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

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-14

When two challenger brands in the payments space decide to team up, you can bet the fintech world is watching. That's exactly what's happening with Cashflows, a London-based payments company, and Tap & Go, a Blackpool startup that's been quietly building a name for itself in card payment tech and merchant services. The investment amount wasn't disclosed, but the message is clear: Tap & Go is ready to scale. The company plans to use this capital to expand its product lineup across more industries, all while deepening its commercial partnership with Cashflows. It's the kind of move that signals confidence, not just in the product, but in the people behind it. ### A Meeting of Minds (and Ambition) 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." She goes on to highlight the shared DNA between the two companies—both are challengers in their own right, bringing tenacity, ambition, and drive to the table. What makes this deal particularly noteworthy? It's the coming together of two female-led businesses. McDonald and her co-founder Nichola Eagle launched Tap & Go in 2022 as part of the International Connections Group (ICG), and the company recently spun out on its own. On the other side, Cashflows has been led by CEO Hannah Fitzsimons since its founding in 2010. Fitzsimons, McDonald, and Eagle are now joining forces—a powerful statement in an industry often dominated by male-led firms. ### What Tap & Go Brings to the Table Tap & Go specializes in card payment machines and business cash advances, designed for businesses of all sizes. But this investment isn't just about hardware. The company is broadening its horizons beyond traditional card payments into e-commerce, virtual payments, and multi-site solutions. That's a big deal for merchants who want one partner to handle everything. Here's a quick look at what Tap & Go plans to do with the new capital: - Expand into new verticals like universities, stadiums, dentistry, hotels, builders' merchants, and the motor sector - Invest in its people and build greater brand awareness - Strengthen its market reputation to attract new customers organically - Leverage Cashflows' expertise and infrastructure to accelerate growth ### The Cashflows Advantage Cashflows isn't just writing a check. Through its own acquiring platform and gateway, the company provides a secure ecosystem for processing payments across Europe. The partnership started back in 2025, with Cashflows handling the infrastructure and transaction settlement for Tap & Go's card machines. Now, with this investment, the relationship deepens. Fitzsimons is clear about the motivation: "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." That's the kind of conviction that turns a vendor-client relationship into something far more strategic. ### What This Means for the Payments Landscape The deal also signals Cashflows' wider growth strategy, with more strategic investment opportunities being explored. For Tap & Go, it's a chance to punch above its weight and compete with bigger players. For the payments industry as a whole, it's a reminder that collaboration between challengers can create real momentum. Two female-led businesses, both hungry to disrupt, now have the resources and the shared vision to do just that. The next chapter for Tap & Go is going to be worth watching, and for Cashflows, this investment is another step in building a payments ecosystem that spans the continent. If you're in the payments space, this is one partnership to keep on your radar.