Highnote’s $90M Series B and Expansion into U.S. Merchant Acquiring: Our Next Phase of Innovation

This week we announced two important milestones that cement our position as a trailblazer in the embedded finance and payments space. A $90 million Series B funding round, led by Adams Street Partners with participation from Oak HC/FT, Costanoa, WestCap, and Pinegrove Venture Partners, is a testament to Highnote’s strong growth trajectory and commitment to delivering groundbreaking payment solutions. Coupled with this is the launch of Highnote’s acquiring solution, expanding our unified payments platform to include pay-in and pay-out capabilities.

These advancements represent a transformative step forward for businesses seeking seamless, integrated embedded payment solutions.

Leading the Future of Embedded Finance

Highnote’s unified payments platform has redefined what’s possible in embedded finance. By integrating issuing and acquiring capabilities on a single, API-driven platform, Highnote delivers unmatched efficiency, transparency, and flexibility. This holistic approach allows businesses to manage all financial transactions—internal, vendor, and customer-facing—on a unified ledger, significantly reducing complexity and operational costs.

Why the Acquiring Solution Matters

The expansion into acquiring solidifies Highnote’s position as a one-stop solution for businesses and platform providers of all sizes. The acquiring capabilities on the Highnote platform enable companies to accept card payments online through plug-in checkout software or custom features tailored to their needs. By directly integrating with major payment networks, Highnote’s platform ensures streamlined data access, improved transparency, and better economics for customers. Certified by major U.S. card brands, this new solution empowers businesses to embrace embedded payments with confidence and efficiency.

“The acquiring landscape has evolved over time and represents an opportunity for next-generation customers to accelerate growth through embedded acquiring in addition to embedded issuing,” said John MacIlwaine, CEO of Highnote.

The addition of acquiring is particularly impactful for providers of vertical platform solutions. These organizations require seamless integration of diverse payment scenarios, and Highnote’s API-driven platform provides exactly that.

Vlad Sadovskiy, CEO of Netevia, highlighted this innovation: “Acquiring on Highnote’s unified platform is a game-changer for us. Highnote is radically reducing the friction and complexity for us to deliver that to an ever-broadening set of clients.”

Driving Innovation with Series B Funding

The $90 million in Series B funding enablesHighnote to continue scaling its technology and expanding its capabilities. This investment reflects growing confidence in Highnote’s vision to deliver modern, scalable, and flexible embedded finance solutions. Since its founding, Highnote has consistently demonstrated a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in payments.

“Highnote’s transformational platform and impressive growth trajectory motivated us to lead this funding round,” said Robin Murray, Partner at Adams Street Partners. “We are excited to support the company’s vision to lead innovation in embedded finance.”

What’s Next?

With more than $145 million raised to date, Highnote is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in embedded finance. Our unified platform is designed to adapt to the most demanding and innovative use cases—from fast-growing vertical solution providers to enterprise brands, marketplaces, and financial institutions.

This latest funding and product launch reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our customers, who are the cutting-edge innovators that need capabilities inherent to what the Highnote platform provides. By eliminating the friction and complexity traditionally associated with payments, Highnote enables businesses to unlock new opportunities and accelerate growth.

A Unified Vision for the Future

Highnote’s success is a testament to our vision of creating a unified payments platform that empowers businesses to manage their payments ecosystems seamlessly. The integration of issuing and acquiring capabilities is not just a technological achievement—it’s a game-changing solution for companies looking to reduce costs, build revenue generating products, and thrive in today’s dynamic embedded finance landscape.

As Highnote continues to innovate and grow, its impact on the embedded finance industry deepens. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Highnote, its customers, and the future of payments. We are so glad to have you with us on this journey!