Unbox – an infrastructure provider for programmable exchange of value – closed a €12 million Series A funding round. The funding was led by HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) and featured strategic participation from SFPIM Relaunch, a Belgian Sovereign Wealth Fund subsidiary.
Unbox created a proprietary technology to imbue virtually anything with a memory, a conscience, and a forward-looking vision. And this transformative capability embraces a diverse range of assets, from financial resources to tangible products.
Unbox’s technology facilitates closed loops, enabling the parties to exchange to exercise control, distribute, and register any (un)fungible value. Whether it is traditional or local community currencies through the Unbox Community Issuance software suite, high-value assets like diamonds or semiconductors, and low-value items like plastic bottles or toys using the Unbox State of Product software suite, Unbox’s platform offers versatility.
The funding will enable Unbox to expand its software platform further to serve its target markets better and deliver technology solutions for flagship and industry-led projects. And a sizable portion of the investment will be directed towards talent recruitment and the ongoing development of existing team members. Brussels, Belgium, will serve as a central hub for Unbox’s global operations.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are pleased to lead this investment round for Unbox and support them in their mission to enable targeted and transparent funding distribution through their versatile software platform. Thanks to their technology, traceability and programmability can be embedded into existing payment networks, which simplifies deployment. As governments, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations are constantly looking for more efficient ways to distribute grants or financial support, we believe the need for solutions such as Unbox’s will rapidly expand. This investment is part for our venture capital strategy focused on fintech and enterprise software.”
— Remi Bourrette, head of venture investments HSBC AM
“Belgium stands as a global stronghold for life-science and aeronautic innovations, leveraging the talent and academic excellence emerging from its universities. As the host country of the European Union, Belgium aspires to position itself as a leading hub for financial innovation and radical transparency amid the intricacies of today’s geopolitical landscape. The investment of our subsidiary SFPIM Relaunch in Unbox not only aligns with this strategic objective but also contributes to nurturing high-potential companies, fostering even greater talent from Belgian universities, and enriching both our economic and academic ecosystems.”
— Koen Van Loo, CEO of SFPIM
“SFPIM stands out as one of the most influential funds in Europe. The investment from industry leaders like HSBC AM and SFPIM is a major milestone for our company, and their expertise and strategic support are poised to play a pivotal role in our continued growth and success. I want to seize this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the unwavering support of our global team of Unboxians, clients, and business partners.”
— Erik Saelens, CEO of UNBOX
