French fintech Libeo enters UK market to tackle SME payment inefficiencies - Trade Treasury Payments

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French fintech Libeo enters UK market to tackle SME payment inefficiencies

French B2B payments firm Libeo has announced its entry into the UK market, targeting the digitally advanced yet structurally underpenetrated small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) segment.

Already operating across France and mainland Europe, Libeo plans to improve business-to-business payments in the UK by combining accounts payable and receivable (AP/AR) capabilities and one-click payment functionality across major payment rails.

The expansion is being led by Glen Foster, newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Northern Europe. 

Foster said, “I’ve always been passionate about SMEs and accountants and bookkeepers, and Libeo gives me the opportunity to continue to support both, with great technology. I know all too well the challenges with paying and getting paid, and the impact that can have on a business owner. Equally, I’ve seen over the last 15 years how accountants specifically have widened their services to incorporate things such as supplier payments for clients, giving clients the time back to focus on running successful businesses.”

While the UK is widely regarded as Europe’s most developed fintech market from a consumer standpoint, Libeo points to a considerable lag in SME adoption. According to internal figures, nearly half of UK businesses still use paper cheques to pay suppliers, a practice largely phased out in comparable markets.

Libeo’s platform embeds payment functionality directly within a business’s existing workflows, removing the need for manual reconciliation or banking middleware. The company aims to deliver a B2C-style user experience for B2B payment operations, without compromising on compliance or control.

In B2B fintech today, specialised providers are challenging legacy infrastructure by offering modular, user-first alternatives, and Libeo’s entry into the UK adds further competitive pressure to incumbents.

Founded in 2019, Libeo has been backed by European venture capital and scaled on the continent, aided by product integrations and a clear focus on customer experience. As part of its UK expansion strategy, the firm is targeting the inefficiencies that SMEs feel most acutely, starting with payments.

Whether Libeo’s offer will resonate in a market with established players remains to be seen. The firm appears to be betting that a segment still reliant on manual processes is ripe for intervention.