Colombian fintech powerhouse Bold has secured a significant $11.3 million credit facility from BBVA Spark, marking a major milestone for the rapidly growing financial technology company as it continues to scale its operations across Latin America.
Founded in 2020, Bold has quickly established itself as a critical financial partner for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Colombia and Peru. The company initially built its market presence by offering accessible and affordable payment terminals—commonly known as datafonos—designed to help micro-merchants and small business owners accept card payments seamlessly. Over the years, Bold has successfully evolved beyond simple hardware solutions, transforming into a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem. Today, the fintech’s product suite encompasses advanced digital payment processing, secure deposit accounts, institutional and working capital loans, and tailored savings products designed specifically for the underserved merchant segment in the region.
According to the company’s strategic roadmap, Bold will deploy the newly acquired $11.3 million financing exclusively to expand its lending operations for Colombian businesses. Access to traditional credit remains a persistent bottleneck for many Latin American small businesses, which often struggle to secure traditional bank loans due to rigid underwriting standards and a lack of formal credit histories. By leveraging this fresh capital injection from BBVA Spark, Bold aims to bridge this financing gap, empowering local merchants to invest in inventory, expand their physical and digital footprints, and navigate economic fluctuations with greater financial resilience.
The growth trajectory of Bold over the past few years underscores the immense demand for modern financial tools in the Andean region. Since its inception, the fintech has successfully served more than 700,000 merchants across both Colombia and Peru. Furthermore, the platform processes approximately $5.4 billion annually in card and QR code payments, reflecting the widespread adoption of its technology among everyday retailers, restaurants, service providers, and independent entrepreneurs. This massive transaction volume demonstrates not only the scalability of Bold’s technological infrastructure but also the foundational role it plays in digitizing the region’s commerce.
The partnership with BBVA Spark—the specialized banking unit established by global financial institution BBVA to support high-growth tech companies and scaleups—highlights the growing institutional confidence in Bold’s business model and financial health. BBVA Spark focuses on providing customized financial solutions, venture debt, and growth capital to startups that are transforming traditional industries through technology and innovation. By partnering with a heavyweight financial institution like BBVA, Bold gains validation from the traditional banking sector, which can facilitate further strategic alignments and fuel its long-term expansion plans in Latin America.
As Bold continues to integrate hardware, software, and financial services into a single unified platform, the company remains focused on solving the structural financial challenges faced by merchants in emerging markets. With the additional liquidity provided by BBVA Spark, Bold is well-positioned to deepen its market penetration in Colombia, enhance its credit underwriting capabilities, and continue driving financial inclusion for hundreds of thousands of businesses that form the backbone of the local economy.
