Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have long been frustrated by inflexible contracts, hidden fees, and punishing exit terms from traditional payment providers. Dojo, a London-based payments technology provider, is changing that narrative with faster payments, simpler contracts, transparent pricing, easy compliance, integrated business tools, and reliable service — all designed from the customer’s perspective.
Earlier this week, UK fintech Dojo secured a $190 million investment from Vitruvian Partners. This marks Dojo’s first equity round since its 2021 launch and is one of the largest UK fintech raises in recent memory. J.P. Morgan Securities PLC acted as the sole placement agent for the transaction.
The capital will accelerate Dojo’s UK growth and fuel its expansion into key European markets: Ireland, Italy, and Spain. The company plans to scale its next-generation, cloud-native payments platform to serve more businesses, from SMEs to larger enterprises, and bring its technology to new regions. This strategic push will significantly expand Dojo’s addressable market and unlock the potential of its highly scalable infrastructure across Europe.
Dojo has quickly established itself as a champion of SMBs, now serving over 140,000 businesses and processing 6–9 million transactions daily. Its platform engages with 50 million unique consumer cards monthly, demonstrating deep market penetration and vigorous growth. Through its customer-first approach, Dojo supports businesses ranging from local, family-run shops to the UK’s most recognisable high street brands.
A silent, reliable partner for business owners, making payment processes “invisible
Founded by serial entrepreneurs George Karibian and Jan Farrarons in London, Dojo directly responded to recurring frustrations in UK payments. Co-founder Jan Farrarons, who previously launched Capital On Tap and Judopay, brings strong entrepreneurial and academic credentials, having studied at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Oslo, and École Jeannine Manuel.
Through extensive research, including 20,000 interviews with business owners, the founders identified consistent pain points: delayed settlements, clunky compliance, poor customer service, and inflexible terms.
Dojo’s mission is clear: simplify payments and empower businesses in the “experience economy” through seamless, reliable payment technology and tools that let business owners focus on growth. The goal is to make payments “invisible” — a silent, reliable partner operating in the background so entrepreneurs can prioritise what matters most: their customers.
Behind Dojo: speed, reliability, and user-centric innovation
A major driver behind Dojo’s rapid rise is its emphasis on speed, reliability, and user-centric innovation. One standout product is the Dojo Go card machine, which processes payments up to 58% faster than the industry average.
Engineered for 99.99% uptime, the device features dual Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity plus a 10-hour battery life, ensuring uninterrupted service anytime, anywhere. Seamless integration with over 400 EPOS (electronic point-of-sale) systems enables streamlined operations and better customer service. The Dojo app delivers instant insights, real-time transaction data, and simplified PCI compliance reporting, giving business owners essential tools at their fingertips.
The cloud-native, multi-cloud platform supports in-person and digital payments with built-in flexibility. Setup takes minutes, and features like bill splitting, tipping, and booking management meet evolving customer expectations. Security remains paramount, with end-to-end encryption, strong customer authentication, and advanced fraud monitoring protecting merchants and consumers.
Dojo competes with major players like Square, SumUp, Zettle by PayPal, Stripe, Adyen, and Paymentsense. While all offer robust payment solutions, Dojo distinguishes itself by focusing on the experience economy, next-day payouts (including weekends), and a support model combining human interaction with 24/7 technical help. With over 140,000 businesses and up to 9 million daily transactions, Dojo’s growth demonstrates strong demand for these distinctive features.
What’s next for Dojo?
Strategic partnerships strengthen the company’s European ambitions, notably with JCB. Since January 2025, around 110,000 UK-based merchants have been able to accept JCB cards, accessing 164 million cardholders globally. The partnership also supports Dojo’s expansion into Ireland, Italy, and Spain, where JCB cardmembers will soon enjoy the same seamless experience.
Backed by Vitruvian Partners and driven by its mission to simplify and modernise payments, Dojo is well-positioned to challenge Stripe, Adyen, and other fintech giants, starting in the UK and expanding across Europe.
