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Aspora

Can a remittance app for NRIs become the cross-border financial OS for the Indian diaspora?

HQBelfast, Northern Ireland, UK (Real Transfer Limited)
Total raised$50M+ disclosed
Latest roundSequoia-led, June 2025 ($50M)
IndustryFintech / Cross-border payments
The story

Founded as Vance to digitise remittances for non-resident Indians, the company rebranded to Aspora in 2025 after a $50M Sequoia round and is expanding from pure remittances into a verticalised financial OS for the Indian diaspora — bill pay (via Bharat BillPay), savings in global currencies, automated EMIs/SIPs, and a separate UAE-focused business banking product (Aspora Business). The strategic shift is from single-rail money transfer to multi-product cross-border financial services anchored on NRI identity.

Last 12 months
2025-06
2026-03
Product timeline
2022
Founded as Vance to serve the Indian diaspora with remittance products.· launch
2025
Rebranded from Vance to Aspora; raised $50M led by Sequoia.· pivot
2025
Announced Aspora Business — UAE-focused multi-currency business banking with cards and spend controls.· banking
2026
Published public product roadmap including bill pay, savings (up to 9% interest), EMI/SIP automation.· launch
Regulated entities
Authorised Payment Institution (API)
UK FCA
Real Transfer Limited
MSB (Money Services Business)
US (FinCEN)
Vance Money Services LLC (MSB Registration 31000302683150)
The stack
Payments / PSP
Aspora remittance (self-operated, FCA API)
Sponsor bank
Unnamed FinCEN-registered partner bank (US)
FX & payouts
Lulu International Exchange LLC (UAE payout partner)Unnamed RBI-regulated Indian banks (INR payout partners)
Accounting gap: none