Cash flow against late payments, new open payment networks, and the ECB agenda

Capital to tackle business payment delays across Europe

Financial technology startup Duqu has secured €1.5 million in a pre-seed round backed by Curiosity VC and No Such Ventures, according to Finextra. Based in Amsterdam, the company uses artificial intelligence to give businesses rapid access to working capital currently tied up in outstanding customer invoices.

For companies selling to corporate clients in Spain and across Europe, prolonged payment terms create ongoing cash-flow friction between invoice issuance and final settlement. Having automated financing mechanisms to unlock already earned funds helps operators handle payroll and vendor commitments without absorbing the entire burden of debtor collection cycles.

An open payments network emerges with dedicated funding

Atum has raised $13.5 million upon coming out of stealth mode, according to Finextra. The venture was founded by Pete Cooling, who previously led the crypto product team at Visa, with the ambition of establishing an open payments network.

While complete technical specifications remain undisclosed at this stage, the investment highlights sustained market demand for alternative payment rails. For online merchants and digital platforms, any shift toward open transaction infrastructure could eventually influence routing fees and intermediary models, a topic closely aligned with settlement with stablecoins on card networks.

The European Central Bank assesses physical currency alongside digital shifts

Nearly ten million individuals participated in the European Central Bank survey regarding the design of upcoming euro banknotes, according to an ECB release reported by Europa Press. On the same date, the central bank also published an analysis reviewing the digitalization of money, payments, and financial services.

The widespread public engagement with cash, coupled with the institution's close scrutiny of electronic transaction systems, shows European monetary authorities operating across both physical and digital tracks. Online businesses need to track these policy discussions closely, particularly as they tie into the broader agenda around API regulation under PSD3 and settlement.

What to watch tomorrow

• Additional technical documentation regarding interoperability and settlement on nascent open payment networks.
• Follow-up communications from the European Central Bank on retail payment infrastructure standards across the euro area.