Prague based fintech startup Tapaya has secured €1 million in pre seed funding as it works to simplify how businesses accept in person payments. The company is building software that removes the need for traditional payment terminals, enabling merchants and platforms to accept payments directly through everyday devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Backing from Early Stage Investors
The funding round was led by Passion Capital, with co lead participation from Depo Ventures and additional support from BADideas.fund. The investment reflects growing interest in solutions that modernise payment infrastructure and reduce reliance on costly hardware systems.
Tapaya plans to use the funding to further develop its technology, complete key compliance certifications, and expand its network of partners across Europe.
Rethinking In Person Payments
Founded in 2025 by Laura Ďorďová, Roman Kuchařík, and Petr Zahradník, the company is addressing long standing inefficiencies in payment acceptance.
Despite advances in digital payments, in person transactions still depend heavily on dedicated hardware terminals. These devices often require upfront investment, maintenance, and separate integration processes, creating complexity for merchants and software providers alike.
For businesses using platforms such as point of sale systems, enterprise resource planning tools, or kiosks, embedding payment functionality has traditionally been a slow and resource intensive process due to fragmented infrastructure and strict certification requirements.
A Software First Approach
Tapaya’s platform introduces a unified software layer that consolidates compliance, certification, and processor integrations into a single system. This allows developers to enable payment acceptance directly within their applications without needing to build separate infrastructure.
By supporting Android, iOS, and other commercial devices, the platform effectively transforms standard hardware into fully functional payment terminals. This eliminates the need for specialised devices and simplifies the entire payment process.
The result is a significant reduction in implementation time, with integrations that previously took months now achievable in just a few days. This speed and flexibility are particularly valuable for fintech companies, banks, and software providers looking to scale quickly.
Simplifying Complexity for Merchants
CEO Laura Ďorďová emphasised that the company’s goal is to make payment acceptance as simple and seamless as possible. For many merchants, traditional systems involve multiple steps, from purchasing and managing hardware to handling separate reconciliation processes.
By embedding payments directly into existing platforms, Tapaya removes these layers of complexity. Merchants can manage transactions within a single system, improving efficiency and reducing operational overhead.
Built for Compliance and Security
A critical aspect of Tapaya’s solution is its focus on compliance with industry standards. The platform is designed to meet requirements set by the PCI Security Standards Council, including the PCI MPoC framework, which enables secure card acceptance on commercial devices.
By abstracting these complex requirements into a single integration, Tapaya allows its partners to offer secure payment solutions without having to build and maintain their own certification processes.
Expanding Across Europe
Tapaya is already working on integrations in the Czech Republic and is actively expanding partnerships across Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Baltic region. The company sees significant opportunity in markets where modern, flexible payment solutions are in high demand.
With fresh funding and a clear focus on simplifying payment infrastructure, Tapaya is positioning itself to play a key role in the evolution of in person payments. By turning everyday devices into payment tools, the company is helping to create a more accessible and efficient financial ecosystem for businesses and consumers alike.