Klearly, a payment platform designed specifically for restaurants, bars and clubs, has announced that it has closed a €12 million Series A funding round. The transaction brings the startup’s total funding to €20 million, enabling it to accelerate its internationalisation, starting with its launch in Italy and Belgium, thus consolidating its role as the leading payment system for restaurants in Europe.
Italian Founders Fund is participating in the round led by PayPal Ventures, PayPal’s venture capital arm. Existing investors Global PayTech Ventures, Antler Elevate and Shapers are also participating in the transaction.
Based in Amsterdam, Klearly has seen strong adoption in the Netherlands, where over 4,000 merchants have introduced its payment system in the last two years alone. It is now ready to double its expansion by entering Italy and Belgium to increase its presence with major restaurant groups and partners operating in the POS (point of sales) sector.
Despite the competitiveness that drives the payments market, restaurants still do not have a payment system tailored to their needs, forcing operators to use generic and outdated payment configurations, especially during peak service times. Klearly fills this gap with a payment system designed specifically for the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, cafés), engineered to ensure speed and reliability in high-traffic environments. Integrating seamlessly with restaurant POS systems, Klearly helps operators deliver a smoother service, increase revenue per customer and improve loyalty.
Klearly can be implemented as a powerful standalone payment system. It is device-independent and works on existing hardware, allowing merchants to start using it without purchasing new equipment. For merchants who prefer an integrated setup, Klearly does not require a new POS; it provides a payment layer that connects to existing POS systems.
Klearly’s expansion in Italy and Belgium marks a key milestone in its plan to become Europe’s leading payment services provider for the ho.re.ca sector. With the new funding, Klearly will expand its presence in Italy by developing local sales capabilities and strengthening partnership agreements. In particular, the company will continue to invest in strengthening POS partnerships, product development and the growth of its commercial, partnership, operational and engineering teams.
Sam Koekoek, CEO of Klearly, (pictured) says in a statement: “Klearly’s mission is very clear: we want to build the best payment system for the European market dedicated to restaurants, bars and clubs. We are not a generic payment player and we do not require merchants to change their POS. Instead, we provide a payment system specifically designed for the ho.re.ca. sector that supports major POS operators and suppliers. This funding will enable us to accelerate our expansion in Europe, hire staff in engineering and operations, and continue to strengthen the verticality of our product.”
Ashish Aggarwal, partner at PayPal Ventures, says: “The ho.re.ca. sector remains one of the largest payment categories, but also one of the least integrated, in Europe. Klearly offers restaurants, bars, clubs and POS providers a modern, integrated payment experience without replacing existing systems. We believe Klearly will drive the next generation of commerce in the ho.re.ca. sector across Europe, and we are excited to support the team as it expands into Italy, Belgium and beyond.”
Lorenzo Franzi, partner at Italian Founders Fund, adds: “Klearly’s success in the Netherlands sends a strong signal: restaurants want payments that are tailored to the reality of the service, not generic configurations. With over 300,000 restaurants, Italy is one of the largest restaurant markets in Europe, making it a natural choice for the next step. We are proud to support Klearly in its expansion into Italy and in building a leading position in hospitality payments.”
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