In today’s top EMEA news, Berlin-based Delivery Hero acquires minority stake in Gorillas delivery startup, UK P2P Lender Zopa raises $303 million. Plus, digital bank Lunar buys payments platform Paylike, U.K. supermarket giant Tesco takes on Amazon Go, and FinTech payments startup Primer raised $50 million.
German Delivery Hero Buys Minority Stake in Gorillas Delivery Startup
Delivery Hero has made a $235 million investment in on-demand grocery delivery platform Gorillas for an 8% stake in the company, leading the startup’s Series C funding round.
In a blog post on Tuesday (Oct. 19), Niklas Östberg, Delivery Hero CEO and co-founder, said that the investment aligns with its own strategy of driving quick commerce on the international stage, adding that Gorillas’s penetration in Europe and the U.S., coupled with the startup’s “exceptional customer focus,” has resulted in the “highest retention rates we have seen in the industry.”
According to a blog post on the company’s website on Monday (Oct. 18), United Kingdom-based peer-to-peer (P2P) lender Zopa has generated close to $304 million (GBP £220 million) in its latest fundraising effort, pushing its valuation to $1 billion.
Led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Silverstripe, Northzone and Augmentum, the funding aims to bolster the company’s goal of assisting more U.K. customers in improving their finances and offering easier access to borrowing and saving products, per the announcement.
London FinTech Primer Raises $50M
London-based FinTech payments startup Primer announced on Tuesday (Oct. 19) that it raised $50 million from ICONIQ Capital, with additional backing from Balderton Capital, RTP Global, Seedcamp, Speedinvest and Accel.
Founded in 2020 by former PayPal employees Gabriel Le Roux and Paul Anthony, Primer offers end-to-end payments infrastructure that works with multiple payment methods, including buy now pay later (BNPL). The startup is now valued at $425 million.
Digital Bank Lunar Snags Payments Platform Paylike
In a move that will allow its business customers to receive eCommerce payments directly, Danish digital bank Lunar announced on Tuesday (Oct. 19) that it has acquired payments platform Paylike for an undisclosed amount, according to a Fintech Futures report.
Lunar also rolled out a one-step checkout offering in partnership with its Paylike acquisition, continuing its quest to make online payments easier and quicker for businesses and consumers. Paylike says it processes 100 million euro (over $116.4 million) every year across Europe.
London Supermarket Tesco Trials Cashierless GetGo to Rival Amazon Go
U.K. supermarket giant Tesco is taking on Amazon Go with its own version of “just walk-out” technology being trialed at its new GetGo stores.
Using weight sensors in the shelves and integrated artificial intelligence (AI), GetGo stores allow people to shop for groceries and household items without having to scan products, deal with a point-of-sale (POS) system or interact with cashiers.
UK CMA Turns up Volume on Music Streaming Space
The U.K.’s music streaming industry is now in the crosshairs of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) while a study is being conducted to determine the level of competitiveness in the sector.
“The U.K. has a love affair with music and is home to many of the world’s most popular artists,” CMA CEO Andrea Coscelli said in a statement. “We want to do everything we can to ensure that this sector is competitive, thriving and works in the interests of music lovers.”
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