Tippy
“Can a vertical SaaS tipping platform for service professionals become the financial infrastructure layer for cashless tip collection and instant worker pay in the US service economy?”
Founded2016
HQFort Lauderdale, FL
Total raised$3.15M
Latest roundAccelerator/Incubator
IndustryVertical SaaS / Salons & Spas
The story
Founded in 2016 as DirectTips, Tippy started as a standalone digital tipping app for salons and spas. It evolved from a simple QR/link-based tip collection tool into a full-service tip management platform encompassing POS integrations, real-time disbursement, and an embedded digital wallet. The landmark embedded-finance pivot came in 2022 when Tippy replaced direct ACH payouts with Branch's digital wallet and debit card, making instant tip access the core value proposition for service professionals.
Last 12 months
Product timeline
2016
Founded as DirectTips, a digital tipping application targeting the salon and spa industry.· pivot
2019
Closed $1.65M Series B round led by beauty-industry investors, bringing total funding to $3.15M; began nationwide rollout.· banking
2021
Selected for Mastercard Start Path program as a fintech innovator in cashless tip disbursement.· card
2022
Integrated Branch digital wallet and debit card as the primary tip disbursement rail, replacing direct ACH to bank accounts.· banking
2025
Launched Adyen EMV reader integration (Tippy ProX) for in-person payment processing at salon and spa POS.· banking
The stack
5 layers disclosed in Tippy’s embedded-finance stack
Banking / BaaS
in the full report
Card network
in the full report
Open banking
in the full report
KYC
in the full report
Accounting gap: significant
4 more providers across 4 layers, with confidence-scored evidence and source URLs, are in the Embedded Finance Index report.