Pliant
Pliant is a Berlin-based B2B payments platform that helps companies manage spending and cash flow through credit cards and APIs. It has raised $225M, most recently in a Series B round in April 2025, and employs 353 people.
The growth story
Pliant grew from 19 to 353 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $225M along the way, most recently a Series B in April 2025.
About
Pliant sells a modular platform that lets businesses customize payment workflows, particularly in industries like travel and fleet management. Its API-first approach helps companies automate spending, extend credit lines, and integrate payments into their financial systems.
The company has grown rapidly since its 2020 founding, reaching a $225M total funding milestone with its Series B round in 2025. Its 353-person team suggests significant scaling, though exact growth rates are unclear.
Founders and leadership
Sales is Pliant's largest function with 52 employees, indicating a strong focus on customer acquisition. The company is led by a team likely experienced in fintech, given its Berlin base and investor backing from firms like Commerzbank and Illuminate Financial.
The Pliant org chart
Malte Rau (CEO / Co-Founder) leads 58 mapped leaders with 9 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 72 (+71% YoY), Business Development 50 (+35% YoY), Finance 39 (+50% YoY), Operations 38 (+46% YoY), Sales 25 (+108% YoY), Legal 17 (+70% YoY).
Talent flow
Pliant recruits heavily from fintech peers, with Delivery Hero and Solaris SE being its top talent sources at 9 hires each. Alumni often move to other fintechs like become.1 and ready2order, though some transition to e-commerce firms like Zalando.
Most common previous employers of Pliant staff: Delivery Hero (9), Solaris SE (9), American Express (7), Revolut (7), Accenture (6), Amazon (6). Former Pliant employees most often moved to become.1 (3), ready2order (2), Zalando (2), H&M (1), Wunderland Capital (1), Wolt (1).
Alumni worth knowing
The Pliant mafia
Pliant alumni have founded at least 6 companies, including Good Sign (34 staff) and Prequel Ventures (15 staff). This suggests a strong entrepreneurial culture among former employees.
6Paula Ranttila, was Chief Executive Officer, Finland until 2025Markus Börner, was Pre-Seed Investor until 2021Hovhannes H., was Financial Planning and Analysis Manager until 2025Melda Turkay CAMS ACSI CertPCM MLIBF, was Nominated Officer (UK) until 2025Artem Kalantai, was Mobile Developer until 2026Nicolai Petrovic, was Senior Performance Marketing Manager until 2022Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 73% direct, 12% search, 7% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Pliant: Project Management (110), Microsoft Office (101), Teamwork (91), Microsoft Excel (89), Communication (86), English (84), Leadership (81), Management (77).
Where the team actually sits
Pliant people are concentrated in Berlin, Germany (85), England, United Kingdom (16), Berlin Metropolitan Area (15), Germany (13). 4 offices on record.
Search footprint
Pliant attracts about 4,084 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $29K a month if bought through ads. It gained 328 ranking keywords and lost 262 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 3.20 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.30 / 5
- Senior management
- 2.90 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 3.20 / 5
Frequently asked
Pliant has 353 employees as of September 2026.
Pliant has raised $225M in total, most recently a Series B round in April 2025.
Pliant was founded in 2020 by Malte Rau, Fabian Terner.
Malte Rau (CEO / Co-Founder) sits at the top of Pliant's reporting structure, with 9 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Pliant staff are Delivery Hero (9 people), Solaris SE (9 people), American Express (7 people).
Former Pliant employees most often move to become.1 (3), ready2order (2), Zalando (2).
At least 6 companies have a founder who previously worked at Pliant, including Good Sign, Prequel Ventures, smart.
Pliant attracts about 4,084 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $29K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Pliant staff are Project Management, Microsoft Office, Teamwork, Microsoft Excel, Communication.
Pliant staff are concentrated in Berlin, Germany (85), England, United Kingdom (16), Berlin Metropolitan Area (15).
Pliant has about 72 people in Engineering, up 71% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Pliant has about 50 people in Business Development, up 35% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 235 current and 155 former Pliant profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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