Ansa, co-founded by Sophia Goldberg and JT Cho, is a fintech company revolutionizing the payment landscape by allowing businesses to establish their own branded digital wallets. With a mission to eliminate burdensome credit card processing fees, Ansa empowers creators of closed-loop payment systems, particularly coffee shops, quick-serve restaurants, and online marketplaces, to foster deeper customer relationships. This model enables customers to pre-load funds and seamlessly pay for goods and services, similar to the popular prepaid card program embraced by Starbucks. By utilizing Ansa’s technology, businesses can increase order frequency and customer lifetime value, making it an attractive proposition for companies seeking to enhance their revenue streams and customer engagement.
Ansa’s primary focus is directed toward coffee and quick-serve chains, especially those with ten or more locations, along with medium to large online marketplaces looking to improve customer retention and financial activity. As a self-described “payments nerd,” CEO Sophia Goldberg brings extensive knowledge from her experience at Adyen, a global payments platform, which equips her to bridge the existing gaps in the payment landscape. Initially conceived as solely an infrastructure-focused company, Ansa has pivoted toward enhancing customer experiences and brand identity due to market feedback, recognizing the impact of closed-loop payments in driving repeat business.
In less than a year since its inception, Ansa has successfully raised $14 million through seed and Series A funding, demonstrating the fintech community’s support for its innovative solution. This funding has allowed for the development of Ansa’s minimum viable product (MVP) while navigating complex regulatory environments. Ansa’s integration capabilities with most modern payment service providers, such as Square and Stripe, allow new merchants to effortlessly incorporate the technology into their operations. Investors and board members, including Renata Quintini from Renegade Partners, believe Ansa is redefining transaction standards, providing merchants an alternative to costly credit card fees while enhancing customer retention and loyalty.
Ansa’s potential has garnered attention from industry leaders and publications, reinforcing their mission to democratize access to advanced digital wallet technology for businesses of all sizes. Both Michael Haft of Compass Coffee and Seth Cohen from Sweetfin have praised Ansa for empowering their companies to cultivate strong customer engagement and enhance overall dining experiences. By providing a premium, convenient, and personalized payment solution, Ansa aims to replicate the success of established brands like Starbucks and spread closed-loop payment systems across diverse industries.
Sophia Goldberg’s entrepreneurial journey reflects resilience and adaptability, key qualities for success in the fintech sector, filled with challenges. Establishing Ansa required overcoming various obstacles, including the extended development timeline needed for their infrastructure-heavy platform, which made swift feedback cycles difficult. Furthermore, complications arose when Ansa’s banking partner confronted regulatory issues, necessitating a fast reassessment of their partnerships and leading to additional costs and delays—a moment described by Goldberg as a “rug pull.” Despite these hurdles, the Ansa team remained resolute, prioritizing customer engagement and feedback as pivotal elements in enhancing their product strategy.
In September, Ansa successfully launched Ansa Anywhere, an in-store payment solution designed for white-labeled wallets. This innovative technology provides brands with the ability to offer customers a seamless tap-to-pay experience using their wallets’ preloaded funds. By integrating rewards and loyalty programs, this offering creates a cohesive and engaging payment experience across all locations, solidifying customer loyalty and enhancing overall convenience. Ansa’s continued efforts to leverage technology to strengthen brand identities underscore its commitment to reshaping the future of payments and the consumer experience in various markets.
