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Pocket Change has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Pocket Change.
Pocket Change was founded in 2011 by Amos Elliston (CTO & Co-Founder).
Pocket Change has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pocket Change provides personalized financial planning and ongoing guidance, operating as a dedicated "Money Partner" for individuals and families. The company develops comprehensive three-year financial models and offers monthly support to assist clients with budgeting, spending, saving, and investing. This service emphasizes a human-led, hands-on partnership, differentiating itself from automated tools or product sales.
Mark Heckmann founded Pocket Change, drawing from his personal experience managing finances within his businesses and household. Identifying a need for practical, accessible financial expertise and support, he established the company to address this gap. Heckmann holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon and Denison Universities, and Pocket Change operates as a Crooked Ventures Company.
The company serves a broad clientele, including students, young professionals, single adults, and couples aiming to align financial goals. Pocket Change also offers project-based support for significant financial decisions such as home purchases or career changes. Its vision is to be a trusted collaborator, complementing existing financial advisors and empowering clients to make confident financial choices throughout life's journey.
# Pocket Change: High-Level Overview
Pocket Change is a fintech company that provides digital payment and e-money issuance platforms, enabling businesses and organizations to create their own branded payment ecosystems. The company's core mission, established in December 2015, is to democratize cashless payments by offering flexible solutions that range from converting foreign currency into e-money to enabling organizations to issue custom digital currencies, loyalty points, and vouchers[1].
The company serves a diverse customer base including retail businesses, service industries, universities, municipalities, and regional economies. Its flagship product, "Pokepay," allows any organization to develop original e-money platforms tailored to their specific needs[1]. Pocket Change has achieved significant scale, playing a central role in promoting cashless payments across approximately 190 university campuses affiliated with the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations[1].
# Origin Story
Pocket Change was founded in December 2015 by CEO Ari Mir (co-founder of the in-image ad network GumGum) and CTO Amos Elliston (formerly CTO of Geni and SVP of Engineering at Yammer)[2]. The company was originally called Lunch Money before rebranding to Pocket Change in November 2011[2].
The company's initial concept focused on creating a virtual currency platform for Android games. In 2012, Pocket Change raised a $5 million Series A round led by Google Ventures, with participation from First Round Capital, Scott Banister, and Baroda Ventures[2]. At that time, the platform had already been integrated into more than 100 games, reaching over 2 million users[2]. However, the company evolved significantly from its gaming-focused origins to become a comprehensive e-money issuance platform serving broader payment infrastructure needs.
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Pocket Change operates at the intersection of two major trends: the global shift toward cashless payments and the rise of localized digital economies. As municipalities and organizations seek to create community-specific payment systems and regional currencies, Pocket Change's platform-agnostic approach positions it as critical infrastructure.
The company's integration with university co-op systems and municipal digital currency initiatives (such as the "Hachi Pay" app in Shibuya City) demonstrates how it enables financial inclusion and community engagement at scale[1]. By allowing businesses to issue their own digital assets, Pocket Change facilitates a decentralized approach to payments that contrasts with traditional centralized payment networks.
The 2025 capital and business alliance between Digital Garage, Pocket Change, and JCB signals growing institutional confidence in the company's model and suggests that major payment networks see value in integrating flexible, customizable e-money solutions into their existing infrastructure[1].
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Pocket Change's evolution from a gaming-focused virtual currency platform to a comprehensive organizational payment infrastructure provider reflects a broader market recognition that one-size-fits-all payment solutions are becoming obsolete. As digital currencies, loyalty programs, and regional economic initiatives proliferate, the demand for flexible, white-label e-money platforms will likely accelerate.
The strategic alliance with JCB and Digital Garage positions Pocket Change to scale rapidly by embedding its technology into established payment networks and retail ecosystems. The company's ability to serve 190+ university campuses while simultaneously supporting municipal digital currencies suggests it has cracked a critical problem: making custom payment systems accessible to organizations without deep fintech expertise.
Looking ahead, Pocket Change's influence will likely expand as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and community currencies gain mainstream adoption. The company's platform could become foundational infrastructure for how organizations—from retailers to cities—manage their own digital payment ecosystems in an increasingly decentralized financial landscape.
Key people at Pocket Change.
Pocket Change has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Series A in July 2012.
Pocket Change was founded in 2011 by Amos Elliston (CTO & Co-Founder).
Pocket Change has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pocket Change's investors include GV, G2VP, Wireframe Ventures, Eric King, Nat Goldhaber, Ralph Eschenbach, Scott Banister, Baroda Ventures, First Round Capital, 10100, 2xN, Kevin Hartz.
