Two Female-Led UK FinTechs Join Forces as Cashflows Invests in Tap & Go

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

When two challengers in the payments space decide to team up, you can bet the fintech world takes notice. That's exactly what's happening with Cashflows, a London-based payments company, and Tap & Go, a Blackpool startup that's been making waves with its card payment technology. The two female-led businesses just announced a strategic investment, and it's a move that could reshape how small and mid-sized businesses handle payments across Europe. The investment amount wasn't disclosed, but the implications are clear. Tap & Go plans to use the capital to fuel its growth, expand its product lineup, and push into new industries. Meanwhile, Cashflows is signaling that this isn't just a one-off deal—it's part of a broader strategy to find and back promising players in the payments ecosystem. ### A Partnership Built on Shared Ambition What started as a commercial partnership in 2025 has quickly evolved into something deeper. Cashflows was already providing the infrastructure and transaction settlement services for Tap & Go's card machines. Now, with this investment, the two companies are doubling down on their collaboration. Anna McDonald, Managing Director at Tap & Go, put it best: "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 genuinely powerful about two female-led businesses joining forces with that kind of mindset. It's not just about the money—it's about what they can build together. ### What Tap & Go Brings to the Table Founded in 2022 by Anna McDonald and Nichola Eagle, Tap & Go started as part of the International Connections Group (ICG) before recently spinning out on its own. The company specializes in card payment machines and business cash advances, designed to support businesses of all sizes. With this fresh capital, Tap & Go is setting its sights on: - Expanding beyond card payments into e-commerce and virtual payments - Developing multi-site solutions for larger operations - Investing in its people and building stronger brand awareness - Strengthening its market reputation to attract new customers organically - Entering new verticals like universities, stadiums, dentistry, hotels, builders' merchants, and the motor sector That's a pretty ambitious roadmap, but with Cashflows' backing, it feels achievable. ### Why Cashflows Is Betting Big Cashflows, founded in 2010 and led by CEO Hannah Fitzsimons, has built a reputation for making 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. But this investment is about more than just expanding Tap & Go's product base. It's about unlocking new growth areas by combining the strengths of both companies. Fitzsimons explained, "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." That's the kind of conviction that separates a strategic investor from someone just writing a check. ### What This Means for the Payments Landscape This deal is a reminder that the payments industry is far from settled. Challengers like Tap & Go and Cashflows are proving that you don't need to be a giant to compete. By joining forces, they're positioning themselves to offer more comprehensive solutions to merchants who might otherwise feel overlooked by the big players. For Tap & Go, this investment is a chance to accelerate its growth and broaden its offerings. For Cashflows, it's an opportunity to deepen its reach and tap into new markets. And for the businesses they serve, it means more choice, better technology, and a partner that's genuinely invested in their success. It's a win-win-win, and it's exactly the kind of news that makes the fintech space so exciting to watch.