Riva Money, a fintech startup utilizing blockchain technology to streamline international payments, announced today that it has successfully raised a $3 million pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by venture capital firm Project A, with participation from prominent angel investors from leading financial institutions, including Revolut, Monzo, and J.P. Morgan.
This capital infusion will enable Riva Money to significantly expand its operations and accelerate its global rollout strategy across Europe, Asia, and North America. The company also plans to use the funds to scale its engineering team and further develop its proprietary technology.
Founded by Niklas Hoejman and Mahendra Katoch, both seasoned fintech professionals with extensive experience in cross-border payments at firms such as Revolut, Wise, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup, Riva Money was born from a shared frustration with the inefficiencies of existing payment systems. The founders recognized that even within innovative payment companies, legacy systems resulted in delays, high costs, and a lack of transparency for both businesses and consumers.
Riva’s innovative platform leverages blockchain technology, with stablecoins serving as a key application, to power its payment infrastructure. The company’s unique dual-rail system intelligently routes transfers through either blockchain-based rails or traditional fiat-to-fiat networks, depending on which method is most efficient for the client.
“Our mission is simple: to enable businesses’ limitless global money movement, instantly and at a fraction of the cost,” said Niklas Hoejman, Co-Founder of Riva Money. “By combining blockchain technology with a robust regulatory framework, we’re building a solution that offers businesses the speed, transparency and cost-efficiency they need to thrive in today’s interconnected economy.”
The company is currently in the process of obtaining authorization as a payment institution in the UK and EU, as well as MICA and VASP licenses in the EU and Switzerland, to ensure a robust and compliant framework for its global operations.
Malin Posern, Partner and Managing Director at Project A, commented on the investment, “With stablecoin adoption accelerating and regulatory frameworks maturing globally, the time is right for an infrastructure rethink. Riva’s dual-rail system for businesses elegantly solves for both speed and flexibility in a market that’s still reliant on legacy processes. Niklas and Mahendra’s deep expertise in payments and financial markets positions Riva perfectly to build the next generation of payment services.”
