Miami-based DRUO, a fintech company focused on transforming how businesses accept payments, has raised seed funding led by Global PayTech Ventures. The investment will enable DRUO to scale its global direct-debit payment network to more than 30 countries by 2026, advancing its mission to make bank-to-bank payments faster, more secure, and more cost-efficient for enterprises and consumers alike.
Founded to reduce reliance on costly card-based systems, DRUO’s infrastructure allows merchants to accept payments directly from customer bank accounts, bypassing intermediaries and lowering transaction fees to as little as 0.5%—a fraction of typical credit card processing costs. The platform leverages advanced authentication protocols and real-time settlement capabilities to deliver 25 times stronger fraud protection than traditional payment methods.
The funding marks a significant milestone in DRUO’s growth strategy as the company accelerates partnerships with banks, fintechs, and enterprise clients across Latin America, North America, and Europe. Its direct-debit network is designed to serve industries ranging from e-commerce and financial services to utilities and insurance, providing businesses with a unified infrastructure for recurring and one-time payments.
Global PayTech Ventures’ investment reflects growing confidence in next-generation payment infrastructure designed for an open-banking ecosystem. As regulators and consumers worldwide embrace account-to-account (A2A) payments, DRUO aims to position itself at the center of this shift by enabling frictionless, low-cost cross-border, cross-currency transfers.
The company’s long-term vision includes integrating with emerging real-time payment rails and bank APIs, helping financial institutions modernize their payment systems while maintaining compliance and security. By expanding globally, DRUO intends to create a standardized network that allows businesses of any size to tap into the benefits of direct-debit payments without complex integrations or local licensing hurdles.
According to the company, this expansion will also strengthen financial inclusion by giving underbanked populations access to digital payments through bank-linked solutions rather than relying on cards or cash. With digital payments expected to surpass $14 trillion in global volume by 2027, DRUO sees a significant opportunity to capture market share in both developed and emerging economies.
KEY QUOTES
“We’re giving the world a radically better way for businesses to accept payments. We removed almost a dozen middlemen and built a new system to replace an antiquated process. DRUO gives merchants what they never had — secure, near-free payments.”
Alejandro Pinzon, CEO, DRUO
“DRUO’s direct-debit network creates a new category in the global payments system. By eliminating the friction associated with charging bank accounts directly, DRUO reduces the complexity and cost of accepting payments.”
Javier Perez, Founder and Managing Partner, Global PayTech Ventures
