Semfi
“Can a global bank win embedded trade finance by piping HSBC credit and payments directly into B2B marketplaces?”
Founded2024
HQUnited Kingdom
Total raised$35M (two-stage investment from HSBC)
Latest roundJV launch funding, 2024
IndustryInfrastructure / BaaS
The story
SemFi was created in October 2024 as a joint venture between HSBC (75%) and Tradeshift (25%), backed by a two-stage $35M investment from HSBC. The venture embeds HSBC's payment, trade, and financing products — beginning with invoice financing for SME suppliers and virtual business cards — into B2B e-commerce and marketplace platforms, starting with Tradeshift's own network. It represents HSBC's bet that trade finance origination is shifting onto digital marketplaces, with future plans for digital wallets and PO financing.
Product timeline
2023
HSBC and Tradeshift announce joint venture to build embedded finance products for B2B marketplaces.· pivot
2024
SemFi by HSBC officially launches, offering AI-powered digital invoice financing and virtual business cards in the UK and Hong Kong.· banking
The stack
5 layers disclosed in Semfi’s embedded-finance stack
Payments / PSP
HSBC payment rails (in-house via parent)
Banking / BaaS
in the full report
Card issuing
in the full report
Lending
in the full report
Sponsor bank
in the full report
Accounting gap: none
6 more providers across 4 layers, with confidence-scored evidence and source URLs, are in the Embedded Finance Index report.