UK fintech innovator Bourn has closed a £1.5 million seed funding round with a mission to transform the SME finance landscape with its Flexible Trade Account (FTA). 

Founded in 2024, Bourn is a fintech pioneer addressing the cash flow challenges faced by UK SMEs. Its Flexible Trade Account reinvents business overdrafts with AI-driven risk assessment, Open Banking integration, and seamless SME financing. Partnering with banks and lenders, Bourn offers a white-label solution to help financial institutions grow portfolios, mitigate risk, and optimise returns – while giving SMEs cost-effective access to working capital. And this innovation has now earned them £1.5 in seed funding.

The funding round was led by Haatch, alongside fintech specialists Love Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and Aperture, with additional backing from private investors. Founded by Roger Vincent, Nick Tracey and Paul Gambrell, the company also welcomes seasoned fintech executive and former banker Leda Glyptis as a Non-Executive Board Member.

Bourn’s flagship solution redefines working capital by providing an operational payment account and revolving credit facility that connects to a business’s accounting system and bank accounts. Funding limits adjust dynamically based on outstanding invoices, debtor payments, and insights from Bourn’s proprietary AI-driven risk engine.

“At Bourn, we understand the vital role SMEs play in the UK economy. Our mission is to simplify cash flow management through innovative financial solutions, giving businesses the confidence to grow. This funding propels us closer to our vision of transforming SME finance across the UK.”

Nick Tracey, CEO of Bourn.

With the UK government prioritising economic growth, embedded finance reshaping the payments landscape, and AI transforming credit access, Bourn is filling a critical gap in SME finance. As traditional banks scale back business overdrafts and the more complex working capital sector stagnates, Bourn’s FTA offers a smarter alternative – bridging the gap between these outdated products and providing businesses with real-time, automated funding when they need it most.

Key features of Bourn’s Flexible Trade Account include:

• Fully dynamic funding – The FTA provides a scalable credit limit that adjusts in real time based on deep analytics of invoices, transactions, and cash flow, alongside AI-driven document analysis.

• Automated cash flow management – Transactions flow through the FTA’s built-in payment account, with real-time tracking, accounting feeds, and automated cash allocations—eliminating manual admin.

• Real-time insights and AI assistants – Businesses get clear visibility into their cash flow, through smart alerts, real-time business insights, and automated financial management.

• Embedded working capital – The FTA integrates seamlessly into banking apps, ERPs, and accounting platforms like Xero, ensuring businesses can access credit and manage payments within their existing tools.

“Access to working capital remains one of the biggest barriers to SME growth. Bourn’s solution offers a scalable, efficient funding option for UK businesses, and we’re thrilled to support their journey.”

Marcus Love, General Partner at Love Ventures.

“Bourn brings together a group of industry-leading seasoned professionals solving a very real problem that they understand deeply. I am honoured and excited to be joining this team bringing tangible value to businesses and driving financial accessibility”

Leda Glyptis, newly appointed Non-Executive Board Member

The £1.5M seed funding will drive product development, technological innovation, and market entry, allowing Bourn to reach UK SMEs through its distribution network.

Bourn is collaborating with UK banks and lenders to deliver the FTA as a white-label solution, helping these institutions deepen their support for SMEs. At the same time, Bourn is embedding the FTA into leading accounting systems and ERPs, giving SMEs seamless access to working capital within the tools they already use. By integrating with both financial institutions and everyday business operating platforms, Bourn ensures fast, frictionless funding for SMEs when they need it most.