UK Startup Firenze Raises $7.4M to Expand Lombard Lending

Jan de Vries · 2026-04-21

### Firenze's Latest Funding Round Firenze, a Manchester-based FinTech that specializes in Lombard lending, just closed an oversubscribed $7.4 million funding round. That's up from the original $6.8 million target, and the company plans to double its team to keep up with surging borrower demand. The round was led by AlbionVC, with all major existing investors like Outward VC and Form Ventures following on. It comes a year after their $3 million seed round. ### What Is Lombard Lending, Anyway? You might not know the term, but Lombard lending is a big deal in private banking. It lets people borrow against their investment portfolios instead of selling assets. Traditionally, only the ultra-wealthy had access, but Firenze wants to change that. Think of it like this: instead of selling your stocks when you need cash, you use them as collateral for a loan. You keep your investments, get liquidity fast, and avoid triggering capital gains taxes. It's a win-win for borrowers who have assets but need cash quickly. ### Why This Matters Now The demand for Firenze's solution has been huge. CEO David Newman says, "The market demand for Firenze's solution has exceeded our expectations, and as a result, our vision has gotten more ambitious." He adds that choosing AlbionVC was about trust and passion, which he values most in a VC partner. Jay Wilson, Partner at AlbionVC, explains the big picture: "Lombard lending has been one of private banking's most powerful tools, yet the vast majority of investors have had no access to it. Firenze is democratizing this access, bringing Lombard lending to the mass affluent segment." ### How Firenze Stacks Up Against Peers Firenze's raise fits into a larger trend. Here's how it compares to other 2026 funding rounds in adjacent spaces: - WealthAi (London): $912k to automate workflows for private banks and family offices - Upvest (Berlin): $117 million to scale securities infrastructure for banks and FinTechs - Bound (London): $22.5 million to support EU regulatory approval and growth in FX risk management - 9fin (London): $161 million to develop AI capabilities, expand proprietary data, and support US growth in debt markets - BCAS (Madrid): $32.7 million in debt to expand flexible financing and increase student access Together, those comparator rounds add up to over $334 million. Including Firenze, it's roughly $342 million. That suggests 2026 funding is staying concentrated in financial infrastructure, risk, wealth, and lending platforms rather than flashy consumer apps. The UK is a standout in this group. WealthAi, Bound, and 9fin are all British, which frames Firenze's raise as part of a broader pipeline of specialist financial software funding in the country. ### The Technology Behind It Firenze's proprietary embedded finance platform lets wealth managers offer cost-effective lending without clients moving or selling assets. Borrowers can get liquidity in as little as 24 hours. That speed is a game changer compared to traditional bank loans that can take weeks. The platform handles custody, capital, and compliance challenges simultaneously, which is a tough technical feat. Wilson notes, "David and the team have executed exceptionally, signing partners covering over $254 billion in assets." ### Real-World Applications Lombard lending isn't just for the rich. Firenze's model supports things like: - An alternative to property bridging loans - "Reinventing the bank of mum and dad" for university tuition or a first home down payment - Quick cash for any major life event without selling investments Think of it as a financial safety net that doesn't force you to give up your growth assets. ### The Founder's Vision Founded in 2024 by second-time founder David Newman, Firenze came from a collective passion for expanding financial services. The company believes investment-backed lending should be available to more people, not just the high-net-worth crowd. Newman's background as a repeat founder gives him insight into scaling tech companies. His team is already signing major partners, and with this new capital, they plan to double down on growth. ### What's Next With $7.4 million in fresh funding, Firenze aims to double its team and accelerate its plans. The company is positioned to ride a wave of demand for smarter, faster lending solutions. If they can keep executing, Lombard lending might just become a household term. For now, the focus is on scaling operations and bringing more wealth managers onto the platform. The future looks bright for this Manchester-based startup.