Amsterdam-based Conpend, an AI fintech scale-up, has secured a majority investment from Cape Investment Partners (CIP), an investment firm headquartered in the same city. The financial details of the deal, however, were not disclosed.
The funds will support Conpend’s expansion across global markets, strengthen its product development efforts, and increase its reach among banks and financial institutions.
Digital tools to automate trade and lending facilitation
Founded in 2016, Conpend is a digital solutions provider that focuses on supporting financial institutions through the automation of manual processes in trade finance, loan documentation, and compliance.
The company offers AI-powered tools designed to assist operatives, compliance officers, and relationship managers in managing complex workflows.
Conpend originated from digital consultancy Proferus and brings over a decade of experience in banking and technology consulting. It provides financial institutions with tools and resources to manage digital transformation with limited operational disruption.
The company’s solutions are designed to help institutions reduce operating costs and manage compliance and risk processes more effectively.
Conpend’s main offering, TRADE AI, is built on its proprietary conpend.ai platform. It uses AI to automate data extraction from unstructured documents, turning it into structured data that is screened against regulatory and commercial standards, including ICC, BAFT AML, OFAC, UCP, ISBP, and LMA guidelines. The platform is delivered through an architecture based on microservices and APIs.
The company employs more than 60 people and serves over 35 financial institutions globally, including Commerzbank, ING, and UniCredit.
Support from CIP
CIP will work alongside Conpend’s leadership team, led by founder and CEO Marc Smith. CIP will provide strategic guidance and operational support to accelerate Conpend’s growth across markets, develop AI-driven technology, and help attract talent.
Marc Smith, CEO of Conpend, says, “Conpend is at an exciting stage in its growth journey. We have proven AI technology, a growing international footprint, and a market that increasingly demands digital transformation. With CIP’s support, we can take the next step and accelerate the delivery of real value to our clients.”
Brief about Cape Investment Partners
CIP is a deal-by-deal investment platform that connects entrepreneurial capital with growth-focused companies based in the Benelux region. The firm typically invests between €25M and €75M and primarily partners with founder-led businesses preparing for professionalisation and expansion.
The firm follows a sector-agnostic strategy, targeting proprietary opportunities that align with long-term growth themes such as digitisation, food security, demographic ageing, and electrification. It supports value creation through structured strategic initiatives developed and executed in close collaboration with management teams.
CIP’s investment professionals have completed transactions totalling over €3B over the past two decades.
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