Two Female-Led UK FinTechs Join Forces in a Strategic Investment

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

In a move that's turning heads across the European payments landscape, London-based FinTech company Cashflows has made a strategic investment in Tap & Go, a fast-growing startup from Blackpool that specializes in card payment technologies and merchant services. While the exact dollar amount wasn't disclosed, the implications are clear: this is about much more than just money. ### A Partnership Built on Shared Ambition What started as a commercial relationship in 2025 has quickly evolved into something deeper. Cashflows was already providing the infrastructure and transaction settlement services for Tap & Go's card machines, but now the two companies are officially joining forces. For Tap & Go, this investment means they can focus on expanding their product lineup and moving beyond traditional card payments into e-commerce, virtual payments, and multi-site solutions. Anna McDonald, Managing Director at Tap & Go, put it perfectly when she said, "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." ### What Tap & Go Brings to the Table Founded in 2022 by Anna McDonald and Nichola Eagle as part of the International Connections Group (ICG), Tap & Go recently spun out on its own. The company provides card payment machines and business cash advances designed to support businesses of all sizes. With this new capital injection, they're planning to: - Invest in their people and build stronger brand awareness - Expand into new verticals like universities, stadiums, dentistry, hotels, builders' merchants, and the motor sector - Strengthen their market reputation to attract new customers organically - Leverage the expertise and experience of the Cashflows team ### The Cashflows Advantage 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 their own acquiring platform and gateway, they provide a secure ecosystem for processing payments right across Europe. This isn't their first rodeo, and it likely won't be their last — the company has signaled that further strategic investment opportunities are being explored. Fitzsimons shared her perspective on the deal: "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 This Means for the Payments Industry This investment is a testament to the power of collaboration in the FinTech space. Two female-led businesses coming together with a shared mindset of challenging the status quo is genuinely refreshing. It also signals that the payments industry is ripe for consolidation and partnership, especially as companies look to broaden their offerings and capture new markets. For customers of Tap & Go, the benefits are tangible: an expanded product base, access to more verticals, and the backing of a seasoned payments infrastructure provider. And for the broader European startup ecosystem, it's a reminder that strategic investments can be just as valuable as massive funding rounds. As both companies continue to develop their commercial partnership, the FinTech community will be watching closely. If the early signs are anything to go by, this is a partnership that could set the standard for how challengers work together to win.