Payaca is a fintech platform founded in 2018. The team of 3 are based in Bristol.
Answering 10 questions about Payaca for you is CEO Matt Franklin.
1. In your own words – what do you do?

We’ve built a platform that makes it easier for small businesses and their customers to work together by connecting them with the best financial products. Our current focus is the construction and home improvement market.
2. What’s the most exciting thing about what you’re doing?
It’s a multi-sided platform creating value for all sides. We’re helping smaller independent businesses to compete with their larger competitors. We’re helping their customers by providing fast, fair and simple access to capital to invest in their property. We’re helping lending partners by providing access to attract customers.
3. What are you most proud of so far?
Seeing customers promote Payaca to others because they believe we’ve built a valuable service and want to help us grow. That means a lot to me.
4. What have you found most difficult about being a startup?
Recognising the progress made. Before you get there each milestone seems like it will be huge, but when you get there it seems so small and you’re just looking ahead to the next milestone. You have to really force yourself to recognise the progress and value created otherwise you miss out on actually enjoying it!
5. What would you do differently if you started now?
It would be a lot easier to build the right product at the start now we have a much deeper understanding of our customers. We started by giving them something they didn’t want but I really believe it was the best way to find out what they did want.
6. Where do you think you’ll be in 12 months?

Our team is coming together but we’re still looking for some key people, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s interested in joining. In 12 months our team will be ‘Totally Killing It’.
7. What tools/people/services/organisations from the cluster have helped you most?
It’s got to be the people who’ve been there and done it or are doing it a little way ahead. To name a few who’ve given me their time and knowledge without asking for anything in return, Tim Morgan, Paul Wickers and Silas Adekunle. Heroes.
8. What’s the best thing about the Bristol & Bath tech cluster?
It’s small, intimate and friendly. It’s not London.
9. Who will you be nominating for a SPARKie next year?
I’ll let you know next year, there are so many possibilities.
10. Where can we find out more about you?
You connect with me on my Linkedin page, on Twitter: either @payaca_app or @mattfprodor go directly to thePayaca website!
Thanks to Matt for taking the time to talk to us about Payaca.
- You may like: Startup for 10: Epics GG

Shona Wright
Shona covers all things editorial at TechSPARK. She publishes news articles, interviews and features about our fantastic tech and digital ecosystem, working with startups and scaleups to spread the word about the cool things they're up to.
She also oversees TechSPARK's social media, sharing the latest updates on everything from investment news to green tech meetups and inspirational stories.