Cino secures funding for an app designed to simplify bill-splitting.

      Fintech startup Cino, a member of the TNW community, has secured €3.5 million for its shared payments app that allows friends and family to pay together.

      Cino is tailored for tech-savvy Gen Z individuals, who desire a seamless way to split bills without any “financial awkwardness,” according to the company.

      Unlike payment request applications such as Tikkie, which is prevalent in the Netherlands, Cino allows for real-time bill splitting, eliminating the need to chase friends for their share of the hefty sushi bill you paid last week.

      Cino is available throughout the EU, but thanks to its new funding, the startup plans to expand into the UK. The seed funding round was led by Balderton Capital, with involvement from Connect Ventures, Tera Ventures, and angel investors, including Cleo AI founder Barney Hussey-Yeo.

      Cino’s CEO Elena Churilova, a former product lead at Bumble, along with COO Lina Saleh, established the startup in 2023 to minimize financial friction among friends and family. “I realized that everyone was focused on resolving debt after the fact, rather than addressing it at the payment moment,” Churilova previously stated to TNW.

      Cino users can connect their bank card to the app and receive a virtual card. They can create or join personalized payment groups with adjustable split ratios. Each person's share is then automatically deducted at the checkout. All payments are displayed in a shared group feed for full transparency, and users can join or leave groups at any time.

      “Fintech has traditionally been one-dimensional, but we are inherently social beings,” remarked Churilova. “Our payment methods should represent how we genuinely spend money—together. In the cash era, it was simpler. Now that we have transitioned to digital, payment systems must advance accordingly.”

      Cino reported a 100% month-on-month growth in Finland and Italy. Groups utilize Cino 17 times monthly on average, spending as much as €3,000.

      Published March 4, 2025 - 3:32 pm UTC