In an era where digital transactions dominate our daily lives, one visionary is daring to ask a bold question: Why should businesses pay to get paid? That visionary is Samir Desai CBE, the founder and CEO of Super Payments—a groundbreaking fintech startup launched in 2022 that is rewriting the rules of online commerce.
Samir, celebrated for co-founding Funding Circle in 2009 and steering it into a global success story, has now set his sights on dismantling the hidden tolls that silently bleed businesses and shoppers alike. Awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2016 for his contributions to business, he is channeling that same transformative energy into his new venture, one designed to make the digital economy fairer for everyone.
Samir Desai: The Spark Behind Super Payments
For years, merchants have been burdened by transaction fees, often losing up to 5% of their revenue to payment processors and digital advertising giants. Shoppers, on the other hand, have been offered little in return for their loyalty. Samir Desai recognized this imbalance and envisioned a platform where everyone wins.
Super Payments was born from that conviction — to break the cycle of fees and funnel value back where it truly belongs: to the businesses that earn it and the customers who spend it.
How Super Payments Works
For Shoppers: Instant Rewards and Frictionless Payments
Super offers a sleek, AI-powered app that turns ordinary payments into moments of discovery and reward. Every purchase made through the app unlocks instant cashback, funded by commissions that brands pay when sales are generated through the platform.
Whether it’s fashion, electronics, or flights, shoppers earn while they spend—no waiting, no strings attached. The experience is seamless, secure, and lightning-fast, supporting direct bank transfers through open banking as well as cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
For Businesses: Zero Fees and Guaranteed Value
For merchants, Super is more than a payment method—it’s a growth engine. Unlike traditional processors that charge fees on every sale, Super charges nothing unless it drives incremental revenue.
Brands only pay a commission on actual sales generated through the platform. This eliminates upfront advertising costs and reduces customer acquisition risk. And when customers pay via Super’s open banking solution, the transaction is entirely fee-free.
Samir Desai: The Power of a Purpose-Driven Mission
At the heart of Super Payments lies a powerful mission:
“To power free payments for businesses, and more rewarding shopping for our members, so that everyone wins.”
This philosophy isn’t just a slogan—it’s the soul of the company. Every feature of Super is designed to redistribute the billions lost to payment fees and advertising costs back into the hands of people. In a world grappling with inflation and rising living costs, this vision could be life-changing.
A Record-Breaking Start
Super Payments didn’t just launch with ambition—it launched with momentum. The company raised an astounding £22.5 million (approximately $30 million) pre-seed funding round, one of the largest ever seen in Europe.
Top-tier backers like Accel, Union Square Ventures, and LocalGlobe joined forces with renowned angel investors to support this vision. Such trust from industry giants reflects the disruptive potential they see in Samir’s brainchild.
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