Karta Raises $140M in Debt and Equity Funding Round

The round also saw participation from Illuminate, Canary, and Clocktower Ventures.

The company plans to use the funds to increase its underwriting capacity, expand integrations with banking partners, strengthen customer support, and speed up the acquisition of travelers across global routes.

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Many international travelers have strong credit histories in their home countries, but they are still considered “credit invisible” in the United States. As a result, they often rely on debit cards, prepaid cards or local credit cards that charge high foreign exchange fees when they travel. Even with financial assets, they do not get access to meaningful credit limits, premium benefits, or proper credit recognition in the U.S.

Karta is a premium credit card designed to solve this problem for international travelers visiting the U.S. It is offered through more than 80 private banks and wealth managers. Approval takes just minutes and does not require an SSN or ITIN, with credit limits of up to $200,000. The card offers Visa premium benefits, including zero FX fees, rewards points, and access to exclusive events.

Karta offers a 24/7 AI concierge available through WhatsApp. It can browse, make calls, and send emails, and it can also create one-time virtual cards to handle purchases for customers, including difficult bookings like hotels and restaurant reservations.

For example, the concierge can call airlines to change flights, dispute charges, reschedule bookings, and manage payments. Karta handles everything end-to-end, with real-time updates for every purchase and refund.

They hired Fernando Dalceggio, former Head of Acquisition and New Business Development at AMEX International Dollar Cards (IDC), to help build Karta. He spent nearly 25 years at AMEX IDC, leading multinational teams and managing service portfolios for a diverse global customer base.

“In the last several months, we’ve seen explosive growth,” said Freddy Juez. “We set out to build the ultimate tech-forward credit card for the global traveler, and are thrilled to see the rapid increase in private banks working with us to offer this card to clients. We also appreciate the support of our partners and investors who will help Karta expand our reach and AI offering that makes travel and spending convenient and frictionless for users.”

“Karta’s unique product offering has quickly earned the trust of dozens of the world’s largest financial institutions,” said Mike Giampapa, General Partner of Galaxy Ventures. “The company has built an efficient distribution model targeting a high-value and engaged customer base, a combination that creates the foundation for a strong business.”

About Karta

Founded in 2022 by Freddy Juez, Karta is a U.S.-issued credit card designed for global travelers. By working with more than 80 partner banks, the company is able to reach customers across Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Karta also offers a concierge-led experience with 24/7 multilingual support through WhatsApp, combining technology with personalized service to support international customers with cross-border lifestyles.

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