Selected for Entrepreneurship: June 2021

London’s housing crisis has reached breaking point, with homeownership increasingly out of reach for middle-income earners. Against this backdrop, innovative property solutions are attracting substantial investor interest. Keyzy, the rent-to-own platform addressing this affordability gap, has secured €147 million in funding to accelerate its expansion across London and beyond. The significant investment round positions Keyzy to scale its alternative homeownership model at a time when traditional property ladders are failing an entire generation of potential buyers. Rent-to-own property funding attracts major backing Crayon Partners led this substantial funding round, demonstrating strong institutional confidence in alternative property models. The investment firm, known for its focus on disruptive real estate technologies, sees Keyzy’s approach as addressing a fundamental market failure in European housing markets. “We’re backing Keyzy because they’ve identified a massive gap between rental and ownership that traditional financial products haven’t addressed,” said a spokesperson from Crayon Partners. “Their model offers a genuine pathway to homeownership for people who’ve been locked out by deposit requirements and mortgage criteria.” The funding reflects growing investor appetite for proptech solutions that tackle Europe’s housing affordability crisis. Unlike pure rental platforms or traditional estate agencies, Keyzy’s rent-to-own model creates a bridge between renting and owning, allowing customers to build equity whilst living in their chosen property. Scaling London’s alternative homeownership model Keyzy’s platform allows renters to move into properties with the option to purchase over time, with a portion of monthly payments contributing towards eventual ownership. This model particularly resonates in London, where the average deposit requirement has soared beyond the reach of many working professionals. The €147 million will primarily fund property acquisition and platform development. Keyzy plans to expand its London portfolio significantly whilst developing the technology infrastructure needed to scale efficiently across different European markets with varying regulatory frameworks. “We’re not just buying properties; we’re building a new category of homeownership,” explained Keyzy’s leadership team. “This funding allows us to serve thousands more families who want to own but can’t access traditional mortgages due to deposit constraints or employment patterns.” The company’s approach differentiates it from traditional buy-to-let investors by creating aligned incentives between tenant and property owner. Success metrics include customer conversion rates to full ownership and portfolio quality rather than pure rental yields. This funding round signals growing institutional recognition that Europe’s housing markets require innovative financing models beyond conventional mortgages and rental agreements. Keyzy’s expansion could influence how other European cities approach affordable homeownership challenges.

Europe’s financial services landscape is witnessing a significant shift toward blockchain-based banking solutions, as traditional institutions grapple with outdated infrastructure and rising customer expectations for seamless digital experiences. This transformation has created fertile ground for fintech innovators to reimagine how Europeans interact with their money. Deblock, a blockchain banking platform, has secured €30M in Series A funding to accelerate its expansion across European markets. The round was led by Speedinvest, marking another significant investment in the continent’s evolving financial technology sector. The funding represents more than just capital injection—it signals growing institutional confidence in blockchain’s potential to solve real banking problems for European consumers and businesses. Unlike traditional banks constrained by legacy systems, Deblock’s on-chain approach offers transparency, efficiency, and cross-border capabilities that align with Europe’s increasingly digital economy. Speedinvest backs blockchain banking revolution Speedinvest’s decision to lead this substantial Series A reflects the Austrian venture capital firm’s strategic focus on European fintech infrastructure. The investor has consistently backed companies that challenge traditional financial services, from payment processors to neobanks, recognising the regulatory advantages European startups enjoy in this space. “Deblock represents the next evolution of banking infrastructure in Europe,” noted Speedinvest in their investment thesis. “Their blockchain-native approach solves fundamental problems around transparency, cost, and cross-border functionality that traditional banks struggle to address.” The investor’s portfolio strategy emphasises companies that can leverage Europe’s regulatory clarity around digital assets and blockchain technology. Unlike markets where regulatory uncertainty stifles innovation, European frameworks like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) provide the stability blockchain banking platforms need to scale responsibly. This funding round positions Deblock alongside other European blockchain infrastructure companies that have attracted significant venture capital, demonstrating the sector’s maturation beyond speculative cryptocurrency applications toward practical financial services. European expansion strategy targets fragmented markets Deblock’s €30M raise specifically targets expansion across Europe’s fragmented banking markets, where consumers often face complex processes for cross-border transactions and limited transparency in traditional banking operations. The company’s blockchain infrastructure addresses these pain points through programmable money and smart contract automation. The platform’s European focus proves strategic, as EU regulations increasingly favour transparent, auditable financial systems. While US fintech companies navigate uncertain regulatory landscapes, European blockchain banking platforms benefit from clearer guidelines and progressive regulatory approaches. “European consumers deserve banking infrastructure that matches the continent’s digital ambitions,” explained Deblock’s leadership team. “Our blockchain-native platform provides the transparency and efficiency that traditional banks cannot deliver due to their legacy constraints.” The funding will specifically support product development, regulatory compliance across multiple European jurisdictions, and talent acquisition in key tech hubs including Berlin, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. This multi-market approach reflects the reality that European fintech success requires navigating diverse regulatory environments while maintaining consistent user experiences. Deblock’s timing appears particularly advantageous, as European financial institutions increasingly explore blockchain integration while facing pressure from both regulators and customers for greater transparency and efficiency. This Series A represents more than funding—it signals blockchain banking’s transition from experimental technology to viable European financial infrastructure. As traditional banks struggle with modernisation costs, platforms like Deblock offer glimpses of Europe’s financial future.

European businesses are increasingly turning to AI-powered solutions to streamline their financial operations, particularly in the complex regulatory landscape of payroll and accounting compliance. This shift has created significant opportunities for startups that can navigate both technological innovation and the intricate web of European tax and labour regulations. German fintech Integral has secured €12 million in funding to advance its AI-driven accounting and payroll platform, whilst simultaneously acquiring Cleverlohn to strengthen its market position. The funding round underscores investor confidence in AI-powered financial services that address the specific needs of European SMEs navigating fragmented regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions. The strategic combination of funding and acquisition demonstrates Integral’s ambition to become a dominant force in the European accounting automation space, where traditional players have been slow to embrace artificial intelligence capabilities. AI accounting platform attracts strategic investment The €12 million funding round reflects growing investor appetite for fintech solutions that combine artificial intelligence with deep regulatory expertise. European investors are particularly keen on platforms that can address the complexity of cross-border compliance, an area where US-based solutions often fall short of European requirements. Integral’s platform leverages machine learning algorithms to automate bookkeeping, payroll processing, and tax compliance across multiple European markets. This approach resonates with investors who recognise that European businesses need solutions designed specifically for the continent’s regulatory diversity, rather than adapted American software. The funding will enable Integral to accelerate product development and expand its engineering team, particularly in machine learning and regulatory technology. The company plans to enhance its AI capabilities whilst ensuring compliance with evolving European regulations, including upcoming changes to digital taxation frameworks. “European SMEs deserve financial technology that understands their unique challenges,” the funding announcement suggests, highlighting the platform’s focus on regulatory compliance automation. This positioning differentiates Integral from global competitors who often struggle with European market nuances. Strategic acquisition strengthens market position The parallel acquisition of Cleverlohn demonstrates Integral’s strategic approach to market consolidation in the fragmented European accounting software landscape. Rather than purely organic growth, the company is combining funding with targeted acquisitions to build comprehensive market coverage. Cleverlohn brings additional expertise in payroll automation, complementing Integral’s core accounting capabilities. This combination creates a more comprehensive offering for European businesses seeking integrated financial management solutions, particularly those operating across multiple European markets. The dual announcement of funding and acquisition signals Integral’s readiness to compete with established players like Sage and DATEV, whilst leveraging artificial intelligence to provide superior automation capabilities. European businesses increasingly demand solutions that combine the reliability of traditional accounting software with the efficiency of modern AI-powered automation. This strategic positioning arrives at an opportune moment, as European businesses face increasing pressure to digitalise their financial operations whilst maintaining strict compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. Integral’s approach of combining AI innovation with deep European regulatory knowledge positions the company well for sustained growth in this demanding market.