REPORT | Funding for Fintech Startups Across the World Declined 16% in Q1 2024

Funding for fintech startups experienced a 16% decline compared to the previous quarter despite overall venture funding to startups rising 11% QoQ to $58.4 BILLION, a new report says.

According to the CB Insights Q1 2024 State of Venture Report, startups in the sector raised only $7.3 billion during the three-month period marking the lowest level since early 2017.


Still, there was a 15% increase in equity deal activity, signifying sustained investor interest in fintech solutions, especially within payments technology. Nonetheless, the average deal size decreased with larger investments in Q1 2024 being directed towards companies focusing on broader AI solutions.

Throughout the three-month duration, fintech startups received a total of 904 investments. United Kingdom’s Monzo raised a $430 million funding round, which stood out as the largest raise of the quarter, while Bilt Rewards’ $200 million Series C secured the third position.

Among the recipients, companies based in the United States attracted the most significant capital, amassing $3.3 billion across 393 deals. Meanwhile, Europe closely followed, with startups there raising $2.2 billion across 203 deals within the same period. The fewer deals in Europe suggest larger funding rounds on average in that region compared to the U.S.

In contrast, during the first quarter of 2023, $16 billion was invested in 1,271 fintech startups. This year’s funding total represents a significant decline of 54.3% compared to the same period last year [2023].

The first quarter of 2022 saw $32.9 billion poured into 2,026 fintech startups. Both the total funding amount and the number of deals have decreased compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, when 786 fintech startups raised $8.7 billion.


According to a separate report, African startups secured $466 million in funding in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 47% compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

While Africa’s fintech is usually the most vibrant tech sector on the continent and is projected to drive growth globally over the coming years, in Q1 2024, the transport and logistics sector took top spot with 32% of total value of funds raised, while fintech has 23%.

At the same time, we see that just in March 2024, startups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region secured $254 million through 54 deals, a significant increase of 186% month on month (MoM) from February’s $88.7 million.

Fintech startups in MENA raised a total of $39.9 million during the given month.