Zeller, a Melbourne-based payments company, has announced plans to launch in the UK. its first international market, marking the start of a global expansion strategy to roll out its integrated payments and financial ecosystem.

To lead its UK operations, Zeller has appointed Lars Weber, a former ByteDance executive with extensive international experience in launching technology businesses.

The company will be headquartered in London, with recruitment underway to build a team of more than 40 across technology, operations, and go-to-market functions over the next three years.

Staff have already been hired from firms including Square and Pockit to support the forthcoming launch.

Existing partnerships with global technology platforms such as Oracle, Xero, Tevalis, and Redcat will enable Zeller to scale rapidly and meet demand from larger merchants at launch.

“This is a pivotal moment for Zeller,”

said Ben Pfisterer, Zeller CEO and co-founder.

“Our ambition has always been to create a global financial platform for businesses. Expanding into the UK, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic small business economies, is the first step in realising that vision.”

The company is targeting the UK’s sizeable small business market, which comprises more than 5.5 million firms processing over £1.3 trillion in payments annually.

Many continue to face issues with legacy banking systems, including hidden fees, slow service, and complex contracts.

Zeller aims to offer these businesses a modern alternative through a fully integrated ecosystem combining payments, business accounts, cards, expense management, invoicing, and real-time financial reporting.

More than half of UK SMEs currently use multiple disconnected tools to manage their finances.

“Zeller’s rapid success in Australia demonstrated that business owners everywhere are tired of outdated systems that make managing their finances harder,”

Pfisterer added.

“The UK is one of the most advanced fintech markets in the world, and our experience building and deploying Australia’s leading all-in-one payments and financial solution to over 100,000 businesses has prepared Zeller for global expansion.”

Founded in 2020 by former Square APAC executives Ben Pfisterer and Dominic Yap, Zeller has grown to serve over 100,000 Australian businesses in under five years, employs more than 320 people, and reached unicorn status in 2022.

The UK launch marks the company’s next phase of growth and its ambition to scale globally.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Australia, based on image by vwalakte via Freepik