The Card Network
The Card Network is an Australian fintech that aggregates 17-66+ retail brands onto 14 themed prepaid gift cards for individual and corporate purchasers, sold through Coles, Woolworths, Target, Big W, loyalty programs, and direct e-commerce storefronts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSouth Yarra, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Card Network does
The Card Network (legal entity TCN Group Pty Ltd) is an Australian fintech founded in 2019 by Nick Sims and Richard Hewitt, operating a multi-brand gift card aggregation platform. It aggregates 17-66+ retail brands onto each of 14 themed prepaid cards organised by recipient category (Her, Him, Active, Shop, Home, Kids, Teen, Baby, Love, Party, Mum, Dad, general Gift, and Online). The underlying technology stack combines eftpos prepaid cards issued by Vii Pty Ltd for in-store redemption at physical retail, with digital Mastercard prepaid cards issued by EML Payment Solutions Limited for online redemption and Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay compatibility. E-commerce storefronts (thecardnetwork.com.au and card.gift) run on Shopify, while payment processing and card-issuance infrastructure operate under the Incomm Payments umbrella.
The company serves two primary customer segments: individual consumers purchasing gift cards for personal gifting occasions (birthdays, Christmas, Mother's and Father's Day, anniversaries, baby showers, Secret Santa), and corporate clients buying bulk cards for employee rewards, client gifts, and acquisition programmes. Pricing is at face value with no fees for end consumers (denominations $25-$500), bulk discounts for corporate purchasers, and a 2.99% FX conversion fee on Mastercard prepaid cards for non-AUD transactions. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via owned e-commerce storefronts and an iOS/Android app with Apple Wallet support, combined with extensive third-party physical retail shelf placement across Coles, Woolworths, Target, and Big W (3,400+ Australian outlets), plus loyalty-catalogue exposure through Flybuys and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
The Card Network is privately held, with no disclosed institutional funding rounds, parent company, or subsidiaries. Revenue figures, GMV, and card-volume metrics are not publicly disclosed. The company is Australian-domiciled only and has no stated international expansion outside its digital storefronts.
The Card Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Card Network
- Legal name
- TCN Group Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://thecardnetwork.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Card Network is an Australian fintech that aggregates 17-66+ retail brands onto 14 themed prepaid gift cards for individual and corporate purchasers, sold through Coles, Woolworths, Target, Big W, loyalty programs, and direct e-commerce storefronts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Card Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gift Card Aggregation Services
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594), Credit Card Issuing (52221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Merchant / Shopping Mall Gift Cards (FSAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Goods & Gift Card Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAJ), Private-Label & Store Card Schemes (FSAMAAAE), Open-Loop Prepaid Cards (Network-Branded) (FSAMANAA), Prepaid, Gift Cards & Voucher-Based Payments (MPAEALAE)
Keywords
Where The Card Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Yarra
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Card Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gift Card Sales (Face Value): TCN sells gift cards at face value. Cards are available in denominations ranging from $25 to $500 depending on the card type and purchase channel. Revenue is generated on the face value of cards sold, with the company earning a margin from retail partners or through direct sales.
- Corporate Bulk Orders: Bulk purchase of gift cards by corporate clients for employee rewards, client gifts, competition prizes, and acquisition programs. Discounts apply on bulk orders. Revenue is generated on the aggregate face value of bulk orders placed by businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Gift Cards (in-store) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Gift Cards (online) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Bulk Orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels11 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Card Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Card Network (TCN) sells themed multi-brand prepaid gift cards that aggregate 17 to 66+ curated Australian retail brands onto a single card, available in 14 themed variants (Gift, Her, Him, Active, Shop, Home, Kids, Teen, Baby, Love, Party, Mum, Dad, Online). Cards are issued as eftpos prepaid physical cards (by Vii Pty Ltd) and Mastercard prepaid digital cards (by EML Payment Solutions Limited) supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, and are sold via 3,400+ retail locations and direct e-commerce storefronts with a corporate bulk-order program.
Product overview
The Card Network (TCN) is an Australian fintech company offering a portfolio of branded gift card products that aggregate multiple retail partners onto single prepaid cards. The product line consists of 14 distinct gift card brands organized by recipient category (Her, Him, Active, Shop, Home, Kids, Teen, Baby, Love, Party, Mum, Dad, general Gift, and Online). Each card type provides access to a curated network of Australian retail brands within that category—from fashion and beauty to electronics and home goods. Both physical eftpos-enabled cards (issued by Vii Pty Ltd) and digital Mastercard prepaid cards (issued by EML Payment Solutions) are available. Cards are sold through major Australian retailers (Coles, Woolworths, Target, Big W) and the company's online store, with a corporate bulk ordering program for business customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Gift Card Flagship themed gift card providing access to over 42 participating Australian retail brands across fashion, electronics, beauty, and lifestyle. Redeemable in-store via eftpos or online; available in physical form at retail partners and digital form online.
- The Her Card Themed gift card focused on women's fashion, footwear, accessories, and beauty brands. Provides access to over 66 participating retailers including Kookai, SHEIN, Ghanda, Forever New, and Calvin Klein.
- The Him Card Themed gift card targeted at men's fashion and lifestyle. Covers over 53 brands including Drummond Golf, Xbox, Hype DC, Culture Kings, and Elite Eleven. Redeemable in-store or online.
- The Active Card Themed gift card for sports, outdoor, and active lifestyle brands. Includes over 36 retailers such as Stylerunner, Decathlon, City Beach, The Athlete's Foot, Quiksilver, and Surf Dive n Ski.
- The Shop Card General shopping themed gift card offering access to over 52 fashion and lifestyle brands, including Peter Alexander, Jay Jays, Dotti, TK Maxx, Typo, Tommy Hilfiger, and Bonds.
- The Home Card Themed gift card for home and furniture retailers. Covers over 24 brands including Adairs, Provincial Home Living, The Good Guys, Sheridan, and Weber.
- The Kids Card Themed gift card for children's products and entertainment. Includes over 46 retailers such as Kidstuff, Smiggle, Toyworld, Zone Bowling, BOUNCE, and Roblox.
- The Teen Card Themed gift card for teenagers covering fashion, technology, and gaming. Features over 51 brands including PlayStation Store and online retailers. Available in $30 denomination.
- The Baby Card Themed gift card for baby and maternity products. Includes retailers such as Baby Bunting, Ripe Maternity, Thread The Word, The Trybe, and Mocka.
- The Love Card Themed gift card for beauty, skincare, and fashion. Covers over 39 brands. Available in $50 and $100 denominations.
- The Party Card Versatile themed gift card for fashion, books, tech, and experiences. Includes over 20 brands such as Foot Locker, Billabong, and Village Roadshow Theme Parks. Physical cards available in $25 and $50; digital cards from $20–$500.
- The Mum Card Themed gift card for mothers covering fashion, cosmetics, accessories, and books. Available at Woolworths and Coles in $50 and $100 denominations; online up to $500.
- The Dad Card Themed gift card for fathers covering threads, games, jackets, and sports gear. Available online with denominations up to $500.
- The Online Card Digital-only themed gift card for online retailers. Covers over 17 online-only brands. Can be swapped for e-vouchers at participating retailers or used in-store via eftpos.
- Corporate Gift Cards Bulk purchase program for businesses to reward employees or thank clients. Offers discounts on bulk orders. Both physical and digital gift cards available, handled via a dedicated corporate enquiry team.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cards are valid for 36 months from date of purchase, providing recipients with an extended window to use the gift.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Card Network
Customer profileNamed customers77 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Card Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
The Card Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vii Pty LtdcoreVii Pty Ltd ABN 83 619 963 263 is the card issuer for TCN's eftpos prepaid gift cards. Vii authorises The Card Network (TCN) Pty Ltd to distribute the eftpos prepaid gift cards. The Card is issued by Vii and TCN acts as the authorised distributor.
- EML Payment Solutions LimitedcoreEML Payment Solutions Limited (ABN 30 131 436 532, AFSL 404131) is the issuer of TCN's Mastercard prepaid gift cards. EML handles the issuance of digital Mastercard prepaid cards that support Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Bugcrowd Inc.minorBugcrowd Inc. is a third-party IT security service provider used by TCN for responsible disclosure and vulnerability management. Personal information may be shared with Bugcrowd as part of security investigation processes.
- Incomm (Incomm Payments)coreTCN operates under the Incomm Payments umbrella. The company uses Incomm for payment processing and backend infrastructure. Privacy enquiries are directed to [email protected]. Technical support is managed through [email protected].
- ColescoreColes and Coles Express are key retail distribution partners for TCN gift cards. Physical gift cards are sold at Coles stores nationwide. Cards are activated at point of sale upon purchase. Coles is also referenced on the GPCA (Gift Card Association) membership.
- WoolworthscoreWoolworths is a key retail distribution partner for TCN gift cards. Physical gift cards are sold at Woolworths stores nationwide. Cards are activated at point of sale upon purchase. Woolworths is a primary retail distribution channel across multiple card types.
- Target AustraliacoreTarget Australia is a retail distribution partner for TCN gift cards, selling physical gift cards across multiple themed card types including Gift Card, Active Card, Kids Card, Her Card, and Him Card.
- Big WcoreBig W is a retail distribution partner for TCN gift cards, selling physical gift cards for specific card types including Her Card and Him Card.
- FlybuyscoreFlybuys is a loyalty program partner through which TCN gift cards are available as rewards. Customers can redeem Flybuys points for TCN gift cards at experience.flybuys.com.au.
- Qantas Frequent FlyercoreQantas Frequent Flyer members can redeem their points for TCN gift cards through the Qantas Store online marketplace, making TCN cards accessible to the Qantas loyalty program customer base.
- Apple Inc. (Apple Pay)coreTCN digital gift cards (Mastercard prepaid) are integrated with Apple Pay. Cards can be added to Apple Wallet via the TCN App. The integration uses Device Account Numbers encrypted and stored in the Secure Element on the device, with one-time dynamic security codes for each transaction.
- Google LLC (Google Pay)coreTCN digital Mastercard prepaid gift cards are compatible with Google Pay, enabling contactless in-store and online payments on Android devices supporting Google Pay.
- Samsung (Samsung Pay)coreTCN digital Mastercard prepaid gift cards are compatible with Samsung Pay, enabling contactless in-store and online payments on Samsung devices supporting Samsung Pay.
- Shopify Inc.coreTCN uses Shopify to power its online stores (thecardnetwork.com.au and card.gift). Shopify handles the e-commerce platform, order processing, and customer transaction management.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Card Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Giftbit: Canadian digital gift card delivery platform focused on B2B bulk gifting for employee rewards and client appreciation. Comparable corporate gift card distribution model to TCN's corporate channel with theme-able digital gift cards across many retailer brands.
- Swile: French digital gifting and employee benefits platform with multi-brand card aggregation. Comparable model to TCN's corporate gifting and consumer multi-brand gift card offerings, but focused on European markets (France, others). TCN in Australia is the regional analogue.
Direct peers
- Tango Card: US-based digital gift card rewards platform focused on B2B corporate reward and incentive programs. Comparable to TCN's corporate bulk-order channel and aggregating digital gift cards for employee/client rewards via a SaaS-style platform.
- Gyft: Originally a digital gift card mobile platform (later folded into Fiserv/First Data gift card services). Competed directly in multi-brand digital gift card aggregation with comparable consumer-facing mobile redemption flows to TCN's card.gift offering.
- Eagle Eye / Eagle Eye Solutions: UK-based digital gift card and loyalty platform that powers multi-brand gift card issuance, distribution, and analytics for retailers and brands. Operates a similar aggregation-and-distribution model to TCN across multiple participating retailers, with broader enterprise tooling.
- Prezzee: Australia's largest digital multi-brand gift card platform, directly competing with TCN's card.gift offering. Prezzee aggregates hundreds of brands onto a single digital gift card sold to consumers and corporates in Australia. Both companies target similar themed gifting occasions and corporate bulk-order programs in Australia.
- InComm Payments: US-headquartered gift card and prepaid product company that is also explicitly listed as TCN's payment infrastructure and privacy partner. Operates comparable physical and digital gift card distribution through major retail chains, making it both a strategic partner and a comparable competitor in the prepaid aggregation space.
- National Gift Card (NGC): US-based multi-brand gift card program manager and prepaid provider serving both B2C and B2B incentive markets. Closely comparable to TCN in that it aggregates many retail brands into flexible card products and manages reward/incentive programs for corporate buyers.
Broad incumbents
- Blackhawk Network: One of the world's largest multi-brand gift card aggregators and program managers, serving retailers and consumers globally. Comparable business model to TCN (multi-brand prepaid gift cards), but at vastly larger scale and with global brand relationships that smaller aggregators like TCN do not have.
Regional players
- Qoin / SpendQoin: Australian multi-merchant gift card and stored-value program tied to local retail networks and corporate gifting. Regional peer offering comparable multi-brand card products in the same Australian market where TCN operates, with overlap in participating retailer ecosystems.
Market position
Strengths6 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Card Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe Card Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Card Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Card Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Card Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Card Network
What does The Card Network do?
The Card Network (TCN) sells themed multi-brand prepaid gift cards that aggregate 17 to 66+ curated Australian retail brands onto a single card, available in 14 themed variants (Gift, Her, Him, Active, Shop, Home, Kids, Teen, Baby, Love, Party, Mum, Dad, Online). Cards are issued as eftpos prepaid physical cards (by Vii Pty Ltd) and Mastercard prepaid digital cards (by EML Payment Solutions Limited) supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, and are sold via 3,400+ retail locations and direct e-commerce storefronts with a corporate bulk-order program.
Is The Card Network a public or private company?
The Card Network is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Card Network founded?
The Card Network was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Card Network based?
The Card Network is headquartered in South Yarra, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does The Card Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Gift Card Sales (Face Value) is the primary driver. The others are corporate Bulk Orders.
Who are The Card Network's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Giftbit and Swile. Direct peers are Tango Card, Gyft, Eagle Eye / Eagle Eye Solutions, Prezzee, InComm Payments and National Gift Card (NGC). Blackhawk Network is listed as a broad incumbent. Qoin / SpendQoin is listed as a regional player.
Does The Card Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Card Network.
What industry is The Card Network in?
The Card Network's product category is Gift Card Aggregation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMANAC, Multi-Merchant / Shopping Mall Gift Cards, with a secondary code of CRAFAAAJ, Digital Goods & Gift Card Generalist Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 45942.