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Based in Brooklyn, New York, CLIP develops and manufactures portable electric motor devices that convert standard bicycles into electric bikes without requiring specialized tools or permanent modifications. The company's primary hardware features a 450W friction drive and a 180Wh battery, providing six to seven miles of pedal assistance controlled via a dedicated Bluetooth application. Operating through direct consumer sales, global distributors, and subscription models, the firm also produces a lower cost hardware version called BOLT priced around $250 to target urban commuters and emerging markets. To support its clean mobility hardware manufacturing and distribution, the enterprise has raised $4.7 million in total funding, securing backing from investors like Motovolt Mobility alongside advisory support from executives at Apollo International and Sona Comstar. CLIP was officially founded in 2018 by Somnath Ray and Clement de Alcala.
CLIP has raised $130.0M across 5 funding rounds.
CLIP has raised $130.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Clip is a Mexico-based fintech company founded in 2012 that provides a mobile point-of-sale (POS) platform, including a Clip reader device and app, enabling small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to accept credit and debit card payments via smartphones or tablets.[2][3][4] It solves the problem of cash-only limitations for vendors by offering accessible, touchless payment solutions, financial inclusion tools, and business management features like transaction tracking and reporting, serving primarily Mexican merchants and expanding into the U.S.[1][2][3][4] Clip achieved unicorn status in June 2021 with a $2 billion valuation after raising $453.7 million, employing over 600 people, and securing major funding from investors like SoftBank and Ribbit Capital, while maintaining strong growth through credit facilities and pandemic-driven demand.[2][3]
Clip was founded in 2012 by Adolfo Babatz, who previously worked as Product Marketing & Engagement Manager for Latin America at PayPal.[2][3] Babatz identified a critical gap in Mexico's payment ecosystem: small vendors losing sales due to cash-only operations while customers preferred cards, and PayPal showed no interest in addressing it.[2] He left PayPal, assembled a team of five, and launched Clip in early 2013 with $1.5 million in seed funding—the highest round for a Mexican tech startup at the time—using in-house technology tailored for SMBs.[2][3] Every subsequent funding round set records, leading to unicorn status in 2021; pivotal moments include pandemic acceleration of touchless payments and partnerships like with Mexico's Central Bank.[2][3]
Clip rides the fintech wave of financial inclusion in Latin America, particularly Mexico's underserved SMB segment in the world's 12th-largest economy, where cash dominance limited digital commerce.[2][3][6] Timing was ideal: pre-pandemic cash-only constraints and COVID-19's push for touchless payments boosted adoption, while regulatory support like Central Bank partnerships aids growth.[2] Market forces favoring Clip include rising e-commerce, investor appetite (e.g., SoftBank), and competition gaps in accessible tech for informal economies; it influences the ecosystem as Mexico's first payment unicorn, mentoring founders via Endeavor, and setting funding benchmarks that elevate regional startups.[2][3]
Clip is poised to dominate Mexico's commerce platform as the go-to for SMB digitization, potentially expanding U.S. operations and product suite amid fintech consolidation.[2][3][6] Trends like embedded finance, AI-driven analytics, and regulatory tailwinds will shape its path, with credit facilities signaling scalability for acquisitions or deeper services.[3] Its influence may evolve from pioneer to infrastructure layer, empowering more entrepreneurs like Babatz did—bridging cash economies to digital prosperity, much like its founding vision transformed Mexican payments.[2]
CLIP has raised $130.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in November 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2023 | $3M Seed | — | Axilor Ventures | Announced |
| May 1, 2019 | $100M Series C | — | 83North, Blue Horizon, Company Capital, Creandum, Dawn Capital, Mouro Capital, Northzone, BEN Holmes, Sylwester Janik | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2017 | $15M Series B | — | 83North, Blue Horizon, Company Capital, Creandum, Dawn Capital, Mouro Capital, Northzone, BEN Holmes, Sylwester Janik | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2015 | $10M Series A | — | 83North, Blue Horizon, Company Capital, Creandum, Dalus Capital, Dawn Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Kaszek Ventures, Mindset Ventures, Mouro Capital, Northzone, Oikos Innovation Capital, Sierra Ventures, BEN Holmes, Shelby Bonnie, Sylwester Janik | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2013 | $2M Seed | — | Dalus Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Kaszek Ventures, Mindset Ventures, Oikos Innovation Capital, Jordan French | Announced |
CLIP has raised $130.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
CLIP's investors include Axilor Ventures, 83North, Blue Horizon, Company Capital, Creandum, Dawn Capital, Mouro Capital, Northzone, Ben Holmes, Sylwester Janik, Dalus Capital, Endeavor Catalyst.
