We’re thrilled to share our investment in Clerq, which has raised a total of $21 million including the most recent Series A, led by our friends 645 Ventures, with continued participation from FirstMark — our third time investing in the company after leading both the pre-seed and seed rounds.

From the very beginning, we were struck by the Clerq team’s deep payments expertise and prepared mind for this opportunity. Even in our first meeting, it was clear that they had both a vision for how modern bank payments could transform high-value transactions and a grounded understanding of where others in the space had stumbled. That combination — clarity, industry experience, and customer empathy — made this an easy team to bet on from day one.

The Opportunity

While most industries have modernized their payment experiences, high-ticket categories — like automotive, power sports, home equipment, and B2B marketplaces — still rely on outdated methods like wires and checks. These processes are slow, manual, and expensive for both merchants and customers.

Clerq is changing that.

The company has built a payments platform purpose-built for large-value transactions, offering the conversion, simplicity, and speed of modern checkout — without the surcharges, risk, and friction of legacy systems. By leveraging modern account-to-account infrastructure, Clerq helps merchants complete high-value sales seamlessly and securely — moving faster, getting paid sooner, and delivering a better experience for customers.

Execution and Momentum

Since our initial investment, the Clerq team has executed where many others have failed. They’ve brought deep payments know-how to bear while maintaining an incredible focus on listening to customers — spending time across verticals to understand the real pain points that prevent progress in bank-based payments.That thoughtful approach has translated into real traction: Clerq now powers hundreds of millions of dollars in payment volume across some of the largest dealer groups, retailers, and transportation providers in the country.

The company has grown more than 6× over the past year — proof of both the strength of the product and the magnitude of the opportunity.

Looking Ahead

With this new round, Clerq will continue to deepen its capabilities and expand its team to meet growing demand across new high-ticket verticals. This is a company that’s executing exceptionally well — creating elegance out of the complexity of building at the intersection of technology, risk, and customer experience.

At FirstMark, we’re proud to have tripled down on Clerq. Beyond capital, this is a relationship built on genuine partnership and proximity. The team is based just a few blocks away from us here in New York, and we believe they’re building one of the next great New York fintech companies. We couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead and are honored to continue this journey with the entire Clerq team as they build the future of high-ticket payments.