Neo Financial Canada Is The Country’s Latest Startup To Be Valued At $1 Billion

creditcardGenius Team
updated on May 12, 2022
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Neo Financial Canada has become the country’s latest tech startup unicorn after crossing $1 billion in its latest series C funding round.

Founded in 2019 by the same guys who brought you Skip the Dishes – Andrew Chau and Jeff Adamson – with Kris Read, the Calgary-based financial company announced that it had raised $185 million in its latest funding round, which featured the New York-based Valar Ventures as the lead investor.

This latest round of fundraising is based on a valuation of more than $1 billion.

This makes Neo Financial one of the few members of the unicorn club – a term used in the startup world to denote just how rare it is to be valued at that level.

This latest round of fundraising brings the amount raised by Neo Financial Canada in the past 3 years to over $300 million with Valar Ventures participating along with the following:

  • Tribe Capital
  • Altos Ventures,
  • Blank Ventures,
  • Gaingels,
  • Maple VC, and
  • Knollwood Advisory.

Neo Financial has built this kind of buzz based on the strength of its user-friendly banking technology and products, which it says is already being used by over 1 million customers. Its product line includes a Neo Mastercard, which gives its users cash back, and high interest savings accounts.

In addition, it also offers “Neo Invest” – called Canada’s first actively managed, fully digital investment vehicle It will also offer a mortgage product before the conclusion of 2022.

Continuing to grow, Neo Financial has 650 employees and is hiring for over 100 people in its Winnipeg and Calgary offices.

It is part of a boom in Alberta’s tech sector as the province works hard to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas. According to reports from the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, the province broke its own record for venture capital investment in 2021 at $561 million and a 64% increase in total deal count.

Let’s take a closer look at their two flagship credit card products below.

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A Neo Financial Mastercard that’s far from standard

3.3 Genius Rating
2.1 (37) User reviews
Annual fee
$0.00
Learn more
Welcome bonus
$25
Learn more
Annual rewards
$126
Learn more
Neo Mastercard®
3.3 Genius Rating
2.1 (37) User reviews
Annual fee
$0.00
Learn more
Welcome bonus
$25
Learn more
Annual rewards
$126
Learn more
Credit estimate:
 (560 - 659)
Instant approval: Yes

Neo Financial Canada’s flagship product, the Neo Mastercard® offers the following rewards:

  • Average of 5% cash back at partner retailers
  • 1% cash back on gas, up to $500 spent monthly
  • 1% cash back on groceries, up to $500 spent monthly

There’s also no income requirements, no annual fee, and you only need a credit score of 600 to be approved for the card.

Canada’s first secured card with rewards

1.5 Genius Rating
2.2 (17) User reviews
Annual fee
$95.88
Learn more
Welcome bonus
$0
Learn more
Annual rewards
$126
Learn more
Neo Secured Credit
1.5 Genius Rating
2.2 (17) User reviews
Annual fee
$95.88
Learn more
Welcome bonus
$0
Learn more
Annual rewards
$126
Learn more
Credit estimate:
 (300 - 559)
Instant approval: Yes

The Neo Secured Credit is the first secured card in Canada that comes with rewards. Here’s what you get:

  • Average of 5% cash back at partner retailers
  • 1% cash back on gas, up to $500 spent monthly
  • 1% cash back on groceries, up to $500 spent monthly

It’s also incredibly easy to qualify for and use this secured card with only a $50 deposit necessary to start using it, along with guaranteed approval, no matter your credit score, with no hard credit check required.

In addition, there’s no income requirements and no annual fee needed to qualify.

You can see why it was the co-recipient of the best secured credit card award of 2022.

Your Turn

Do you have a Neo Financial credit card or any of its other financial products?

If so, what do you think so far? Is the $1 billion valuation justified in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below!

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Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 226 Canadian credit cards.

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Showing 4 comments

N.Sean Haydon
N.Sean Haydon
May 15, 2022
I have the NEO Hudson’s Bay Mastercard since the roll out. It is my primary card. As well as earning two points / $ spent outside of the bay, receiving 25% in bonus points twice a year still remains. Also have the opportunity to earn cash back with specific retailers. Each retailer is different so it is best to read the conditions concerning cash back. Only card I know of that permits the rewarding of cash back and points simultaneously. Having no “insurance” packages linked with the card is not an issue for me. Not always easy to make a claim when required.
Yulia
Yulia
May 16, 2022
Hey Sean, Sounds like you make the NEO Mastercard work for you!
Joe
Joe
May 13, 2022
There must be something seriously wrong with your scoring system when you rate this institution 4.5 stars and the user experience seems to be so abysmal.
Yulia
Yulia
May 13, 2022
Hey Joe, Our Genius Rating takes into account over 126 credit card features. You can read more about it here: Canada's Best Credit Card Rankings: Methodology
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