Two Female-Led UK FinTechs Join Forces in a Deal That Signals Bigger Moves

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

When two challenger brands in the payments space decide to join forces, you can bet the industry takes notice. That's exactly what's happening with Cashflows, a London-based FinTech payments company, and Tap & Go, a Blackpool-based startup specializing in card payment technologies and merchant services. Cashflows has just invested in Tap & Go, and while the exact amount wasn't disclosed, the implications are clear: this is a partnership built on shared ambition, not just a simple check being written. Tap & Go plans to put this capital to work immediately, expanding its product base across more verticals and deepening its commercial relationship with Cashflows. For customers, that means more options, more flexibility, and a more robust suite of payment solutions. For the companies, it's a chance to accelerate growth without losing the scrappy, customer-first energy that got them here. ### A Partnership Built on Shared Grit Anna McDonald, Managing Director at Tap & Go, puts it beautifully: "We are building a brand and proposition that means customers come to Tap & Go because they know we can support them wherever their growth takes them. We are very proud to be a challenger in our own space and working with Cashflows, itself a challenger acquirer, bringing a shared level of tenacity, ambition and drive. There's something particularly powerful about two female-led businesses coming together with that mindset, as together, we can be ambitious about what we build and deliver for our customers." That sentiment really captures the spirit here. You don't often see two female-led companies in FinTech teaming up like this, and it's refreshing to see them lean into what makes them different. They're not trying to be the biggest; they're trying to be the best for their customers, and that's a powerful mission. ### The Backstory: Tap & Go's Journey So Far Tap & Go was founded in 2022 by Anna McDonald and Nichola Eagle as part of the International Connections Group (ICG). The company recently spun out of ICG to stand on its own two feet. Their focus? Card payment machines and business cash advances designed to help businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a small shop just getting started or a growing enterprise, they've got a solution that fits. ### Cashflows: The Experienced Partner On the other side of this partnership is Cashflows, founded in 2010 and led by CEO Hannah Fitzsimons. Cashflows makes it easy for growing businesses and financial institutions to accept card and digital payments. Through its own acquiring platform and gateway, the company provides a secure ecosystem for processing payments right across Europe. They've been around the block, and they know the ins and outs of the payments landscape. ### What This Investment Means for Both Companies This investment brings together two female-led payments businesses, with Fitzsimons joining forces with McDonald and Eagle. The partnership between the two companies was initiated in 2025, with Cashflows providing the infrastructure and transaction settlement services for card machines deployed by Tap & Go. Since then, it's evolved into something much bigger. Now, Tap & Go can focus on growth activity and broaden the solutions it provides to customers. We're talking about expanding beyond card payments into e-commerce, virtual payments, and multi-site solutions. That's a huge step up from where they started. Tap & Go will also use this capital to invest in its people, build greater brand awareness, and strengthen its market reputation to attract new customers organically. They're also eyeing new verticals, including universities, stadiums, dentistry, hotels, builders' merchants, and the motor sector. That's a diverse range of industries, and it shows they're not afraid to think big. ### The Bigger Picture According to Cashflows, this investment creates opportunities to work more closely with Tap & Go and its product suite, while unlocking new growth areas by bringing the strengths of both businesses together. It also signals Cashflows' wider growth strategy, with further strategic investment opportunities being explored. Hannah Fitzsimons said it best: "While the relationship may have started as a commercial partnership, this is not simply a financial investment – we believe in what Tap & Go are building and the energy from the team is palpable. This is a real opportunity to combine their drive and customer focus with our experience and expertise to accelerate the next stage of growth for Tap & Go." ### What to Watch For If you're following the European FinTech scene, this is one to keep an eye on. Two challenger brands, led by women who clearly know what they're doing, are joining forces to shake things up. The payments space is competitive, but with this kind of synergy, they're positioning themselves to make some serious waves. For Tap & Go, the immediate focus is on growth and expanding its offerings. For Cashflows, it's about strengthening its ecosystem and finding new ways to add value. Together, they're a force to be reckoned with. We'll be watching closely to see where this partnership takes them next.