Scalapay

High-Level Overview

Scalapay is a fintech company offering a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service that lets customers split purchases into interest-free installments, typically Pay-in-3, Pay-in-4, or Pay-Later-14-Days options, across online and in-store shopping.[1][2][4] It serves over 11 million users and 10,000+ partner brands like Nike, Shein, Decathlon, and OVS in Europe, solving the problem of high upfront costs by boosting merchant conversion rates, average order values, and customer loyalty while generating revenue from merchant transaction fees (2.7% of volume) and consumer late fees.[2][5] With strong growth—including serving 7 million customers, 100% retention in electronic payments, and recent €70 million EIB financing—Scalapay has raised over $700 million, positioning it as southern Europe's leading BNPL platform.[1][4][5]

Origin Story

Founded in 2019 by Simone Mancini (current CEO) and Johnny Mitrevski, Scalapay emerged to transform e-commerce payments into a pleasurable experience amid rising demand for flexible financing.[3][4][5] Starting in Italy, it quickly expanded across Europe (Italy, France, Germany), partnering with major retailers and achieving early traction through seamless integrations and viral growth—payment volumes tripled month-over-month post-Series A.[1][4] Pivotal moments include a $497 million Series B in 2022 led by Tencent and others, sponsorship of Milan Fashion Week, and 2025's €70 million EIB Scale-Up Debt as the first for an Italian unicorn, fueling tech innovation.[4][5]

Headquartered in Milan, Italy (Via Tortona 33), with some sources noting Dublin operations, Scalapay has scaled to 201-500 employees (recent estimates ~110-500), emphasizing engineering (largest team) for its payments platform.[1][6][7]

Core Differentiators

• Flexible, Frictionless Products: Interest-free installments (no upfront payment needed), mobile app with Tap-to-Pay virtual cards, Scalapay Club for in-store perks (discounts, insurance), and quick 2-3 minute onboarding via email/phone/ID.[1][2]
• Merchant-Friendly Integration: One-day setup with plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento; boosts conversions and order values; Magic platform revolutionizes checkout.[2][4]
• Dual Revenue Model: Merchant fees (2.7% of GMV) plus consumer late fees; assumes credit risk by paying merchants upfront.[2][3]
• Scale and Reliability: 10,000+ brands, 11M+ users, 100% retention, top ratings; strong risk/compliance teams.[1][5][7]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Scalapay rides the BNPL boom in Europe's digital payments ecosystem, where e-commerce and in-store flexibility address inflation-driven affordability needs and post-pandemic shopping shifts.[1][5] Timing aligns with regulatory tailwinds like TechEU's €70 billion push for tech sovereignty, enabling its EIB-backed expansion amid fintech consolidation.[5] Market forces favor it: rising merchant demand for conversion tools (e.g., vs. cards), 8,000+ brand partnerships, and southern Europe leadership amid Klarna/Affirm competition.[1][5] It influences the ecosystem by enhancing retailer tech stacks, fostering omnichannel retail, and accelerating Europe's BNPL maturity through innovation in security and user experience.[2][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Scalapay's momentum—fueled by EIB debt for product expansion and 11M users—positions it to deepen European dominance and eye global scale, potentially via new markets or acquisitions.[5] Trends like AI-driven credit, embedded finance, and regulatory clarity will shape it, amplifying merchant tools like Magic while navigating default risks.[2][4] Its influence may evolve from regional disruptor to pan-European BNPL infrastructure, empowering frictionless commerce as BNPL integrates deeper into everyday spending. This builds on its core mission: turning payments into pleasure.[4]