Sticky Connectons

What Sticky Connectons does

Sticky Connections is a UK-based payments technology company, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Manchester, that operates a unified payment platform combining e-commerce checkout, contactless NFC sticker payments, and embedded ERP/CRM integrations via a single API. Its core offering is a multi-processor payment platform that connects to Worldpay, Barclaycard, Global Payments, Elavon, and Stripe through one integration, with built-in tokenisation, smart routing, mobile wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay), multi-currency and multi-entity processing, pre-authorisation, recurring billing, and Open Banking instant debit. The distinctive hardware element is 'stickies' — NFC-based contactless stickers that enable tap-to-pay at physical venues with a stated target of sub-10-second transactions, used in retail, gaming, and hospitality.

The product surface extends to a Virtual Terminal for MOTO/phone payments, Token Vault for PCI-compliant card storage, Pay by Link across email/SMS/WhatsApp/Xero, QR code in-person payments via the Sticky Pay mobile app, and a Platform Widget embedded directly into ERP/CRM/accounting screens (notably Xero) to take payments without changing the host workflow. Distribution is primarily channel-led: Worldpay, Barclaycard, Global Payments, and Elavon integrate and resell the platform, Compass Group distributes it across hospitality operations, and ASK Global Solutions (July 2025) deploys it in UK gaming venues. A developer-grade REST API, GitHub-hosted documentation, and a WooCommerce plugin support self-serve adoption. The platform has routed over $1B in payment volume and is used by thousands of merchants ranging from major enterprises to startups.

Sticky monetises primarily through transaction fees on payments processed, supplemented by subscription/recurring revenue on Virtual Terminal and Platform Widget and licensing/API royalties on developer integrations. No public pricing tiers are disclosed. The company has raised approximately $2M+ in venture funding, with a £1.5M seed round in May 2023 led by Praetura Ventures alongside Cornerstone VC and SFC Capital. Recent product releases (mid-2025 through mid-2026) have added payouts, analytics, a customers view, AI-assisted flow building ('Magic AI'), and an experimental conversational Chat flow step, signalling continued platform investment on a 1-10 person team.

Name

Sticky Connectons

Legal name

Sticky Connections [PCL]

Website

https://sticky.to

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sticky Connections is a Manchester-based payments platform that routes transactions across Worldpay, Barclaycard, Global Payments, Elavon, and Stripe via a single API, combines NFC contactless stickers with embedded ERP/CRM payment widgets, and serves merchants in retail, hospitality, gaming, and booking platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing Software

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Payment Gateways & API Connectivity (FSAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB), POS, SoftPOS & In-Person Acceptance Infrastructure (FSAGABAO), Developer Tooling & SDKs for Payments (Gateway Tooling) (FSAMACAL), QR Code Payments Wallets (FSAMAEAC), Open Banking APIs & Connectivity (FSAMAFAA)

Keywords

• Unified payments platform
• Contactless payment processing
• Payment API integration
• NFC sticker payments
• Embedded checkout solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Payment Processing & Transaction Fees: Fees charged on payment transactions processed through the platform. Supports one-off payments, subscription plans, and pre-authorisation/delayed capture. Multi-currency support across GBP, USD, EUR and other currencies.
2. Virtual Terminal: Secure card payments over the phone via browser-based interface. Supports recurring payments, card storage via Token Vault, custom fields, and staff permissions.
3. Token Vault: PCI-compliant card detail storage enabling repeat transactions and one-click payments. Revenue from per-transaction fees on tokenised payments.
4. Pay by Link: Send instant, secure payment links via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or Xero invoice. Multi-currency support with custom branding, live tracking, and link management.
5. Platform Widget (Embedded Payments): Embedded card payments inside ERP, CRM or accounting workflows without integrations or system changes. Workflow-scoped and designed for back-office merchant use.
6. Website Payment Gateway: PCI-compliant online payment gateway with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amex support. Redirect or embedded pop-over checkout with full customisation, mobile SDK, and recurring payments.
7. QR Code In-Person Payments: Turn any device into a card machine using secure QR code payments via the Sticky Pay app on iOS or Android. Includes Apple Pay, Google Pay, dashboard sync, and recurring payments.
8. Developer Licensing / API Access: Framework-agnostic API licensing for booking platforms and app developers. No SDK or dependencies required. Revenue from transaction fees on payments routed through the platform.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sticky Connections is a unified payment platform that combines e-commerce journeys, contactless NFC payments, and AI-powered ERP/CRM integrations into a single developer-friendly API. The platform connects merchants to multiple payment processors (Worldpay, Barclaycard, Global Payments, Elavon, Stripe) via one integration, supporting tokenisation, recurring billing, Open Banking, pay-by-link, virtual terminal, in-person QR payments and physical NFC contactless stickers that target sub-10-second offline interactions.

Product overview

Sticky Connections is a unified payment platform that combines e-commerce journeys, contactless NFC payments, and AI-powered integrations into one flexible system. The core platform is built around a REST API and supports multiple integration methods including widgets, redirects, and iframe embeds. The product portfolio includes: Multi-Currency Pay by Link for sending payment links via multiple channels; Virtual Terminal for phone/MOTO transactions; Token Vault for PCI-compliant card storage; Recurring Payments/Subscriptions for automated billing; Platform Widget for embedding in ERP/CRM workflows; Website Payment Gateway for online checkout; QR Code In-Person Payments via Sticky Pay mobile app; and Real-Time Reporting & Analytics. The platform integrates natively with Xero accounting and offers an official WooCommerce plugin. Contactless NFC stickers enable tap-to-pay at physical venues targeting under 10-second transaction times. The company powers payments infrastructure for major processors including Worldpay, Barclaycard, Global Payments, and Elavon, with over $1B in routed payment volume.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pay by Link Send instant, secure payment links via email, SMS, WhatsApp or Xero invoice. Supports multi-currency acceptance, recurring payments, live tracking, custom branding and customer detail collection, and includes a live map showing customer location in real time.
• Virtual Terminal Browser-based card payment terminal for phone or Mail Order Telephone Order (MOTO) transactions. Includes branded e-receipts, recurring payments, Token Vault card storage, custom fields and staff permission controls for back-office merchants.
• Token Vault PCI-compliant secure card detail storage system that encrypts and tokenises cards for one-click repeat payments, card verification for later charging, customer and card search, and integration with Pay by Link, Virtual Terminal and QR code payments.
• Recurring Payments, Subscriptions and Instalments Automated recurring billing across Virtual Terminal, Pay by Link, website widgets, QR code POS and the online gateway. Supports custom schedules, customer consent capture, tokenised card storage, branded notifications and editable recurring payments.
• Platform Widget (Embedded Payments) Embedded card payments inside ERP, CRM or accounting workflows without integrations or system changes. Activates when staff click 'Take Payment', reads only required fields and uses an encrypted PCI-scoped architecture designed for back-office merchant use.
• Website Payment Gateway Fully customisable, PCI-compliant online payment gateway. Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amex with redirect or embedded pop-over checkout, customisable payment page, on-device tokenisation, mobile SDKs for iOS and Android, and multi-currency capabilities.
• QR Code In-Person Payments (Sticky Pay) Turn any device into a card machine via secure QR code payments through the Sticky Pay app on iOS and Android. Customers scan a QR code to open a secure payment screen supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay and major cards, with dashboard sync, custom branding, receipts and recurring payments.
• Contactless NFC Stickers (Stickies) NFC-enabled contactless stickers ('stickies') that enable tap-to-pay functionality at physical locations. Monitors physical space engagement and payment efficiency, transforming offline interaction times to under 10 seconds across gaming, hospitality and retail venues without dedicated hardware.
• Developer API and Integration Platform Framework- and language-agnostic REST API for embedding payment journeys into apps and booking platforms. Works in Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), Flutter, React Native or any modern framework with no SDK or dependencies required, supporting multiple payment methods including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Pay by Bank (Open Banking).
• WooCommerce Plugin Official WordPress/WooCommerce integration plugin for WordPress-based e-commerce sites. Supports popup (inline on checkout page) or redirect checkout modes and requires Apple Pay and Google Pay domain registration for popup mode.
• Real-Time Reporting and Analytics Dashboard Central dashboard for monitoring transactions, locations and payment methods in real time. Includes user management, location and staff tracking, customisable layouts, API and CSV export, sub-account setup, advanced logic and rules, settlement visibility, card type blocking and tax handling.
• Pay by Bank or Card (Hybrid Checkout) Hybrid checkout allowing customers to choose between Open Banking or card payments. Supports reference capture and instant confirmation, and works across QR payments, Pay by Link and website checkouts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transform offline interaction times to under 10 seconds using NFC-based contactless stickers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability2 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ASK Global SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025Partnership to deploy contactless NFC sticker payment solutions across UK gaming and hospitality venues, enabling quick, hardware-free transactions supporting Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• WorldpayflagshipTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated and distributed by Worldpay. The platform connects to Worldpay as a payment processor alongside Barclaycard, Global Payments, and Elavon via a unified API.
• BarclaycardflagshipTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated and distributed by Barclaycard. Part of the multi-processor payment routing strategy enabling merchants to connect to multiple acquirers through a single integration.
• Global PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated and distributed by Global Payments as one of the supported payment processors accessible via the unified Sticky Connections API.
• ElavoncoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated and distributed by Elavon as a supported payment processor in the platform's multi-processor routing ecosystem.
• Compass GroupflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted and distributed by Compass Group, a major global catering and hospitality company, delivering payment solutions to thousands of merchants.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe is available as a payment provider option within the Sticky Connections platform. Documentation available for setting up Stripe webhook integration at sticky.to/v2/payhook/GATEWAY_STRIPE.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationNative integration with Xero accounting software. Adds a 'Pay Now' button to Xero invoices enabling card and bank payments directly from the invoice screen with real-time matching and reduced reconciliation.
• WooCommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial WooCommerce plugin (v1.4) available for WordPress e-commerce sites, supporting popup or redirect checkout modes with Apple Pay and Google Pay domain registration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adyen: Adyen is a global payment platform that processes payments end-to-end across multiple acquirers and methods for enterprise merchants. Sticky's unified multi-processor API and smart routing target the same enterprise orchestration use case Adyen dominates, but at a far smaller scale.
• Gr4vy: Gr4vy is a cloud payment orchestration platform that lets merchants optimise routing across multiple processors via a single API. It is a direct competitor to Sticky's multi-processor orchestration and smart-routing value proposition.
• Cellpoint Digital: Cellpoint Digital offers a payment orchestration platform that lets merchants and travel companies route transactions across multiple acquirers and payment methods. Comparable to Sticky in its multi-processor orchestration and white-label capabilities.
• PPRO: PPRO is a payments orchestration platform that connects merchants and PSPs to a wide range of local and global payment methods through a single integration. Directly comparable to Sticky's unified multi-processor API.
• Primer: Primer is a payments orchestration platform that lets merchants route, retry and process transactions across multiple processors via a single integration. It is the closest direct competitor to Sticky's unified multi-processor, developer-friendly API.

Broad incumbents

• SumUp: SumUp provides mobile card readers and POS solutions for SMBs and integrates with Sticky via webhooks. Comparable as a hardware-light in-person payments provider competing for the same SME and hospitality merchants.
• Stripe: Stripe is a global payments platform offering gateway, processing, Connect orchestration and a developer-first API. Sticky explicitly supports Stripe as a routing option and targets the same developer-led, API-first payments niche but with a multi-processor / embedding-in-ERP focus.'
• Checkout.com: Checkout.com is a global payments processor and gateway offering unified payment acceptance, smart routing and developer tools. Like Sticky it targets enterprise merchants with multi-acquirer flexibility but operates at much greater scale.
• Worldpay: Worldpay is a global merchant acquirer and one of Sticky's flagship distribution partners. It is a peer in the sense of providing payment processing infrastructure, but is also a partner that embeds Sticky into its merchant base rather than a direct head-to-head competitor.
• Zettle (Block): Zettle (owned by Block) provides mobile POS hardware and software for SMBs and hospitality, competing in the same hardware-free contactless / mobile-first acceptance space as Sticky's NFC stickers and QR in-person payments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Stickyto/sticky-docs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stickyto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sticky Connectons