Tensec

Tensec

Real-time cross-border payments platform

Overview

Tensec provides cross-border payment processing for businesses and financial institutions by connecting real-time payment networks to move money internationally in about 10 seconds with real-time status visibility. Onboarding is accelerated with AI, letting clients get started in under 10 minutes. Transactions are secured and compliant through partnerships with regulated banks and financial institutions, ensuring safety and transparency. Revenue comes from small-percentage transaction fees, enabling scalable growth as volumes rise; the goal is a borderless, frictionless global payments ecosystem for enterprises.

About Tensec

Simplify's Rating
Why Tensec is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Fintech

Cybersecurity

AI & Machine Learning

Financial Services

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$72M

Headquarters

Palo Alto, California

Founded

2023

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 18, 2025 seed funding from Costanoa validated investor demand for the platform.
  • Upper90 financing targets trade volume growth from $500 million to $5 billion.
  • The company reported offices across San Francisco, New York, Miami, São Paulo, and Mexico City.

What critics are saying

  • Tensec depends on Stearns Bank for U.S. banking, creating single-partner concentration risk.
  • Cross-border payments draw intense competition from Stripe, Wise, Airwallex, and bank-owned rails.
  • If partner-bank compliance falters, Tensec’s entire zero-integration model loses credibility fast.

What makes Tensec unique

  • Tensec’s zero-integration platform plus Stearns Bank and Braza Bank reduces customer launch friction.
  • Upper90’s $60 million facility, announced October 21, 2025, funds rapid volume scaling.
  • The AI-native model bundles FX, payments, treasury, and compliance into one workflow.

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Funding

Total Funding

$72M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

2 Rounds

Debt funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Debt Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Company Equity

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Professional Development Budget

Meal Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-11%

1 year growth

-8%

2 year growth

-6%
Startupi
Nov 10th, 2025
Tensec secures R$ 319.8M funding

Tensec, a global fintech, secured a R$320 million credit line from Upper90 Capital Management to expand its cross-border financial services. This funding aims to increase Tensec's transaction volume from R$2.73 billion to R$27.3 billion, leveraging AI to enhance service efficiency. The company plans to add over 100 partners in 18 months, following a previous $12 million funding round in early 2025 to bolster its tech base and service expansion.

FinTech Global
Oct 22nd, 2025
Tensec secures $60m to expand AI cross-border finance

Tensec secures $60m to expand AI cross-border finance. Tensec, a firm specialising in AI-driven cross-border financial services, has secured a $60m credit facility from Upper90 Capital Management to accelerate its expansion. The new financing from Upper90 will allow Tensec to expand its annual trade volume from $500m to $5bn, meeting increased demand from import and export trading clients. The investment represents a significant milestone for the firm as it continues to build on its AI-native platform that simplifies global financial transactions. Tensec develops AI-powered financial tools designed to help trading companies manage foreign exchange, cross-border payments, treasury operations and other financial functions. Through its partnership with Stearns Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, the company enables clients to offer these services directly to their customers on a zero-integration platform. Its "Powered by Tensec" model automates the technical, operational and compliance requirements, helping businesses scale efficiently. The $60m funding will be used to increase Tensec's transaction capacity, expand its customer base and deepen relationships with existing clients. The company plans to use the facility to boost cross-border payment flows and support real-time financial services amid a sharp rise in global payment volumes. With the international payments market forecast to grow from $194.6tn in 2024 to $320tn by 2032, Tensec is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the sector. Tensec CEO Helcio Nobre said, "The credit partnership with Upper90 is a catalyst for Tensec's growth. It allows us to rapidly scale our customer base and transaction volumes, bringing more global trade enablers into the cross-border financial services market. Upper90's sophisticated approach to structuring growth capital makes them an ideal partner. This credit partnership allows us to bring exponentially more companies into the market as we scale from $500M to $5 billion in transaction volume." Upper90 co-founder and CEO Billy Libby said, "We are thrilled to partner with Tensec as they embark on this next phase of exciting growth. Cross-border trade is a theme we have been focused on since starting Upper90, and when we met Tensec we were immediately impressed by the tech-first approach to this opportunity utilizing AI to reduce transaction costs and improve the customer experience. The team's depth and breadth of experience, combined with their technology-first approach to the market, aligns perfectly with Upper90's focus on capital-intensive, early-stage, technology businesses. Tensec's platform is not only transforming how trading companies operate - it's opening up an entirely new market, and we're excited to support them on this journey." Earlier this year, Tensec raised $12m in seed funding led by Costanoa to lay the groundwork for its AI-native financial services. With the new credit facility, the company aims to onboard more than 100 new trading partners over the next 18 months, granting them instant access to compliant U.S. banking and payments infrastructure - capabilities that would otherwise require years and significant capital to develop independently.

PR Newswire
Oct 21st, 2025
Tensec Secures $60M in Credit to Expand AI-Native Cross-Border Financial Services

Tensec secures $60M in credit to expand ai-native cross-border financial services. News provided by. PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Tensec, a fintech startup focused on providing cross-border financial services, today announced a strategic $60 million credit facility with Upper90 Capital Management, LP ("Upper90"). The financing enables Tensec to expand its annual trade volume from $500MM to $5B, addressing surging demand from its import/export trading clients. Tensec builds AI-native global financial tools for global trading companies on a zero-integration platform. Through Tensec and its banking partner, Stearns Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, these businesses can seamlessly offer foreign exchange (FX), cross-border payments, treasury, and other financial tools to their clients - unlocking new revenue streams and expanding service offerings. The company does this with a "Powered by Tensec" model, in which Tensec's AI engine handles all technical, operational and compliance requirements. The $60 million credit financing will enable Tensec to support higher transaction volumes from new clients while increasing the wallet share with its existing clients, powering growth through flexible, real-time cross-border payments and financial tools. This funding comes as demand surges from trading companies eager to participate in the cross-border payments market. With global payment volumes projected to grow from $194.6 trillion in 2024 to $320 trillion by 2032 - a 64% increase - the opportunity for new market entrants is unprecedented. "The credit partnership with Upper90 is a catalyst for Tensec's growth," said Helcio Nobre, Tensec's founder and CEO. "It allows us to rapidly scale our customer base and transaction volumes, bringing more global trade enablers into the cross-border financial services market. Upper90's sophisticated approach to structuring growth capital makes them an ideal partner. This credit partnership allows us to bring exponentially more companies into the market as we scale from $500M to $5 billion in transaction volume." "We are thrilled to partner with Tensec as they embark on this next phase of exciting growth," said Billy Libby, co-founder and CEO of Upper90. "Cross-border trade is a theme we have been focused on since starting Upper90, and when we met Tensec we were immediately impressed by the tech-first approach to this opportunity utilizing AI to reduce transaction costs and improve the customer experience. The team's depth and breadth of experience, combined with their technology-first approach to the market, aligns perfectly with Upper90's focus on capital-intensive, early-stage, technology businesses. Tensec's platform is not only transforming how trading companies operate - it's opening up an entirely new market, and we're excited to support them on this journey." Tensec raised $12 million in seed funding earlier this year, led by Costanoa, to build the foundation for its services. This new credit financing enables Tensec to accelerate transaction volume, optimize client penetration, and scale efficiently without integration barriers. Tensec aims to add more than a hundred new trading partners over the next 18 months, each gaining instant access to compliant U.S. banking and payment capabilities that would otherwise require years and millions of dollars to replicate - the kind of infrastructure no trading company could ever realistically prioritize building themselves. About Tensec Tensec is a Silicon Valley technology company reimagining B2B cross-border financial services by providing the fastest and simplest way for businesses to move money across global markets. Founded by veterans from PayPal, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Visa, Mastercard and Credit Karma, Tensec equips global trade companies and FX service providers with the tools to directly deliver cross-border payments and financial solutions to their clients. Backed by world-class investors, Tensec is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Mexico City, and São Paulo. Tensec is not a bank. Banking services in the United States are provided by Stearns Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit www.tensec.io. Upper90 is a hybrid investment firm that is a first credit partner for early stage companies and solves complex bridge capital needs for later stage, profitable companies. Launched in 2018 by executives from Seamless-GrubHub and Goldman Sachs, Upper90 helps technology-enabled businesses with positive unit economics and collateral to accelerate growth.

Luverne Journal
Oct 21st, 2025
Tensec Secures $60M for AI Expansion

Tensec, a fintech startup, has secured a $60 million credit facility from Upper90 Capital Management to expand its AI-native cross-border financial services. This funding will increase Tensec's transaction capacity from $500 million to $5 billion, meeting rising demand in the cross-border payments sector. The partnership will enable Tensec to scale its customer base and transaction volumes, leveraging AI to reduce costs and enhance customer experience.

FinSMEs
Jun 18th, 2025
Tensec Raises $12M in Seed Funding

Tensec, a Palo Alto, CA-based cross-border financial services company, raised $12m in seed funding

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