In a significant strategic pivot, French startup Upflow is expanding its focus beyond invoice management to become a comprehensive B2B payment platform. This move marks a major milestone in the company's evolution, as it seeks to revolutionize the way businesses make and receive payments.

Upflow's initial success in automating accounts receivable for CFOs and finance teams has laid the groundwork for its ambitious new direction. The company's CEO, Alexandre Louisy, has long envisioned a future where B2B payments are as seamless as consumer transactions. With its new payment gateway, built in partnership with Stripe, Upflow aims to tackle the inefficiencies plaguing the industry, where 90% of B2B payments in the US still rely on paper checks.

The startup's innovative approach will enable businesses to set up incentive strategies, encouraging clients to adopt online payment methods like card payments or direct debits. This shift in strategy also opens up new revenue streams for Upflow, as it transitions from a solely SaaS-based model to a hybrid model incorporating payment revenue.

Looking ahead, Upflow plans to integrate financing options, including "buy now, pay later" payment methods and factoring for outstanding invoices. This bold move has significant implications for the fintech and startup communities, as it addresses a long-standing pain point in B2B transactions.