Latest news with #Klarna
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Eight months in, Swedish unicorn Lovable crosses the $100M ARR milestone
Less than a week after it became Europe's latest unicorn, Swedish vibe coding startup Lovable is now also a centaur — a company with more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Lovable took only eight months since its launch to get here, thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of its AI-powered website and app builder. The startup claims it now has more than 2.3 million active users, and last reported 180,000 paying subscribers. With only 45 full-time employees, and 14 open positions on its careers page, that makes for an impressive employee-to-revenue ratio. Subscriptions seem to be driving the bulk of Lovable's revenue, but the company isn't prioritizing sales at all costs. Shortly after Lovable said it had reached ARR of $75 million in June, its CEO Anton Osika wrote on X that Lovable had 'lost $1.5 million ARR in a single day' because it had moved all users on its Team tier to its less expensive Pro tier, which now also accommodates collaboration. The Teams plan is now being replaced by a Business tier, which sits between the Pro and custom Enterprise offerings. The new plan offers business-focused features such as self-serve, Single Sign-On (SSO), templates, private projects that won't be visible to the entire team, and the option to opt-out from having your data be used for training. Lovable already has a slate of large customers like Klarna, Hubspot and Photoroom, but there are still notable barriers and concerns around vibe coding among enterprises — where the big money is. This new tier could help Lovable find intermediary use cases and drive more businesses to use its tools for more than prototyping, which is what the startup says most people use it for today. This has been one focus for the company, and Osika recently said that businesses were driving significant revenue from projects built with Lovable. The startup says more than 10 million projects have been created on Lovable to date. The $100 million ARR club isn't large, especially in Europe, but it is growing thanks to tailwinds from all things AI. In April, Nvidia-backed B2B AI video platform Synthesia, also surpassed that milestone — though it was founded in 2017, not late 2024. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
3 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Eight months in, Swedish unicorn Lovable crosses the $100M ARR milestone
Less than a week after it became Europe's latest unicorn, Swedish vibe coding startup Lovable is now also a centaur — a company with more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Lovable took only eight months since its launch to get here, thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of its AI-powered website and app builder. The startup claims it now has more than 2.3 million active users, and last reported 180,000 paying subscribers. With only 45 full-time employees, and 14 open positions on its careers page, that makes for an impressive employee-to-revenue ratio. Subscriptions seem to be driving the bulk of Lovable's revenue, but the company isn't prioritizing sales at all costs. Shortly after Lovable said it had reached ARR of $75 million in June, its CEO Anton Osika wrote on X that Lovable had 'lost $1.5 million ARR in a single day' because it had moved all users on its Team tier to its less expensive Pro tier, which now also accommodates collaboration. The Teams plan is now being replaced by a Business tier, which sits between the Pro and custom Enterprise offerings. The new plan offers business-focused features such as self-serve, Single Sign-On (SSO), templates, private projects that won't be visible to the entire team, and the option to opt-out from having your data be used for training. Lovable already has a slate of large customers like Klarna, Hubspot and Photoroom, but there are still notable barriers and concerns around vibe coding among enterprises — where the big money is. This new tier could help Lovable find intermediary use cases and drive more businesses to use its tools for more than prototyping, which is what the startup says most people use it for today. This has been one focus for the company, and Osika recently said that businesses were driving significant revenue from projects built with Lovable. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW The startup says more than 10 million projects have been created on Lovable to date. The $100 million ARR club isn't large, especially in Europe, but it is growing thanks to tailwinds from all things AI. In April, Nvidia-backed B2B AI video platform Synthesia, also surpassed that milestone — though it was founded in 2017, not late 2024.
Metro
17 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
5 cultural habits that stop Brits from getting rich
Link is copied Comments Real talk: Everyone dreams about being rich. Whether it's through winning the lottery, climbing up the career ladder, or becoming famous, it's a known fact that having heaps of cash makes life easier. However, we've probably got more chance of being mawled by a bear than winning the Euromillions, so if we want to grow our net worth, we'll have to find a different route (Picture: Getty Images) Enter Matthew Sheeran, a money-saving expert at Money Wellness. While there's no 'get quick rich scheme,' he does explain that us Brits have plenty of cultural habits that can stunt our money growth. So, if you do imagine yourself living the life of luxury, but don't quite know what you're doing wrong in terms of saving and building your wealth, take note (Picture: Getty Images) There's huge social pressure in the UK, and elsewhere in the world, to look like you're doing well, whether that's the latest phone, a new car on finance, or pricey holidays. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford fancy lifestyles all the time. 'Many people end up living beyond their means just to keep up appearances, and it often leads to long-term debt,' Sheeran explains. The reality is, your family and real friends aren't going to judge you if you say you can't afford something. Nor are they going to love you any less. And, they're certainly not going to want you to get into financial troubles for their sake. Be honest, and be sensible (Picture: Getty Images) 'A lot of people avoid looking too closely at their finances,' says Sheeran. What he means by this is that people spend without really knowing what they can afford. Without a clear plan or monetary strategy, money disappears fast, especially with rising living costs. To avoid this, create a simple budget. 'Start by writing down all your income, like wages, benefits, or any other money coming in. Then list your essential expenses, such as rent, bills, food, and travel,' the expert recommends. Once you know what's left over, you can set limits for takeaways, clothes, or entertainment (Picture: Getty Images) We've all been there: Ordering that new dress on Klarna or booking a couple of holidays on finance to stretch the payments out. Now, we're not saying that you're not allowed to have fun. It's more about avoiding using credit as income you don't have. Sheeran explains: 'Using credit cards or buy now, pay later for everyday spending is now the norm, especially when wages don't stretch far. But treating credit as spare money leads to a cycle of debt that's hard to break and costly over time.' So take a second. Do you really need that new T-shirt in four different colours? Or are you just ordering them because you don't have to pay for it straight away? (Picture: Getty Images) 'Money is still a taboo subject in the UK,' Sheeran reiterates. People don't talk about debt, bills, or financial worries, even with close friends or family. For some reason, our pride masquerading as silence stops us from asking for help or learning better habits. The reality? There's no harm in asking for financial advice. If anything, we encourage it. From learning budgeting skills to how to invest, it's something that should be instilled in us from an early age. That way, we can make better monetary decisions earlier, rather than having to learn from mistakes (Picture: Getty Images) Whether it's pensions, savings, or getting insurance, people often delay big financial decisions assuming they'll deal with it later, explains Sheeran. But small steps taken early can make a huge difference to your financial wellness. Whereas waiting usually ends up costing more. Examples of this include getting to grips with your pension. Can you afford to put more money away each month for retirement? If so, do it. Similarly, if you have a mortgage, try and make higher payments each month to shave off some years. Future you will thank you! (Picture: Getty Images) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Your Bank Might Punish You for Those ‘Buy Now, Pay Later' Purchases
Banks don't want you bingeing on 'buy now, pay later' plans, and they say it might actually hurt your chances of getting approved for a mortgage or credit card. Some of the popular point-of-sale loans from companies such as Affirm and Klarna will be factored into credit scores later this year when FICO rolls out its new scoring model. Using a loan to pay for a couch or a pair of pants in installments might improve your score if you keep up with payments, according to Fair Isaac Corp., the company behind the most widely used U.S. credit score.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Real Wallet War Isn't Apple Vs. Google. It's Platforms Vs. Merchants
Everyone wants to own your wallet. Apple, Amazon, Klarna and Samsung are all building their own gateways to own the customer experience. But this isn't just a race to replace your physical card. It's a deeper power shift that many merchants are only beginning to understand. The real wallet war isn't between payment apps. It's between platforms and merchants. And the battleground is customer control. Wallets used to be utilities. Now they decide who gets seen, which offers get surfaced, and which brands stay top of mind. Whoever owns the wallet owns the transaction and the relationship. This shift is already underway. And the smartest merchants are taking action. Wallets Are Now Commerce Platforms Wallets have evolved from payment tools to decision engines. Every tap influences rewards, credit, identity, and brand exposure. They're no longer just a step in checkout. They're the surface where decisions get made. Apple and Amazon are building closed ecosystems. Klarna is embedding into browsers and checkout flows. Samsung is playing a different game by focusing on access, integration, and utility. At the same time, brand-owned wallets are gaining traction. Merchants are embedding payments and loyalty inside their apps to preserve data, deepen engagement, and drive conversion. The Three Levers That Define Wallet Winners Winning wallets succeed across three strategic levers: Who's Getting It Right Samsung Wallet emphasizes flexibility. It supports payments, loyalty cards, IDs, car keys, and even crypto credentials. Its utility-first approach is resonating in markets where interoperability matters. Amazon, through Buy with Prime, is turning its wallet into infrastructure. Stored credentials and trusted delivery are extending far beyond its own marketplace. Retailers like Walmart, Starbucks, and Target treat wallets as strategic assets. Their apps bring together payments, loyalty, and offers into one branded flow. That gives them more control, more data, and more reasons for customers to come back. Why Merchants Are Reassessing Wallet Strategy The conversation has shifted. It's no longer 'Should we support wallets?' It's 'How do we offer speed and simplicity without giving up the relationship?' Merchants are asking better questions. Does this wallet return data or just dollars? Does it reinforce our brand or replace it? Are we building loyalty or outsourcing it? More brands are looking to offer installment options, loyalty features, and personalized offers inside their own experience. Redirecting to third parties often means handing off the customer and the data that powers growth. Regulation and the New Playbook for Wallets Regulators are watching. In the U.S., the DOJ is investigating Apple's limits on NFC access. In Europe, the Digital Markets Act is already forcing structural change. This isn't just about fairness. It's about how digital commerce gets built. Platforms that extract value while blocking data or access are now under pressure. AI and the Risk of Being Written Out Artificial intelligence is reshaping the wallet landscape. The next evolution won't be about faster payments or stronger security. It will be about anticipating intent and influencing behavior. We're entering the age of predictive payments, invisible checkout, and personalized offers. But the question isn't just what AI can do. It's who it will serve. In closed platforms, AI will optimize for the platform. It will retain users and prioritize internal value. In open ecosystems, AI can enhance brand connection, drive conversion, and create loyalty that sticks. The real battleground isn't the checkout screen. It's the intelligence layer that guides customers there. This creates risk. Smarter wallets are already deciding which brand to show, what offer to surface, what method to suggest. If you're not part of that logic, your brand becomes invisible. Still in the cart, but out of the relationship. That's not convenience. That's disintermediation. Be the Brand in the Wallet, Not Just the Shipment Behind It This is not a payments story. It's a control story. Wallets are becoming the interface layer of digital commerce. They influence discovery, loyalty, and decision-making. The winners will treat wallets as strategic channels. Branded. Data-rich. AI-smart. Built around experience, not just access. You don't need to own the rails. But you do need to own the moment. Because in the wallet era, whoever owns the experience owns the relationship.
