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Why We Started Round: Small Businesses Deserve More

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. Whether it’s a hair stylist, an actually good landlord (hi, Matt!), a landscaper, or the chicest little cafe, micro-merchants face unique challenges, wearing countless hats to make their businesses thrive. But for too long, financial services haven’t been built with their needs in mind. That’s where round steps in — we know every dollar small businesses earn should work as hard as they do.

NEWS AND UPDATES

Jacqueline Birkel

11/18/20242 min read

The idea for round came to life in a nail salon. I was tipping my nail tech through Venmo, and as she held up her phone to confirm the transaction, I couldn’t help but notice her balance — $6,000+, just sitting there, waiting for her to manually move it somewhere else. That’s when it hit me: her earnings weren’t growing, weren’t working for her. We could create a tool that did, it would empower business owners like her to make the right financial decisions supporting their own growth and success.

Our team comes from small business backgrounds ourselves, from fintechs focused on small businesses to a family plumbing business. We understand the grit it takes to make it all happen. We’ve built round to make sure small businesses don’t just survive but have access to the financial tools they need to truly thrive.

How Round Works: Financial Growth Can be Simple

Imagine this: you’re accepting digital payments, and rather than funds simply sitting idle in your payment app, they automatically go into an interest-bearing business checking account. At round, our Alpha product does exactly that. We make it easy for small business owners to grow their money without lifting a finger.

For micro-businesses, cash flow isn’t just important — it’s everything. The more we can help small businesses make the right financial moves, the more stability they have to weather challenges and grow with confidence. With round, small business owners can start seeing every transaction as an opportunity for growth. Whether it’s funds from a payment going directly into a high-yield account or using our simple financial guidance to make smarter decisions, they’re in control of their money and their future.

Why You Should Care

Our impact is immediate and meaningful, empowering small businesses at the ground level. Our model isn’t just about facilitating transactions; it’s about creating long-term financial empowerment. With round, every dollar a small business earns is an opportunity to grow and expand, driving resilience and sustainability.

We’re building more than a fintech tool. We’re building confidence, resilience, and financial independence for small businesses, and we’re excited to partner with those who believe in this mission.

Here’s the bottom line: With round, every dollar counts. Every transaction is an opportunity. And every small business owner we serve is one step closer to achieving their goals and securing a brighter financial future.

Are you ready to make every dollar work as hard as you do? Join our waitlist to learn more about our upcoming Alpha launch, where small businesses are empowered, one transaction at a time.

Financial products that help small businesses grow... what? like it's hard?