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Financial Wellness and Advice App Cleo Nets $44M in Series BFinancial Wellness and Advice App Cleo Nets $44M in Series B

Cleo is aiming to be the go-to financial advisor for a billion people around the world.

Samuel Steinberger, Senior Technology Editor

December 10, 2020

1 Min Read
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A financial wellness app founded in London, targeting Generation Z, has raised $44 million in a Series B funding round, according to a TechCrunch report.

Called “Cleo,” the “financial assistant” was founded in 2016 and today combines a chatbot and account aggregation with tips on spending responsibly. The firm’s founder, Barney Hussey-Yeo, told the publication it wants to be “the financial advisor for a billion people” around the globe.

Cleo uses machine learning and account aggregation to provide spending and saving advice, seeking to provide automated financial coaching. Right now, the app is aiming to replace banking apps that provide similar features, according to the report. 

Of the app’s 4 million registered users, 96% are in the United States. That's up from just two years ago, when the firm reported some 600,000 users worldwide.

The app has free and paid versions, and Cleo offers some financial services, such as a $100 salary advance. The premium product costs $5.99 per month, while user acquisition costs are less than $2, according to the report.

The latest funding will support an expansion of executive and product teams in the U.S. division’s San Francisco office. EQT Ventures led the round, alongside existing investors Balderton Capital, LocalGlobe and SBI.

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About the Author

Samuel Steinberger

Senior Technology Editor, WealthManagement.com

Samuel Steinberger is Senior Technology Editor for Informa Connect’s WealthManagement.com. In his role, Mr. Steinberger provides the publication’s wealth and financial technology coverage. 

Mr. Steinberger’s editorial insight and familiarity with technology accelerates Informa’s growth within the financial advisor and wealth management communities, providing in-depth news for advisors and financial professionals. 

Before joining Informa Connect, Mr. Steinberger produced documentaries with former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien at Soledad O’Brien Productions (formerly Starfish Media Group). He specialized in research, shooting and editing, as well as finding distinct voices to explain topics like mental health, poverty and racial divide. 

Prior to joining Soledad O’Brien Productions, Mr. Steinberger managed multi-departmental technology projects for global legal technology leader Transperfect Legal Solutions. After obtaining his graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University, he completed his transition from technology management to media. 

Mr. Steinberger is an award-winning journalist, author and researcher who has written, edited and reported for a number of publications, including The New York Times, Financial PlanningAmerican Banker and PBS. He is founder of beverages publication Give Me Weird Drinks

Mr. Steinberger’s technology analysis and insight has been featured in several books on virtual and augmented reality. Mr. Steinberger has received awards and recognition for his reporting and research, including the American Business Media's prestigious Jesse H. Neal Award for editorial excellence.

Follow on Twitter: @slsteinberger