> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.embeddedfinancereview.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # My top 5 embedded finance news - URL: https://www.embeddedfinancereview.com/my-top-5-embedded-finance-news/ - Published: 2024-07-21T20:28:02.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-16T21:16:43.000Z - Description: Vertical SaaS launches payment product, marketplace and sports aggregator add lending, Enpal enters embedded finance, German supermarket adds insurance, and BaaS updates. - Author: Lars Markull [Upgrade to Premium](https://embeddedfinancereview.beehiiv.com/upgrade?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com) Hi {{first name|embedded finance friend}} welcome to the summer edition of the Embedded Finance Review. **Format:** I decided to change the format of this newsletter a little bit and will likely further adjust it over the next few weeks. Compared to previous editions, the new format **contains fewer links** but instead provides **more insights** for the relevant stories. I hope that this format provides **more value** for you as it helps you to **cut through the noise**. Based on your feedback, I will **either return to the old format** after a couple of editions or **stick with the new one**. Please use the survey at the end of the mailing to share your feedback or just hit reply. I am really **curios to hear from you**! **Our next event:** I have been preparing for the next Embedded Finance Review Event that will happen **on October 10th in Berlin**. We are partnering with the **Berlin SaaS Week** and I will share **sponsors** and **content** in a couple of weeks. But if you can’t wait, you [can get your ticket already now](https://www.embeddedfinancereview.com/events). **Thank you:** A personal shoutout to **Patrick de Haan** for referring **six new subscribers** to this newsletter. As a small thank you, he could choose **a link of his choice** to be included here: he picked his blog post about **embedded finance and financial inclusion** \- [here you go](https://www.innopay.com/en/publications/innopay-embedded-finance-radar-how-emfi-tackles-issue-financial-inclusion?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com). And now let’s dive in 👇 ## German craftsman SaaS provider launches payment product ![](https://www.embeddedfinancereview.com/content/images/media-beehiiv-com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down-format=auto-onerror=redirect-quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a52e48a0-3eed-417e-add4-181448c54e8a/6687ced1e96e172a01d68e3a_step-1-p-800-t-1721638656.png) German craftsman SaaS provider **Tooltime** **has** **launched a payment product** in cooperation with Adyen ([Product website](https://www.tooltime.app/zahlungen?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com), only in German). Tooltime is a vertical SaaS provider focusing on the needs of craftsman companies and their features include CRM, time tracking, quotes, invoices and more. The company was founded in 2019 and currently operates in its home market in Germany and expanded to the UK. Last week, they announced the logical extension of their SaaS product and enable their customers to **not only to send invoices to their clients but also include a payment functionality**. The customer of the craftsman company will receive an email with a link where she can **make the payment** with the method of her choice. In addition, the craftsman company can easily see **open invoices and send payment reminders**. Embedding the payment functionality into the core product is not only more efficient for the craftsman company but will likely **reduce the average time for payment** from customers as well. Tooltime chose Adyen as their infrastructure provider. It is not a surprising choice, due to Adyen’s strong track recording including working with other vertical SaaS companies. And in many cases, these companies **started with a payment acceptance product** but added other financial products as well, for example **cards, accounts or financing products**. Will Tooltime do the same? If you are wondering **what kind of an impact** the launch of an **embedded payment acceptance product** can have, check out last week’s podcast with **hotel SaaS provider Mews**. Their CEO Matt Welle describes very well how his company **started with payment acceptance** in 2016, **added lending** in 2023 and are now **exploring other financial products**. You can find the podcast on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WPN9WTN5EpDb8sOhJiRMS?si=2b3AvFL6TX-zFreTEz-4kQ&ref=embeddedfinancereview.com) or [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-mews-is-turning-a-hotel-focused-saas-product/id1748335340?i=1000662360972&ref=embeddedfinancereview.com). --- ## eBay and Urban Sports Club launch a lending product The global **marketplace** **eBay** has announced it partnered with embedded lending provider **Liberis** to offer a **cash advance produc**t to their sellers in the US ([Liberis website](https://www.liberis.com/company/insights/newsroom/ebay-seller-capital-and-liberis-partner-to-accelerate-small-business-growth/?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com)). Business sellers can apply for funding **for up to $1 million and receive an answer within 24 hours**. A merchant cash advance is a working capital financing product and the seller can use this for example to **buy more inventory**. A marketplace like eBay can **earn additional revenue** through this lending product with adding a margin to the interest rate, however, an even bigger benefit is often the **increase in transaction volume** of the core product. Since the merchants are able to purchase **more inventory**, they are likely selling more, and thus, are **paying more fees** to eBay - which often increases the need for financing products. **Flyweel**? In Germany, the **gym and sport activity aggregator** **Urban Sports Club** announced a partnership with embedded lending provider **Banxware** ([LinkedIn post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/banxware%5Fpartnership-urbansportsclub-banxware-activity-7218875704304644096-ukH%5F?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com)). A consumer who is subscribed to Urban Sports Club can visit a wide range of partner sport facilities, from yoga to rock-climbing gyms. The sport facilities can be large chains or independently owned studios and with the new financing product, these facilities can obtain a financing product. This product is likely targeted at smaller or medium sized businesses who can have a hard time obtaining a financing product from their bank. --- ## Enpal launches financing products for third parties German unicorn Enpal is one of the major producers of **solar panels** and **heat pumps**. Enpal does not only **produce the hardware** but **takes care of installation** as well, for which the company employs the necessary staff. Therefore, the property owner can get **all necessary products and services** from the **same company**. An interested customer can either **purchase the hardware products** and **pay for the installation** themself, or Enpal also offers a **subscription model** where the homer owner **pays a monthly fixed fee**. Enpal is offering this product since quite some time already, but again, it is only **applicable to products and services from the Enpal ecosystem**. The company announced now that it **founded Enpal Financial Services** which offers **embedded financing products to external installers** ([FinanceFWD](https://financefwd.com/de/enpal-fintech-geschaeft/?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com); only in German). This means that a **local installation company** that puts solar panels from another brand (not Enpal) onto the roof of a customer, can offer them **an Enpal powered financing product**. Enpal might be one of the **biggest hardware producer** in the market, however, the market is heavily fragmented and the **majority of the business** is conducted by **independent installation companies**. With ambitious growth plans, Enpal can now increase their **business outside of their core market**. With the new embedded financing launch, Enpal is **competing directly with a few specialised fintech startups** that launched in the past few years. Most importantly, with a **company called Cloover** that we **covered** already in one of our previous **podcast episodes** (Maybe we should invite Enpal for an episode as well? 😉). If you haven’t listened to the episode already, you can find it on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6EFEgr5z5uYqv2HZmGC6Xp?si=wZldBvgeSsaWSThfFUhnLA&ref=embeddedfinancereview.com) or [Apple Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cloover-how-embedded-lending-can-transform-renewables/id1748335340?i=1000659344719&ref=embeddedfinancereview.com). --- ## German supermarket chain launches embedded insurance products The German discount **supermarket chain Netto** has announced a partnership with **Hakuna, an embedded insurance provider** ([Hakuna website](https://www.hellohakuna.com/news/netto?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com)). The insurance product offering is **embedded into the online shop** of Netto, where the company sells over 120,000 items including electronics and appliances. The new insurance products are **suitable for any non-consumable products**, and based on the products, the **shop will offer the right insurance**: a theft insurance for a bike purchase and an extended warranty for a purchase of a fridge. --- ## Onboarding limitations for European BaaS providers: Modulr exits it and Solaris gets an extension British banking-as-a-service provider **Modulr** has finally managed to convince the UK regulator FCA, that they are able to **fulfil regulatory duties**, and therefore, Modulr’s **onboarding restriction has been lifted** ([The Paypers](https://thepaypers.com/digital-identity-security-online-fraud/modulrs-customer-onboarding-ban-lifted-by-the-fca--1269239?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com)). The ban has been introduced back in October 2023 and **was only introduced for their e-money agents and distributors** but not all business customers. Compared to the regulatory restrictions applied to **N26 and Solaris (see below) in Germany**, Modulr was able to lift the onboarding ban rather quickly. But perhaps the **news about the restriction itself** with the **negative press** around it **was more painful** for Modulr’s business, than the **restriction itself**. Across the North Sea, German banking-as-a-service provider Solaris (formerly Solarisbank) **has a similar “track record” with its regulator BaFin**. This all started in 2021 when the **very first issues have been identified**, and since these issues were not resolved and others were added, BaFin **sent a special commissioner in early 2023** to ensure that progress is being made. But instead of exiting this limitation, BaFin announced now that the mandate for the **special commissioner will be extended** and that **additional fines are possible** if AML controls are not put into place and other shortfalls are not taken care of ([The Paypers](https://thepaypers.com/digital-identity-security-online-fraud/german-regulator-threatens-solaris-with-fines-for-aml-controls--1269126?ref=embeddedfinancereview.com)). Solaris had already received a **record fine of €6.5 million** in March and can currently only **onboard new customers with the approval of BaFin**. --- ## Job board Are you a **product manager** with **fintech experience** and looking for **a new gig**? A German technology company from **the sports industry** is currently **growing their fintech offering** (payments and factoring). Hit **reply** if you want to know more! --- Somebody forwarded you this email? [*Subscribe for free*](#/portal/signup). Are you planning to start your own newsletter? [*Check out Beehiiv and get 20% off*](https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=lars&ref=embeddedfinancereview.com).