As global trade grows more complex due to tariffs, shifting regulations, and stricter tax enforcement, businesses selling internationally are facing increasing operational challenges. A fintech startup is now aiming to simplify that process.
Outpost has raised $17.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Ribbit Capital, known for backing fintech companies such as Revolut, Coinbase and Stripe.
Existing investor Better Tomorrow Ventures also participated in the round, following a $3 million seed investment less than a year ago. Angel investors in the round include executives from companies such as Uber, Affirm, Airwallex and Checkout.com.
With the new funding, Outpost plans to accelerate product development, expand into additional jurisdictions, and grow its team to meet rising demand for cross-border commerce infrastructure.
Building infrastructure to handle global trade complexity
Outpost aims to simplify this process by providing infrastructure to manage payments, tax compliance, and regulatory obligations across multiple countries. The platform uses an AI engine trained on large volumes of trade regulation data to monitor global tax rates and automatically apply the correct tax treatment and customs classifications.
In addition, Outpost operates local entities in different markets. This allows merchants to process transactions locally rather than cross-border, thereby increasing payment approval rates and reducing processing costs.
Will Mahon-Heap, CEO and Founder at Outpost, who previously led Revolut’s international expansion, said, “Brexit, shifting tariffs, and regulatory fragmentation have made cross-border commerce more hostile than at any point in the last two decades. Merchants are forced to choose between spending millions on consultants and local entity setup, or carrying enormous risk on payments and compliance. Outpost exists to eliminate that trade-off. We’ve built the only infrastructure that handles everything from local payment processing to full tax liability, allowing companies to treat international expansion with the same ease as selling locally.
Early customers are already using the platform globally
Outpost says its platform is already being used by companies operating across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia, including subscription platforms, consumer software firms and cross-border e-commerce businesses.
The company offers two main services: a Merchant of Record product that handles payment processing and local compliance through dedicated entities, and a Tax of Record service in which Outpost manages global VAT, GST, and sales tax obligations on behalf of merchants.
Nick Shalek, General Partner at Ribbit, said, “Cross-border commerce represents a massive, multi-trillion dollar opportunity that has been historically held back by fragmented infrastructure. Outpost isn’t just offering a better payment gateway; they’ve introduced a novel model that fundamentally changes how merchants access global markets. By absorbing the operational and compliance burdens that stifle expansion, Outpost is building a category-defining platform for the next era of global trade.”
Nihar Bobba, Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, said, “Outpost’s rapid growth is a testament to the world-class team they have assembled and their ability to absolve merchants of operational complexity. While other players are building incremental tools, Outpost has attacked the problem with a full stack model that other providers simply can’t match. We are incredibly excited to continue supporting Outpost as they coordinate the economic, administrative and regulatory rails that redefine global trade.”
