Ramp Secures $115 Million in New Funding, Valuation Reaches $1.6 Billion

Ramp, a provider of corporate cards and spend management solutions, has recently finalized $115 million in funding across two separate investment rounds. The latter of these investments established the company’s valuation at $1.6 billion.

Funding Details and Valuation

Initial reports regarding Ramp’s fundraising efforts surfaced through The Information, with TechCrunch subsequently confirming the details before the company’s official announcement. The funding was secured in two phases. A leading investment of $65 million from D1 Capital Partners initially valued the startup at $1.1 billion.

Subsequently, a $50 million investment spearheaded by Stripe, a prominent online payments processor, elevated Ramp’s valuation to $1.6 billion. Ramp’s CEO and co-founder, Eric Glyman, addressed the valuation difference between the two investments, stating that varying investor groups may hold differing assessments of a company’s worth.

TechCrunch suggests that Stripe’s willingness to invest at a higher price point likely stemmed from recognizing Ramp’s increasing scale and desiring participation after D1 Capital Partners’ initial investment.

Growth and Financial Performance

These recent capital infusions represent a significant increase compared to Ramp’s previous funding rounds, particularly its $30 million raise in December 2020. The company completed two funding rounds in 2020 and one in 2019.

In addition to equity funding, Ramp has also secured a $150 million credit facility to support the expanding transaction volume generated by its corporate clientele. The company currently boasts a transaction run rate approaching $1 billion, calculated by multiplying its monthly volume by twelve.

Ramp’s spend run rate has experienced approximately 400% growth within the last six months.

Competitive Landscape

Ramp’s successful fundraising and valuation gains position it favorably within a competitive market. Key competitors, including Brex, TeamPay, Divvy, and Airbase, are also well-funded and actively seeking to expand their market share in the corporate expense management sector.

Like many of its rivals, Ramp generates revenue by collecting a percentage of customer spending through interchange fees. TechCrunch inquired about potential plans to introduce software subscription fees, a practice adopted by some competitors.

However, Ramp’s CEO refrained from providing specific details regarding future pricing strategies. It is anticipated that, as the market matures, leading companies will eventually begin charging for at least a portion of their software offerings.

Customer Adoption and Product Development

Glyman noted that some customers are replacing existing expense management software, such as Expensify, with Ramp’s integrated solution. This shift indicates existing budget allocations that Ramp is not currently capturing.

The majority of the newly acquired capital will be allocated to product development. Ramp, currently employing around 100 individuals, intends to double its headcount every six to eight months, mirroring its growth trajectory from 2020 when it began with approximately 65 employees.

Stripe’s Investment and Future Prospects

Stripe’s investment in Ramp is noteworthy, considering Stripe also offers its own corporate card and spend management product. Glyman explained that the decision to accept investment from Stripe was based on a desire for collaboration and trust in the payments giant.

Stripe did not receive a board seat as part of the investment. Potential future developments could include Ramp migrating its backend infrastructure from Marqueta to Stripe’s platform, or even a potential acquisition of Ramp by Stripe.

The future remains open to various possibilities.