Today In Payments: GoCardless Raises $95 Million; BarkBox To Go Public Via SPAC At $1.6 Billion Valuation

In today’s top news, GoCardless raised $95 million in a funding round, and BarkBox plans to go public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Plus, Fiserv is acquiring Ondot Systems to further its digital capabilities.

UK FinTech GoCardless Raises $95 Million Led By Bain

U.K. FinTech GoCardless has raised $95 million in a Series F funding round led by Bain Capital Ventures. The startup will use the new funds to accelerate the company’s open banking strategy, enabling merchants to transparently and quickly process instant payments.

BarkBox To Go Public Via SPAC At $1.6 Billion Valuation

New York subscription startup BarkBox is merging with the blank-check company Northern Star Acquisitions Corp. in a $1.6 billion deal, as the demand for pet supplies has surged amid the global pandemic. The initial public offering (IPO) is anticipated to raise $454 million.

Fiserv To Acquire FinTech Ondot Systems

The FinTech Fiserv has signed a deal to acquire Ondot Systems. The deal will help expand Fiserv’s digital capabilities and develop Ondot’s platform. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Massachusetts Suing Robinhood, Alleging Failure To Protect Investors

Massachusetts regulators filed a complaint against Robinhood on Wednesday (Dec. 16) alleging that the stock-trading platform failed to protect its customers and their assets, violating state laws and regulations.

Main Street SMBs Wax Optimistic On Surviving The COVID-19 Age

Resilience has been put to the test in 2020, and small businesses have shown the world what the word really means. Tune in to hear how Charlie Yi, CEO at Zoku Sushi, and Tamekah Bost, owner at The Better Box, put everything on the line this year and told Matt Baker, Visa’s head of U.S. Small Business Solutions and Karen Webster how payments innovation will play a critical role in their digital-first 2021.

Study: 69 Percent Of Consumers Say They Want Subscription Bundles

Consumers love their subscriptions, but for all the benefits subscriptions unlock, managing and paying for multiple services is now a source of friction and fatigue — and if given the chance, 69 percent of consumers say they’d sign up for subscription bundles (and even pay more) to simplify the experience.

Bitcoin Rally Here to Stay — Or Fleeting?

Bitcoin is up about 200 percent year to date as 2020 draws to a close. The question remains: As investors crowd the space, and as retail use cases (slowly) develop, will the rally have legs or run dry?

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