Apis Partners Co-Leads US$150M Series D in Global Payments Leader Thunes

London, May 7^th 2025 – Leading global private equity firm Apis Partners Group (UK) Limited (“Apis Partners”), which acts as portfolio manager for Apis Growth Markets Fund III and Apis Global Growth Fund III (the “Funds”), has announced that the Funds have co-led a US$150 million Series D funding round in Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, committing a total of US$75 million.

Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network transforms cross-border payments, enabling businesses and individuals, especially in emerging markets, to send and receive money in real time with unmatched speed, transparency, security, and cost efficiency. Its expansive Network reaches over 130 countries, supports 80+ currencies and operates over 550 direct integrations. Proceeds from the Series D round, which also included investment from Vitruvian Partners, will support Singapore-headquartered Thunes’ continued international expansion, with a strategic focus on the U.S. market, as well as strengthening its operations in the Middle East and Latin America.

Deep expertise in technology-enabled payments investments

Apis Partners, known for its deep sector expertise investing at the intersection of financial services and technology, identified Thunes as a best-in-class platform with a uniquely scaled Direct Global Network and proprietary payment rails, particularly across complex and high-growth markets. The investment builds on Apis’ extensive track record in the payments sector and reflects a high-conviction thesis on the long-term growth of digital financial infrastructure, marking the firm’s fourteenth investment in the payments space.

Impact alongside returns

Since inception, Apis Partners has maintained the belief that generating meaningful societal impact and delivering strong returns for investors go hand in hand. Thunes’ solutions align closely with this vision, enhancing affordability, transparency and efficiency in cross-border transactions for both individuals and MSMEs, facilitating global commerce and enabling both large and small value remittances. Thunes also supports Apis’ core investment theme of financial inclusion by accelerating fintech adoption in emerging markets and reducing reliance on cash-based and informal financial systems.

Apis Partners will work actively with Thunes to amplify these outcomes, drawing on its hands-on approach to impact creation and ESG value addition, helping Thunes with its strategic focus on expanding access to formal and cost-effective financial services for underserved communities globally.

Matteo Stefanel, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Apis Partners: “Our investment in Thunes is a testament to our belief that innovation in financial infrastructure is fundamental to driving inclusive economic growth. Thunes’ ability to deliver fast, affordable payments across borders is transforming how individuals and MSMEs engage with the global economy, particularly in markets where financial services remain limited.”

Udayan Goyal, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Apis Partners: “Thunes has been a pioneer in building a unified API based infrastructure to access payments across the world enabling a better payments experience for its customers. We believe that we can continue to enable Thunes’ journey by accessing the knowledge and networks that has made Apis a leader in payment investments globally. We look forward to working alongside Thunes’ leadership to help scale its platform and deepen its reach across key markets”

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes: “Apis truly understands the unique challenges and opportunities of fintech and emerging markets. We are honoured to have them as part of Thunes. Their sector-focused expertise and deep commitment to transformative impact make them trusted partners, helping us to scale our vision of financial inclusion for the next billion end users in emerging markets through Thunes’ Direct Global Network.”

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About Apis Partners

The Apis Group (“Apis”) is an ESGI-native private equity firm that supports growth-stage financial services and technology businesses globally by providing them with catalytic growth equity capital. Collectively Apis, through its team of around 40 professionals with deep industry expertise, manages or advises on total AUM of c.US$2.2 billion.

Headquartered in London, Apis has representation in six countries globally. Apis is highly conscious of the impact that the provision of growth capital for financial services and technology businesses in global markets can achieve, and as such, financial inclusion and financial wellness are core tenets of Apis’ impact investment approach. www.apis.pe

About Thunes

Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes’ Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes’ Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally.

Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 13 locations, including Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/.