Sonovate

Sonovate operates as a financial technology firm providing embedded finance and payment solutions tailored for the contingent workforce sector. The company was founded in 2012 by Richard Prime and Damon Chapple, who drew upon their extensive experience in the recruitment industry to address the sector's specific financing challenges. Having worked in senior roles at a major international staffing company, they identified a critical gap between businesses utilizing contract workers and the rigid funding products offered by traditional banks.

The firm's core business revolves around providing on-demand funding and back-office technology to recruitment agencies, business consultancies, and online freelance platforms. Sonovate's model is designed to solve the cash flow and administrative hurdles associated with managing contractors. It offers up to 100% of invoice value upfront, enabling businesses to pay their contractors weekly without waiting for end-client payments, a process that can often take over 50 days. Revenue is generated by charging a percentage of the funded invoice value. This approach provides businesses with the liquidity to manage their payment cycles efficiently and pursue growth opportunities.

Sonovate's technology platform is a key component of its offering, providing an end-to-end solution for managing the entire contract work lifecycle. The cloud-based platform automates tasks such as creating contracts, managing timesheets, invoicing, and processing payments. It features tools for client credit checks, risk assessment, automated collections, and multi-currency payments across more than 40 countries. For added security, the service includes 95% bad debt protection as a standard feature. In 2023, the company launched an enhanced SaaS platform with a sleeker interface and improved reconciliation capabilities to better serve businesses of all sizes.

The company has achieved significant milestones since its inception, having funded over £5 billion in invoices by 2024. After initially receiving investment from angel investor Paul Birch, Sonovate secured substantial funding rounds from investors including PNC, BNP Paribas, M&G Investments, and Dawn Capital, which has fueled its expansion. Originally based in Cardiff, Sonovate has grown to a team of over 100 and now also operates from London, positioning itself as a pivotal finance provider for the freelance economy in the UK and internationally.

Keywords: invoice finance, contingent workforce, recruitment finance, back-office automation, fintech, embedded finance, working capital, cash flow solutions, freelance economy, payment solutions