Bourn raises £3.5m to scale AI-powered SME funding solution

By Vriti Gothi

UK FinTech Bourn has secured £3.5 million in funding to expand its Flexible Trade Account (FTA), a modern alternative to the traditional business overdraft aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The funding round includes a strategic investment from NatWest Group, alongside participation from McPike Global Family Office, Haatch, Love Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and Aperture. NatWest’s investment comes with a potential for closer collaboration to bring embedded working capital solutions to its Mid-Market and broader business customers.

Bourn’s FTA is designed to bridge the funding gap that SMEs often encounter by embedding overdraft-style flexibility directly into existing bank accounts and financial platforms. The account combines payments, current account functionality, and instant access to secured working capital. Powered by real-time data and an AI-driven risk engine, it enables businesses to manage cash flow, pay suppliers faster, and fund growth without incurring additional debt.

Nick Tracey, co-founder and CEO of Bourn, said, “2025 has been a year of validation, proving that SMEs and their funding partners need a more modern, data-driven approach to working capital. This investment round is a huge vote of confidence. It shows that established banks see the same opportunity we do: to bring liquidity closer to the point of need and help businesses fund growth more dynamically.”

Ladi Greenstreet, Head of Strategic Investments at NatWest Group, added, “Now more than ever, SMEs need the right support to scale and grow – which is why Bourn’s offering has so much potential. Supporting Bourn reinforces our commitment to helping FinTechs thrive while ensuring our Commercial Mid-Market customers can access the funding and support they need.”

Bourn has already piloted the FTA with Investec, demonstrating early success as an alternative to conventional overdraft solutions. The company is also expanding integrations with financial institutions, accounting platforms, ERP systems, and B2B marketplaces, enabling on-demand working capital within existing business workflows.

By positioning itself as an infrastructure layer for embedded SME finance, Bourn aims to reduce distribution costs for funding providers while accelerating SME access to productive capital, potentially reshaping the landscape for small-business financing in the UK.