Updated:
Vitesse
Vitesse, founded in 2014 by Phil McGriskin and Paul Townsend, has processed over £15B in insurance claim funds as a regulated treasury and payments...
Vitesse
Vitesse was founded in 2014 by Phil McGriskin and Paul Townsend after the pair sold their previous payments company, Envoy Services, to Worldpay in 2011. The firm initially operated as a cross-border B2B payments provider. In 2021, Vitesse pivoted entirely to insurance, targeting a structural gap: carriers, brokers, MGAs, and reinsurers moving billions in premiums and claims without real-time treasury visibility or fund-level controls. The platform functions as a regulated treasury and payments layer built specifically for insurance fund flows. Vitesse centralizes claim funds, automates co-underwriter funding, and executes cross-border payouts in over 180 countries and currencies. The firm reports more than 550 connected insurance partners on its network. Products include safeguarded claim-funds management, automated premium collection, digital cashbooks for reconciliation, and an accelerated settlement solution developed in partnership with Lloyd's of London and LIMOSS called FCP. Vitesse is regulated as an e-money institution by the FCA in the UK, as a payment institution by DNB in the Netherlands, and as a limited-purpose trust company by the NYDFS in the United States. The company operates from London, Rotterdam, and New York. In 2022, Vitesse attracted a strategic growth investment from KKR, a minority stake that signaled institutional backing for its insurance-infrastructure thesis. The total processed payment volume of more than £15B reflects cumulative throughput, not assets under management. The firm earns revenue through payment and treasury service fees rather than by managing discretionary capital. Vitesse occupies a narrow structural lane: it is not a software vendor, an insurer, or a traditional asset manager. Its regulatory licenses across three jurisdictions allow it to hold and move client money as a principal, a posture that requires capital adequacy, safeguarding, and direct regulatory supervision. This architecture distinguishes it from pure SaaS platforms that layer on top of third-party banks, and it positions Vitesse as a piece of market infrastructure rather than a vertical service provider.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
9th Floor, 107 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DN, United Kingdom
Additional offices
Rotterdam, Netherlands · New York, NY, United States
Principals
Phil McGriskin
Co-Founder
Paul Townsend
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Vitesse and what was their prior exit?
Vitesse was founded in 2014 by Phil McGriskin and Paul Townsend. The two had previously built Envoy Services, a cross-border payments business, which was acquired by Worldpay in 2011. That exit provided both the capital and the operational experience that shaped Vitesse's early product direction.
Is Vitesse an asset manager or a fintech platform?
Vitesse is a regulated treasury and payments platform, not an asset manager. It moves and safeguards client money under e-money and trust-company licenses from the FCA, DNB, and NYDFS. The firm reports cumulative payment processing volume of over £15B but does not manage discretionary investment portfolios.
How does Vitesse's relationship with Lloyd's of London work?
Vitesse partnered with Lloyd's of London and LIMOSS to build FCP, an accelerated claims-settlement solution designed to reduce the loss funds historically trapped in the Lloyd's marketplace. The product streamlines the flow of claims payments between syndicates, brokers, and delegated authorities operating within the Lloyd's framework.
Who are Vitesse's investors?
KKR acquired a minority stake in Vitesse in 2022 through a strategic growth investment. The transaction provided capital to expand the platform's insurance network and geographic reach. Vitesse has not disclosed additional institutional investors.
What regulatory licenses does Vitesse hold?
Vitesse holds three principal regulatory licenses: it operates as an Electronic Money Institution under FCA reference 900646 in the UK, a Payment Institution under DNB supervision (PSD2) in the Netherlands, and a limited-purpose trust company chartered by the New York State Department of Financial Services in the United States. These licenses allow Vitesse to hold and move client funds as a principal rather than relying exclusively on third-party banking partners.
How many partners are connected to Vitesse's network?
Vitesse reports that more than 550 insurance carriers, MGAs, TPAs, and brokers are connected to its platform. These partners operate on shared infrastructure, moving funds across 180-plus countries and currencies.
Does Vitesse target any segments beyond insurance?
Since 2021, Vitesse has focused exclusively on the insurance ecosystem. The firm does not currently promote products for non-insurance treasury or payment use cases. Its dedicated insurance solutions cover claims funds management, premium collection, co-underwriter funding, and supplier payments.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: