CellPoint Digital raises $34M to build AI payments layer for airlines

What's the deal? CellPoint Digital, a London-based provider of an AI-led payments platform for airlines and hospitality, has raised $34 million in a late-stage venture round. Toscafund led the investment, managed through its private equity affiliate Penta CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.

What's the endgame? CellPoint is building Zenith, an AI decisioning layer that sits above existing payment orchestrators. It aims to turn payment data into automated commercial decisions — raising approval rates, cutting costs, and recovering lost revenue without forcing clients to overhaul their tech stacks.

Where's the money going? The company plans to accelerate product development across data and AI, add 50 new roles, and scale operations across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It serves airline and hospitality clients globally, led by group chief executive officer Kevin Murphy and chairman Michael Kelly.

The signal: US$22M round is a substantial late-stage raise for a payments specialist, ranking in the upper tier of deals by size. The bet reflects growing investor appetite for AI tools that squeeze more revenue from existing infrastructure rather than replacing it — a pragmatic pitch for cost-conscious airlines and hotels.

Image credit: CellPoint Digital