Dutch Payment Startup Klearly Raises €12 Million to Transform Restaurant Payments Across Europe

2026-01-13 community

Netherlands, Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
Amsterdam-based fintech Klearly secured €12 million in Series A funding led by PayPal Ventures to expand its restaurant-focused payment platform beyond the Netherlands. The startup has already captured over 4,000 Dutch merchants and processes nearly €1 billion annually in payment volume, demonstrating remarkable traction in just two years since its 2022 launch. Klearly’s technology integrates seamlessly with existing point-of-sale systems without requiring hardware replacement, addressing a critical pain point for hospitality businesses seeking modern payment solutions.

Strategic Investment Led by PayPal Ventures

The Series A funding round, announced on January 12, 2026, was led by PayPal Ventures with participation from Italian Founders Fund, Global PayTech Ventures, Antler Elevate, and Shapers [1][2][3]. This investment brings Klearly’s total funding to €20 million [1][4], representing a significant milestone for the company that was founded in 2022 by Sam Koekoek, Eva Rosa Bian, Edan Dil, Guy Griv, and Geus Walder [1][9]. The backing from PayPal’s venture capital arm signals strong confidence in Klearly’s approach to hospitality payments, particularly as the company approaches €1 billion in annualized total payment volume [1][5][6].

Technology Designed for Hospitality’s Unique Demands

Klearly’s platform addresses the specific challenges faced by restaurants, bars, and clubs by providing a payment layer that integrates directly with existing point-of-sale systems [1][7]. The technology is device-agnostic and can be deployed on merchants’ current hardware, eliminating the need for expensive POS replacements or proprietary devices [2][7]. This strategic design choice allows restaurants to process payments on Android and iOS devices, turning smartphones and tablets into secure, high-performance payment terminals [1]. The platform can function either as a standalone solution or as an embedded payments layer, helping hospitality operators handle high-volume service while speeding up table turnover and increasing revenue per guest [1].

Remarkable Growth in the Dutch Market

Since its launch, Klearly has achieved substantial market penetration in the Netherlands, serving more than 4,000 merchants across the hospitality sector [1][5][6][7]. The company has demonstrated impressive growth trajectory, with one source noting payment volume surging 500% throughout 2024 [8]. Klearly’s success in the Dutch market has been particularly notable given that it was selected by Apple as the first fintech globally to launch Tap to Pay on iPhone nearly a year ago [8]. This recognition from a major technology company underscores the innovative nature of Klearly’s payment solutions and its potential for broader market adoption.

European Expansion Strategy

The fresh capital will primarily fund Klearly’s expansion into Italy and Belgium, where the company plans to establish local go-to-market teams and deepen collaboration with POS providers and restaurant groups [1][5][6]. Italy represents a particularly attractive market, with over 300,000 restaurants making it one of Europe’s largest hospitality markets [7][9]. Lorenzo Franzi, Partner at the Italian Founders Fund, emphasized that ‘the traction Klearly has achieved in the Netherlands is a strong signal: restaurants want payments that fit the realities of service, not generic setups’ [9]. Beyond geographic expansion, the funding will support hiring across engineering and operations teams, advancing technology development, and strengthening product depth to better serve high-volume hospitality businesses [1][5][6].

Bronnen

fintech funding payment processing