Cino, a real-time shared payment software based in Tallinn that enables group payments in a smooth, single transaction, has acquired €3.5 million in seed investment to support its UK debut and future expansion throughout Europe.

Cino was founded in 2023 by CEO Elena Churilova and COO Lina Saleh. The company is run by product and design specialists Lina, who has a degree in Human-Centered Design from Cornell University, and Elena, who has expertise from Bumble and Booking.com. At the point of checkout, Cino charges each customer their portion in real-time, straight from their bank account, making it the first system that reportedly enables true group payment.

It is designed to be as social as the activities it facilitates. It is tailored to Gen Z's expectations of paying with friends and family instantaneously and seamlessly without financial embarrassment. Gen Z requires dynamic, flexible, and integrated financial tools since they are a connection-driven generation. By offering a bank-neutral solution that functions throughout the EU and soon the UK, Cino satisfies that demand.

The way it operates is users receive a virtual card after safely connecting their card to the Cino app. They may then join shared payment groups and create unique split ratios that they can modify. Anywhere Visa is accepted, any group member can pay for anything, and at checkout, everyone's portion is instantly subtracted.

In Finland and Italy, Cino has had 100% monthly growth, and groups spend up to €3k using Cino on average 17 times monthly. The startup has a growing queue ahead of its UK launch later this year, and active customers usually complete their first transaction within hours of signing up.