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Cino cracks bill-splitting at the moment of payment, raises seed round
Cino, a European startup, has raised €3.5m in seed funding to enhance its real-time bill-splitting app, which allows users to pay their shares instantly at checkout. Founded in Estonia, the app targets Gen Z's discomfort with traditional payment methods. With rapid growth and plans to enter the UK market, Cino offers customizable payment groups via virtual cards, promoting easier shared expenses management.
Key points
- Cino developed a real-time payment app for shared expenses, unlike existing tools that require one person to pay upfront.
- The app allows customizable bill splitting and real-time payment from various bank accounts.
- Raised €3.5m in seed funding led by Balderton Capital for expansion to the UK market.
- Funded by investors including Connect Ventures, Tera Ventures, and angel investors.
- Cino has shown strong growth, with 100% month-over-month growth in Finland and Italy, and users engage with the app an average of 17 times per month.
Why it matters
- Reflects a shift in financial tech trends toward real-time payment solutions, which are gaining popularity among younger consumers.
- Aligns with the increasing demand for digital payment innovations in 2025, emphasizing user-friendly experiences.
- Cino's growth highlights a broader movement towards simplifying financial interactions in social contexts, catering to Gen Z's preferences.
Cino's innovative approach to bill splitting addresses modern payment challenges, resonating with today's consumers, signaling a shift towards more integrated digital finance solutions.