Internet and telecommunications group SoftBank and investment manager Viking Global Investors have co-led a $250m round for Mexico-based digital payment services provider Clip at a valuation of almost $2bn.
Founded in 2012, Clip sells a range of payment card readers that attach to mobile devices, allowing businesses to process a range of payment methods. It will use the funding to support business growth and continue the development of its platform.
The company has raised at least $410m to date. SoftBank’s $5bn Latin America-focused SoftBank Innovation Fund had provided about $20m in mid-2019 as part of a $100m round also backed by growth equity firm General Atlantic at a reported valuation of $350m to $400m.
Clip had previously received $8m in a 2016 series A round led by Alta Ventures that included American Express Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of payment services provider American Express, as well as Sierra Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, Fondo de Fondos and Angel Ventures Mexico.
The 2016 round followed a $1.5m seed round featuring angel investor Karl Mehta in 2013. Clip is also a graduate of internet technology provider Google’s Launchpad Accelerator, and its investors include financial services firm Banorte, investment bank Goldman Sachs, Ribbit Capital, Dalus Capital and MissionOG.
SoftBank’s chief operating officer, Marcelo Claure, said: “Clip is the exact type of disruptive company SoftBank looks to invest in.
“Led by an amazing management team, Clip is using technology and AI to disrupt the financial services industry by providing essential digital solutions to merchants and small business owners in Mexico, an economy that stands to benefit greatly from digital payments. We are proud to have Clip in the SoftBank ecosystem.”