From NFC-enabled smartphones to wearable payment rings, the rise of contactless payment solutions and digital wallets is redefining how consumers and businesses transact. Accelerated by digital-first lifestyles and the need for seamless, hygienic transactions, this space has evolved into one of the most dynamic segments in fintech.
FounderNest identified 305 companies innovating across eight core subspaces, collectively raising over $867.22 billion in public funding rounds as of October 2025. The ecosystem includes startups reinventing mobile wallets, established players scaling blockchain-based wallets, and emerging platforms integrating payments directly into apps, wearables, and e-commerce systems.
Key Market Trends
Mobile Wallets:
The most mature and well-capitalized segment, encompassing 50 companies and over $163B raised. Players here, like PayPal, Grab, and Revolut are expanding beyond simple payments into full financial ecosystems, offering banking, investment, and crypto services within unified apps.
In-App Payments:
A leading growth engine with $445.98B raised across 52 companies. Platforms like Stripe and Shopify enable frictionless commerce by embedding payment capabilities directly into digital experiences, supporting one-tap purchases and subscription models.
Wearable Payment Devices:
An emerging subspace where 36 companies have collectively raised $435.89B. From smartwatches to payment rings, these innovations combine convenience and security, often using NFC, tokenization, and biometric authentication. Expect further expansion into fashion and fitness ecosystems.
E-commerce Payment Solutions:
A critical infrastructure layer for global online trade, comprising 51 companies with $260.08B raised. Giants like Worldpay and Adyen are leading cross-border integrations and omnichannel solutions for retailers and marketplaces.
Digital Currency Wallets:
A rapidly expanding niche bridging traditional finance and Web3, with 54 companies and $149.75B raised. Coinbase, Binance, and Blockchain.com exemplify how digital wallets are evolving to hold both fiat and crypto, with advanced encryption and decentralized custody.
QR Code Payments:
Once a pandemic-era solution, QR codes remain a powerful tool in small business and emerging markets. This subspace includes 48 companies raising $65.2B, led by Asia-based players leveraging low-cost scalability for inclusive commerce.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Payment Systems:
Fueling instant transfers between individuals, this category features 42 companies and $81.96B raised. Platforms like Venmo and Cash App dominate here, expanding into crypto and micro-investments.
Contactless Credit & Debit Cards:
The bridge between legacy finance and the new contactless economy. With 51 companies and $110.04B raised, this segment focuses on embedding NFC and RFID capabilities into everyday financial products for speed and safety.
Space snapshot
- Total companies analyzed: 305
- Total funding raised: $867.2 Billion
- Median number of rounds raised per company: 3 rounds
- Median amount raised per company: $45 Million
- Median headcount: 31 employees
- Median age (maturity): 10 years
- CAGR in companies (last 5 years): 5.9%
- CAGR in funding (last 5 years): 9%
- Company locations: United States (33%), Asia, and Europe
- Funding distribution: United States ($369.47B), Asia ($397.25B), and Europe ($48.48B)
The Hottest Technologies in Contactless Payments
- Dynamic QR Codes for Secure Payments – Real-time, tokenized codes that reduce fraud risk.
- Voice-Activated Payments – AI-powered assistants enabling hands-free transactions.
- Smart POS Systems – Unified terminals that support NFC, QR, and digital currencies.
- Blockchain-Based Digital Wallets – Enhancing transparency and decentralized security.
- Biometric Authentication & Tokenization – Replacing passwords with identity-based credentials.
- Wearable Payment Rings & Devices – Integrating fashion and finance through contactless design.
Emerging innovators: 14 seed-stage companies to watch
Beyond the established leaders, a new generation of startups is shaping the next wave of contactless and digital wallet innovation. Since 2023, multiple companies in this space have raised seed funding, reflecting investor confidence in specialized, high-growth niches like blockchain wallets, biometric payments, and peer-to-peer fintech. We’ve picked out 14 that may fit with your strategy.
To fully explore this growing sector and uncover promising startups in Contactless payment solutions, request a demo of FounderNest today.
Companies that may catch your eye in this space:
1. Seven
Wearable contactless payment device in the form of a sleek, battery-free smart ring that enables fast, secure, and convenient NFC-based transactions without requiring a phone, app, or PIN for small payments, linked to a prepaid digital wallet for enhanced security and ease of use.
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Founded: 2018
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $623.31K, Seed, Jun 2025
- Investors: Vinners, Sheth family office, Anchorage Capital Partners, Venture Catalysts
- Website: seven.ooo/7ring
- LinkedIn: Seven
2. TapReady
Contactless payment software enabling any NFC-enabled device to securely accept and make digital payments across global and local card schemes, designed to empower developers and businesses in emerging markets with seamless, versatile, and offline-capable in-person payment solutions.
- Headquarters: Dover, United States
- Founded: 2024
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $840K, Seed, Apr 2025
- Website: https://www.tapready.io/
- LinkedIn: TapReady
3. Macellan SuperApp
Digital wallet and mobile payment platform enabling users to manage multiple brand-specific wallets, make secure QR code payments, and access integrated loyalty campaigns—all within a single application.
- Headquarters: Kagithane, Turkey
- Founded: 2021
- Headcount: 51-200
- Funding: $4.73M, Seed, Jun 2023
- Investors: QInvest, Fonangels, CapitalTurk Holding, Bilişim Vadisi, APY Ventures
- Website: https://macellan.app/en
- LinkedIn: Macellan SuperApp
4. Agatyca
Cashless payment and digital transformation solutions specializing in customized platforms that enable QR code-based payments and discounts for sectors such as restaurants, hospitals, and clinics, promoting sustainable monetary systems and operational optimization.
- Headquarters: Yamaguchi, Japan
- Founded: 2022
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $300K, Seed, Feb 2025
- Investors: Quantum Leaps Ventures, Ichiro Umeda
- Website: https://agatyca.co.jp/
- LinkedIn: Agatyca
5. EventCHI
Contactless event payment and access control platform leveraging blockchain, NFC, and artificial intelligence to streamline ticketing, enhance security, optimize event operations, and improve visitor experience through seamless cashless transactions and data-driven insights.
- Headquarters: Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Founded: 2017
- Headcount: 11-50
- Funding: $1.72M, Seed, Jun 2024
- Website: https://chi.app/
- LinkedIn: Chi
6. Touch2Pay
Touch2Pay delivers tailored contactless payment solutions that enable businesses of all sizes across retail, hospitality, trades, and professional services to accept fast, secure, and convenient payments through versatile devices and integrated systems, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Headquarters: South Brisbane, Australia
- Founded: 2020
- Headcount: 1–10
- Funding: $2.1M, Seed, Nov 2023
- Website: https://www.touch2pay.com.au/
- LinkedIn: Touch2Pay
7. Bestow
We couldn’t find a clear description for Bestow yet. Some companies operate with a low profile or haven’t shared much public information. If you have more context or think this is an error, feel free to let us know.
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, United States
- Founded: 2019
- Headcount: 11-50
- Funding: $600K, Seed, May 2023
- Investors: HBCU Founders Accelerator
- Website: https://bestowpayments.com/
- LinkedIn: BE$TOW App
8. AccessGrid
AccessGrid provides an API platform that replaces physical access cards with secure NFC-based digital keys in mobile wallets. Using MIFARE DESFire technology, it lets companies issue, manage, and revoke credentials that work with existing NFC readers, no hardware upgrades required. The system offers instant activation, strong encryption, and identity integration, enabling fast, secure, and cost-effective access control modernization.
- Headquarters: Miami, United States
- Founded: 2024
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $4.4M, Seed, Oct 2025
- Investors: Third Sphere, Spice Capital, HF0 Residency, Exceptional Capital, Ex/Ante, CEAS Investments, Harlem Capital
- Website: https://accessgrid.com/
- LinkedIn: AccessGrid
9. Octane
Octane offers a closed-loop digital payments platform that centralizes and streamlines all vehicle-related expenses—including fuel, maintenance, spare parts, and petty cash—into a single system with real-time controls, AI-powered fraud detection, and analytics to help fleet managers optimize costs, eliminate fraud, and gain full visibility and control over fleet operations across a wide network of service stations in Egypt.
- Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
- Founded: 2022
- Headcount: 51-200
- Funding: $5.2M, Seed, Jun 2025
- Investors: Global Founders Capital, F6 Ventures, Shorooq Partners, El Sewedy Capital Holding, Algebra Ventures
- Website: https://octane-tech.io/
- LinkedIn: Octane
10. Alby
Browser-based tools for seamless Bitcoin Lightning Network payments, wallet management, and web app authentication
- Headquarters: Dover, United States
- Founded: 2021
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $2.73M, Seed, Jan 2024
- Website: https://getalby.com/
- LinkedIn: Alby
11. Handwave
Handwave is a biometric payment and identity platform that enables wallet-free, contactless retail checkout through a secure palm scan. Using dual biometric authentication, palm geometry and vein pattern recognition with liveness detection, it ensures high security while integrating payments, loyalty, and age verification in one gesture. The system connects easily to existing POS setups, simplifying onboarding, reducing fraud, and streamlining the customer experience.
- Headquarters: Riga, Latvia
- Founded: 2021
- Headcount: 11-50
- Funding: $4.84M, Seed, Aug 2025
- Investors: Ready2Scale, Outlast Fund, Inovo.vc, FIRSTPICK, Practica Capital
- Website: https://www.handwave.com/
- LinkedIn: Handwave
12. Nekuda.ai
Secure payments infrastructure enabling AI and software agents to autonomously make real online payments with user-approved authorization, secure credential storage, and built-in compliance for seamless agent-driven commerce in consumer and business contexts.
- Headquarters: New York, United States
- Founded: 2025
- Headcount: 1-10
- Funding: $5M, Seed, May 2025
- Investors: Visa Ventures, Shyamal Hitesh Anadkat, Sahar Mor, Paul Klein IV, Amex Ventures, Madrona Venture Labs
- Website: https://nekuda.ai/
- LinkedIn: Nekuda
13. StoreCash
StoreCash offers a mobile payment platform that enables users to pay with QR codes or barcodes at hundreds of stores while instantly earning up to 15% cash back on everyday purchases, with no waiting or hidden fees, allowing users to maximize savings by stacking cash back on top of store promotions and use their rewards immediately for future purchases or bank deposits.
- Headquarters: San Jose, United States
- Founded: 2019
- Headcount: 11-50
- Funding: $7.4M, Seed, Nov 2024
- Investors: Techstars, Western Union, Mucker Capital, Gaingels, Correlation Ventures, Alumni Ventures, MaC Venture Capital, 43North, Popular Ventures, Buffalo Angel Network, Black Operator Ventures
- Website: https://www.storecashapp.com/
- LinkedIn: StoreCash.AI
14. Leap Financial
Leap Financial provides a cloud-based modular fintech platform featuring a biometric wallet for instant payment issuing, cross-border payments, payment facilitation with same-day settlements, and regulatory compliance services, enabling financial and non-financial institutions to quickly launch and scale fintech offerings with integrated bank sponsorships and global payment processors.
- Headquarters: Miami, United States
- Founded: 2017
- Headcount: 51–200
- Funding: $3.5M, Seed, December 2024
- Investors: Ascendo venture capital, Fuel Venture Capital
- Website: https://www.leapfinancial.com/
- LinkedIn: LeapFinancial
Conclusion
The contactless payment landscape is entering its next phase of evolution, marked by convergence between digital identity, decentralized finance, and embedded payments. As fintechs and financial institutions collaborate to expand interoperability and security, the global economy moves closer to a cashless, borderless future.
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