2022, according to SumUp press release. Private company valuations are set at funding rounds or share sales and can change significantly between them.
How much revenue does SumUp make?
SumUp is a private company and has not publicly disclosed its revenue. Figures on third-party sites are usually modelled estimates rather than numbers reported by the company.
What was SumUp's latest funding round?
The most recent financing we have verified is a equity and debt in Jun 2022: €590M (about US$624M; about half equity, half debt), at a valuation of €8B enterprise value. Source: FinTech Futures.
Who are SumUp's investors?
Investors named in public announcements include Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, BlackRock, Centerbridge Partners, Crestline, Goldman Sachs, Groupon and American Express Ventures.
Who founded SumUp?
SumUp was founded in 2012 by Daniel Klein, Marc-Alexander Christ and co-founders.
Is SumUp a public company?
No. SumUp is a private company (private, venture backed), so its shares are not traded on a stock exchange and it isn't required to publish its financial results.
Where is SumUp headquartered?
SumUp is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom.