As international travel rebounds and shoppers expect seamless digital experiences everywhere they go, one Madrid based company is taking aim at one of retail’s most outdated pain points. STAMP, a platform reinventing how VAT refunds work for global travellers, has raised four million euro to accelerate its expansion across Southern Europe and advance its real time Tax Free technology.
A Strong Mix of Private and Public Funding
The funding round was led by Dozen with participation from EBISU Digital, Barça Innovation Hub and international business angels including Andreas Mihalovits and the investment arm of Thibaut Courtois, NXTplay. Alongside private investment, STAMP has secured public grants from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the City of Valencia, the Community of Madrid and the City of Madrid.
The blend of private capital and public support reflects a growing recognition that modernising retail and tourism infrastructure is essential for European competitiveness.
Fixing a System That Has Not Changed for Decades
Traditional VAT refund processes are notoriously inefficient. Travellers often must complete paperwork, stand in airport queues and wait weeks or months to receive reimbursements. Merchants lose visibility, conversion and revenue opportunities. The entire system operates with friction that discourages spending.
STAMP has rebuilt this model from the ground up. Instead of forcing travellers through post purchase reimbursements and multiple intermediaries, STAMP applies Tax Free benefits instantly at the point of sale. The technology integrates directly into the payment flow and complies with each country’s regulatory environment.
In Italy, where tax law allows, purchases can be made VAT exempt at checkout. In Spain and other markets where the tax must appear on the invoice, customers receive an immediate discount equal to the VAT amount during payment. STAMP then manages transaction validation, fraud prevention, traceability and tax recovery on behalf of merchants, removing financial risk from retailers.
A Commercial Tool for Retailers, Not Just an Administrative Process
STAMP positions Tax Free not as a bureaucratic formality but as a powerful commercial instrument. By reducing payment friction and offering instant savings, merchants can significantly increase conversion rates, grow average basket sizes and create better shopping experiences for international consumers.
The platform’s integrated payments and Tax Free model also connects European merchants with global travellers. STAMP serves as a strategic payments and marketing partner for WeChat and Alipay, allowing retailers to tailor experiences to high spending tourists from Asia and beyond.
CEO Abel Navajas says the goal is to transform Tax Free into a transparent, automatic consumer right rather than an after the fact administrative burden. When friction disappears, he says, customer behaviour changes and merchants regain control over both the experience and their margins.
Security, Compliance and Fraud Prevention Built In
STAMP ensures full compliance with European regulations and provides high levels of transaction integrity. The platform verifies purchases, validates eligibility, ensures traceability and prevents fraud. For retailers, this means compliance without complexity and the ability to reimburse tax authorities without carrying fiscal risk.
Navajas says the company is delivering a real Tax Free model that works within existing regulations and provides maximum security while allowing merchants to fully benefit from the economic impact of international shoppers.
Fueling Expansion Across Southern Europe and New AI Powered Products
With its new funding, STAMP plans to expand throughout Spain, Italy and Portugal. These markets represent some of Europe’s largest hubs for inbound tourism and retail spending. The company also intends to expand its product portfolio with advanced international payment solutions and the launch of a new AI based offering.
The funding strengthens STAMP’s ability to execute its roadmap and advance its mission of modernising retail and tourism infrastructure across Southern Europe. As global travel continues to grow, STAMP aims to transform Tax Free into a seamless, real time incentive that benefits merchants and travellers alike.