Banking on the phone! Seems like the better version of Numbrs
Thiel’s Valar Ventures announced today it has led a $10.6 million investment round for Berlin’s Number26. It’s Valar’s second investment in a European startup and comes just months after Thiel described Europe’s startup ecosystem as a “slacker with low expectations.” Earlier this year, Valar participated in London-based TransferWise‘s $58 million round of funding. While that company focuses on international monetary transfers, Number26 is offering a full suite of banking services centered on smartphones. Number26 launched in January in just Germany and Austria, where it already has 8,500 banking customers and a waiting list of 15,000. The company hopes to use the latest round to create a marketing campaign as well as eventually expanding to other countries.