Stream raises £67m to expand pensions and cut payday loans via payroll
This article covers Stream, the workplace finance startup, which has closed a £67m series D funding round to accelerate international expansion and deepen its pensions and workplace finance offerings. The funding is intended to help employers offer salary access, budgeting tools and affordable credit through payroll and benefits, supporting employee financial wellbeing.
Stream, the workplace finance platform formerly known as Wagestream, has closed a £67m series D funding round to accelerate international expansion and deepen its pensions and workplace finance offerings. The raise arrives as employers increasingly look for financial benefits that can support staff wellbeing and reduce reliance on high‑cost short‑term credit.
Why it matters
Stream’s growth highlights a shift in how employers approach staff financial wellbeing. By embedding salary access, budgeting and affordable credit into payroll and benefits, employers aim to reduce employees’ exposure to payday lending and related financial stress. For employers, those services can also translate into lower turnover and better productivity, making workplace finance a commercially relevant HR tool rather than just an employee perk.
Inside the product
Founded in 2018, Stream began with early wage access, allowing workers to draw down earnings before payday. The product suite now includes in‑app budgeting tools, financial planning support and access to affordable credit. More recently the company has moved into pensions after acquiring Zippen in 2025, signalling a push toward longer‑term financial planning rather than solely short‑term liquidity.
Stream markets itself to employers as an end‑to‑end workplace finance provider, integrating with payroll and benefits systems. The company has framed its offer around both individual outcomes and measurable employer benefits such as reduced absenteeism and improved retention.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by Sofina, with participation from Ascension Ventures, Balderton, Northzone, Smash Capital, LocalGlobe Latitude, the British Business Bank and Better Society Capital.
Sofina is a long‑standing global investor that often backs growth‑stage technology companies. Balderton and Northzone are London‑based venture capital firms with broad European portfolios. The British Business Bank is the government‑owned institution that supports UK small businesses, while Better Society Capital focuses on investments with an explicit social impact objective. The mix of commercial VCs and public or impact backers suggests investors see both a market and mission case for workplace finance.
In the announcement, Jean‑François Burguet, principal at Sofina, said:
Stream has redefined how financial services can be delivered in the workplace with both profitability and purpose
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Peter Briffett, co‑founder and chief executive of Stream, said:
Stream has pioneered the workplace finance category in the UK, as one of the few platforms giving workers fair financial tools to save, budget and plan ahead – all through their employer. For many, this is the first time they’ve felt genuinely in control of their money
He added that the funding will be used to expand pensions and pursue international growth, with the US named as a priority market.
The bigger picture
The deal reflects growing interest from UK hrtech investors in workplace finance solutions that combine commercial returns with a social impact narrative. As companies contend with cost‑of‑living pressures and recruitment challenges, services that help employees manage money and plan for retirement are becoming a more prominent part of employer benefit strategies.
Stream’s raise also underscores a broader trend: investors are prepared to back businesses that bridge fintech and HR systems, provided they can demonstrate both engagement from employees and measurable benefits for employers.
This funding round will test whether a UK‑born workplace finance model can scale abroad while maintaining outcomes for users — a key question for similar startups across Europe and the US.
They've invested in Stream
Get to know these hrtech investors
| Investor | Sector | Stage | Activity | Team | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sofina | 3 investments investments | more info | |||
 Ascension Ventures | 19 investments investments | 6 contacts contacts | |||
 Balderton Capital (Balderton) | 16 investments investments | 12 contacts contacts | |||
 Northzone | 15 investments investments | 5 contacts contacts | |||
 Smash Capital | 1 investment investment | 1 contact contact | |||
 LocalGlobe (LocalGlobe Latitude) | 28 investments investments | 12 contacts contacts | |||
 British Business Bank | 48 investments investments | 7 contacts contacts | |||
 Better Society Capital | 2 investments investments | more info | |||
LocalGlobe | 28 investments investments | 12 contacts contacts | |||
 Latitude | 8 investments investments | more info |
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