# Satispay
Satispay is a Milan-based mobile payments company that operates its own account-based payment network, independent of Visa and [Mastercard](https://www.edgepedia.org/mastercard), and as of 2026 is expanding from payments into a broader financial platform; it has been valued above €1 billion since September 2022 and remains independent and active.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013, by Alberto Dalmasso, Samuele Pinta, and Dario Brignone[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) |
| Sector | Mobile payments and consumer financial services[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) |
| Total raised | Over €500 million as of November 2024; a directory source records €539 million across 9 rounds (unverified)[2](https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/milan-based-satispay-secures-e60-million-to-expand-its-mobile-payments-and-employee-benefits-platform/) • [3](https://funding.tech.eu/companies/3AA54703-A22A-4229-8D5F-6FB2431CE23A) |
| Largest round | €320 million Series D, September 2022, at a valuation above €1 billion[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) |
| Notable investors | Addition, Greyhound Capital, Lightrock, Tencent, Block, Coatue, Mediolanum Gestione Fondi SGR[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) |
| Scale (May 2026) | 6.5 million users, over 450,000 merchants, ARR above €116 million[5](https://www.satispay.com/it-it/newsroom/satispay-aumento-di-capitale-per-accelerare-la-crescita/) |
| Status | Active and independent; unicorn since September 2022[2](https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/milan-based-satispay-secures-e60-million-to-expand-its-mobile-payments-and-employee-benefits-platform/) |
## Founding and founders
Satispay was founded in 2013 by Alberto Dalmasso (CEO), Samuele Pinta, and Dario Brignone, all three of whom remain involved.[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) [TechCrunch](https://www.edgepedia.org/techcrunch) reports that Dalmasso and Brignone set out in 2012 to build an independent payment network, and the network itself has been operating since 2015.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) • [6](https://greensheet.com/newswire&newswire_id=64174)
**The founding insight** was that many small Italian merchants avoided card terminals because of high transaction fees. Satispay built a lower-fee network aimed at small, everyday payments; by September 2022 users were averaging 10 to 18 transactions per month.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/)
Founder control has survived successive funding rounds. The founders hold their stakes through the holding company Momentum, where Dalmasso and Brignone each hold 8.76% and Pinta 1.28%; a weighted voting structure gives the co-founders five voting rights per share, a feature the shareholders themselves supported during the capital raises.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD)
## How the product works
Satispay's network bypasses banks and card companies. A user deposits money from their existing bank account into a Satispay account to spend over a period, in effect a pre-pay account that also helps control monthly spending.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) This is the structural difference from [Apple Pay](https://www.edgepedia.org/apple-pay) and Google Pay, which ride Visa and Mastercard rails; Satispay's app links bank accounts directly to a proprietary payment system.[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) CEO Alberto Dalmasso has said the goal was never to create a new bank, since users already have bank accounts; Satispay stays interoperable with banks rather than replacing them.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/)
According to the company's own description, the app now covers payments, free peer-to-peer transfers, installments ("Paga in 3"), bill payments, pagoPA (Italy's public-payment system), donations, and savings.[6](https://greensheet.com/newswire&newswire_id=64174) It has also launched a debit card in partnership with Mastercard, usable worldwide, and an Investments section for buying and selling stocks and ETFs in the app.[6](https://greensheet.com/newswire&newswire_id=64174) The Pay-in-3 installment service had been used by over 35,000 people, generating more than €6 million in transactions with an annualised projection of €60 million.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD)
## Funding history
- **Series C, November 2020:** a directory source records a €93 million round from LGT Lightstone, Square (now Block), Tencent Holdings, and TIM Ventures (unverified).[3](https://funding.tech.eu/companies/3AA54703-A22A-4229-8D5F-6FB2431CE23A)
- **Before the Series D:** roughly €130 million raised over three earlier rounds.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/)
- **Series D, September 2022:** €320 million ($305 million at the time), all equity, led by Addition (the firm founded by [Lee Fixel](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-fixel)), with Greyhound Capital, Coatue, Lightrock, Block Inc., Tencent, and Mediolanum Gestione Fondi SGR participating, at a valuation above €1 billion.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) [Greyhound](https://www.edgepedia.org/greyhound) had been a shareholder since 2018; Coatue, Lightrock, Block, Tencent, and [Mediolanum](https://www.edgepedia.org/mediolanum) joined in 2021.[8](https://www.eu-startups.com/2022/09/milan-based-payment-network-satispay-exceed-e1-billion-valuation-and-becomes-an-italian-unicorn/) After this round total funding stood at more than €450 million since 2013.[8](https://www.eu-startups.com/2022/09/milan-based-payment-network-satispay-exceed-e1-billion-valuation-and-becomes-an-italian-unicorn/)
- **November 2024:** an additional €60 million from Addition, Greyhound, and Lightrock, bringing total funds raised to over €500 million.[2](https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/milan-based-satispay-secures-e60-million-to-expand-its-mobile-payments-and-employee-benefits-platform/)
- **June 2026:** a capital increase of up to €120 million, with roughly 50% already guaranteed by existing investors including Greyhound, Addition, and Lightrock.[5](https://www.satispay.com/it-it/newsroom/satispay-aumento-di-capitale-per-accelerare-la-crescita/) The company's valuation remained above €1 billion.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD)
The largest shareholder is Addition, through several investment vehicles, holding 26.34% of the share capital, followed by Greyhound with 8.86% and Lightrock Growth with 7.93%; Tencent holds 4.67% and Block 4.16%.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD) A directory source, tech.eu's funding explorer, records €539 million across 9 rounds from 13 investors as of July 2026; this figure is unverified by primary reporting.[3](https://funding.tech.eu/companies/3AA54703-A22A-4229-8D5F-6FB2431CE23A)
## Business and traction
Satispay's scale has grown steadily. At the September 2022 Series D it had 3 million consumers and 200,000 merchants.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) By November 2024 it served over 5 million users and 380,000 merchants across Italy, France, and [Luxembourg](https://www.edgepedia.org/luxembourg).[2](https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/milan-based-satispay-secures-e60-million-to-expand-its-mobile-payments-and-employee-benefits-platform/) As of May 31, 2026, the company reported more than 6.5 million users, over 450,000 affiliated merchants, and annualised recurring revenue above €116 million, with 80% year-on-year growth in the last two quarters.[5](https://www.satispay.com/it-it/newsroom/satispay-aumento-di-capitale-per-accelerare-la-crescita/) Total deposits on the platform had reached €670 million.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD) The company employs around 853 people.[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/)
**Corporate welfare** has become a major growth line. In September 2023 Satispay entered corporate welfare with Satispay Meal Vouchers and Shopping Vouchers, followed by the Satispay FlexBen platform.[6](https://greensheet.com/newswire&newswire_id=64174) By the end of May 2026 annualised welfare volumes had grown 250% year-on-year to €420 million, with 43,000 company clients and 400,000 worker beneficiaries; the stated goal is to exceed €700 million in annualised volumes by year-end.[7](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD)
## How it compares with card wallets and bank schemes
Satispay's defining choice is the proprietary, account-based network. Apple Pay and Google Pay are wallets layered on Visa and Mastercard rails; Satispay bypasses those networks entirely, linking users' bank accounts to its own system.[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/) That structure is what made lower merchant fees for small retailers possible, which was the founding premise.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/) At the same time, Dalmasso has framed the company as complementary to banks rather than a replacement, since users keep their existing accounts and simply fund a Satispay balance from them.[4](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/)
The trade-off is geographic. A proprietary network must be built merchant by merchant, and Satispay's footprint remains concentrated in Italy, with a smaller presence in France and Luxembourg.[1](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/)
## References
1. [TechFundingNews: Satispay to raise €120M](https://techfundingnews.com/revolt-challenger-italian-fintech-unicorn-satispay-to-raise-e120m-and-unlock-a-e1-27t-investing-opportunity/)
2. [EU-Startups: Satispay secures €60 million](https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/milan-based-satispay-secures-e60-million-to-expand-its-mobile-payments-and-employee-benefits-platform/)
3. [tech.eu Funding Explorer: Satispay](https://funding.tech.eu/companies/3AA54703-A22A-4229-8D5F-6FB2431CE23A)
4. [TechCrunch: Italy's Satispay raises €320M at a €1B+ valuation](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/28/italys-satispay-raises-e320m-at-a-e1b-valuation-with-backing-from-block-tencent-and-more-for-its-indy-payment-network/)
5. [Satispay newsroom: capital increase of up to €120 million](https://www.satispay.com/it-it/newsroom/satispay-aumento-di-capitale-per-accelerare-la-crescita/)
6. [The Green Sheet: Satispay company release](https://greensheet.com/newswire&newswire_id=64174)
7. [Il Sole 24 Ore (English edition): Satispay capital increase of up to €120 million](https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/satispay-capital-increase-of-up-to-120-million-AIpOnfbD)
8. [EU-Startups: Satispay exceeds €1 billion valuation and becomes an Italian unicorn](https://www.eu-startups.com/2022/09/milan-based-payment-network-satispay-exceed-e1-billion-valuation-and-becomes-an-italian-unicorn/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Business and work › Business and work overview › Companies and corporations › Venture-backed startups and growth companies › Fintech, commerce, and consumer startups › Payments and cross-border fintech*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license