Knot API

About Knot API

Knot API provides a merchant connectivity platform centered around a developer-first application programming interface (API). The firm’s primary function is to simplify the process for consumers to update their card-on-file information across numerous online merchants. This directly addresses the cumbersome manual process consumers face when their payment card details change.

The company was established in 2020 by brothers Rory and Kieran O'Reilly, who serve as CEO and CTO, respectively. Their journey as serial entrepreneurs includes co-founding Gifs.com and Millions, a debit card program. The idea for Knot API stemmed from their experience with Millions, where they identified the significant challenge users faced in updating their saved payment methods. Both founders are Harvard dropouts and Thiel Fellows.

Knot API operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, primarily serving financial institutions, banks, and fintech companies. These clients embed Knot's software development kit (SDK) into their own applications, offering the card-switching service to their end-users. This helps the client institutions increase card adoption, boost user spending, and reduce customer churn by ensuring their card remains the default payment method. The business generates revenue through these partnerships, which include lucrative revenue-sharing models. Its clientele includes prominent names like American Express, PayPal, Current, and BILT.

The core product, CardSwitcher™, allows end-users to automatically update their card information across a wide network of merchants, including major players like Walmart, Netflix, and Amazon, with just a few lines of code integrated by the client. The platform has expanded its product suite to include MassSwitcher™ for simultaneous updates, TransactionLink™ for retrieving item-level transaction data, and tools for managing subscriptions. Knot emphasizes security and developer experience, providing detailed documentation for its SDKs available for web, iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter. The company has secured $13 million in total funding over two rounds, including a $10 million Series A led by Nava Ventures with participation from Amex Ventures and Plaid.