Klarna let you defer the bill.
Otterpay lets someone else pay it.
We're building the checkout button that turns a Tesco basket, an ASOS cart or a Deliveroo order into a one-tap gift request — sent to the person most likely to say yes.
The problem
Students don't ask, because asking is awkward.
Sending a Monzo request to your mum for "£42 for shopping" feels like begging. The lack of context kills the ask. 64% of students we surveyed said they've delayed a purchase rather than message a parent for money.
Parents say yes when they see what they're paying for.
Cash transfers are a leap of faith. An itemised £42 Tesco basket — pasta, rice, printer ink — is a story. Stories convert. Otterpay turns every checkout into a story.
The product
One button at checkout. Three taps to paid.
Otterpay integrates next to Klarna and Clearpay. The student picks a friend or family member from their circle. The payer gets an instant alert with the full basket, a note, and a one-tap pay button. Funds move directly to the merchant — Otterpay never holds money, sidestepping the heaviest licensing requirements.
- Embedded in merchant checkouts via SDK or hosted modal
- Splits enabled — multiple payers per basket
- Network effects: every payer becomes a future curator
<OtterpayButton
basket={cart}
total={subtotal + shipping}
onSuccess={(req) => {
track("otterpay.request_sent", req.id)
redirect("/order/pending")
}}
/>request.status === "paid" → merchant captures funds → order ships → 1.5% retained by Otterpay
The market
We start at UK universities — high density, fast word-of-mouth, captive merchant partners (campus retailers, food delivery, fashion). Expansion follows the student into early career: weddings, baby showers, group gifts.
Where we are
How we make money
Paid by the merchant in exchange for a recovered cart and a new customer story.
Branded modal, analytics, A/B testing on copy and CTAs.
Aggregated gift-intent data — never identifiable — sold back to merchants for inventory planning.
The team
Originator. Owns product + GTM. Looking for a technical co-founder.
Payments / fintech background. Equity + salary on close.
Raising £750k to ship the SDK and sign 10 merchants.
- · £350k — engineering (2 hires, 12 months)
- · £200k — merchant pilots & integration
- · £150k — university brand activations
- · £50k — legal, compliance, FCA pathway