ETpay is a Chile‑based fintech that builds a bank-to-bank, cardless payment infrastructure (alternative payment methods) as a SaaS platform to help merchants accept lower‑cost payments across Latin America; it was founded in 2018 and has raised institutional backing including Chile Ventures and Manutara Ventures[1][3].[1]
High‑Level Overview
- Concise summary: ETpay provides a pay‑by‑bank / account‑to‑account payment platform and payment buttons that enable merchants to accept low‑commission, cardless payments via a SaaS offering aimed at e‑commerce and retail customers across Latin America[3][2].[3]- For an investment firm (not applicable): ETpay is a portfolio company (fintech operator) rather than an investment firm; investor names reported include Chile Ventures and Manutara Ventures[3][1].[3]- For a portfolio company: ETpay’s product is a financial‑infrastructure SaaS that implements alternative payment methods (APM), notably quick transfers and payment buttons; it serves merchants and businesses seeking lower fees and wider payment inclusion; it solves high card‑processing costs and limited access to card rails in LATAM by enabling cardless bank transfers and embedded payments; reported growth signals include institutional investment and adoption by regional merchants (company profiles list traction and customers in e‑commerce/retail sectors)[3][2][1].[3]
Origin Story
- Founding year and location: ETpay was founded in 2018 and is based in Santiago, Chile[1][3].[1]- Founders and background: Public profiles list founders including Pablo Ardiles, Eduard Justicia (telecommunications engineer with prior banking/fintech experience) and Bernardo Siu, indicating founder experience across telecom, banking and fintech startups[3].[3]- How the idea emerged & early traction: ETpay’s stated mission—promote financial inclusion and offer much lower commissions (claimed “x10” lower than cards) for merchants—frames the origin as a response to costly card fees and limited payment coverage in LATAM; early signals of traction include adoption by merchants in e‑commerce/retail and seed/venture backing from Chile‑based investors such as Chile Ventures and Manutara Ventures[3][2][1].[3]
Core Differentiators
- Product differentiators: Focus on account‑to‑account (pay‑by‑bank) flows and embedded payment buttons aimed at cardless, lower‑fee settlement for merchants[3][2].[3]- Pricing advantage: Public descriptions emphasize materially lower commission rates versus card networks (company claims up to 10x lower fees for clients)[3].[3]- Developer experience & integrations: ETpay offers payment buttons, quick transfer flows and payment integrations as a SaaS stack—positioning for straightforward merchant integration (platform listed among fintech/payments tooling)[3][2].[3]- Market focus: Tailored for Latin American merchants and e‑commerce/retail verticals where card penetration and fees are meaningful frictions[1][2].[1]
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
- Trend alignment: ETpay rides the global shift toward APMs and account‑to‑account rails, accelerated in LATAM by rising e‑commerce, high card fees, and demand for financial inclusion[3][2].[3]- Timing: As regional digital commerce grows, solutions that reduce merchant costs and expand payment access (cardless rails) gain product‑market fit in markets with lower card penetration; ETpay’s Chile base and investor backing positions it to expand in LATAM e‑commerce and retail[1][3].[1]- Market forces in their favor: Merchant demand to lower costs, regulatory encouragement of open banking/real‑time transfers, and consumer preference for alternative flows support APM adoption[3][2].[3]- Influence: By lowering payment costs and enabling embedded bank payments, ETpay can increase conversion for merchants, broaden payment choice for consumers, and pressure incumbents on pricing in regional payments markets[2][3].[2]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
- What’s next: Likely priorities are regional expansion across LATAM, deepening merchant integrations (platform SDKs and plugins), scaling settlement/clearing partnerships with banks, and leveraging investor support to capture e‑commerce volume[1][3].[1]- Trends that will shape their journey: Open banking/open rails adoption, instant payment schemes, merchant demand for lower fees, and consolidation in payments infrastructure will influence growth[3][2].[3]- Potential influence evolution: If ETpay achieves scale, it could become a standard APM provider in LATAM, forcing tighter pricing from card acquirers and improving financial inclusion by broadening non‑card acceptance[3][1].[3]
Quick reminder: this profile is compiled from public company profiles and databases (CB Insights, F6S, LeadIQ) that list ETpay’s founding year, product positioning, founders and investors; for primary, up‑to‑date corporate details (funding rounds, leadership changes, acquisition status) consult ETpay’s announcements or investor filings directly[1][3][2].[1]
