STAMP Raises €4M to Revolutionize Tax-Free Shopping

Spanish fintech innovator STAMP has successfully closed a €4 million funding round, signaling a significant push to modernize the global Tax Free shopping experience. The investment, led by Dozen, with crucial participation from EBISU Digital, Barça Innovation Hub (the investment arm of FC Barcelona), and notable international business angels including Andreas Mihalovits and Thibaut Courtois through his vehicle NXTplay, will fuel STAMP's expansion and technological development.

This capital infusion positions STAMP as a key player in the evolving landscape of global commerce, international payments, and the activation of Tax Free entitlements across Europe. The company's core mission is to empower merchants, particularly in Southern Europe, to better serve international clientele by streamlining the payment process and transforming Tax Free benefits into a tangible sales incentive. The funds are earmarked for accelerating growth in existing markets like Spain, Italy, and Portugal, alongside significant investment in product enhancement, focusing on advanced international payment solutions and the introduction of a novel AI-powered product.

STAMP's disruptive model directly addresses the inefficiencies of traditional Tax Refund systems, which often involve complex post-purchase reimbursements and opaque fees. Instead, STAMP integrates the tax benefit directly at the point of sale, offering a digital, compliant, and seamless experience. In jurisdictions like Italy, this allows for VAT-exempt purchases at checkout. In others, such as Spain, customers receive an immediate discount equivalent to the VAT amount, with STAMP managing subsequent validation and recovery processes, thereby eliminating fiscal risk for merchants.

The company's strategic approach to investor selection underscores its ambition. STAMP deliberately sought partners who offer more than just capital, prioritizing those actively engaged in its mission and capable of accelerating market adoption. This includes specialized fintech investors like EBISU Digital, which has backed firms such as MyInvestor and Flinket, and participatory investment platforms like Dozen, part of the Orbyn Group, with a history of supporting successful scale-ups like Glovo.

A particularly interesting growth avenue identified by STAMP lies within the football merchandising sector. With major clubs in Spain and Italy attracting millions of international fans, the opportunity to offer VAT savings on team merchandise, coupled with preferred payment methods, presents a substantial market. The involvement of Barça Innovation Hub and Thibaut Courtois directly aligns with this strategic focus, highlighting the global appeal and economic significance of sports-related retail.

Beyond private investment, STAMP has also secured significant public grants from Spanish governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the City of Valencia, the Community of Madrid, and the City of Madrid. This dual backing from both private and public sectors validates STAMP's innovative approach and its alignment with national strategies for digitalization, tourism enhancement, and commercial modernization.

By simplifying Tax Free processes and integrating them into the checkout flow, STAMP aims to become an essential infrastructure layer for European retailers. This enables them to compete more effectively for global customers, offering frictionless transactions and payment options tailored to international preferences, ultimately driving increased conversion rates, larger basket sizes, and enhanced customer satisfaction in a competitive retail environment.