From visibility to velocity: how DRUO is redefining global payments at 4YFN

What if businesses could accept payments directly from bank accounts; instantly, securely, and at near-zero cost?

That’s exactly the vision behind DRUO, a fast-growing fintech startup building a global direct-debit payment network designed to remove friction, reduce fees and simplify cross-border commerce.

In a world where traditional payment systems rely on layers of intermediaries, DRUO is taking a radically different approach: connecting directly with financial institutions to power seamless bank-to-bank payments at scale. 

And for the DRUO team, a key inflection point in that journey came at 4YFN 2026.

4YFN 2026: where payment innovation meets global opportunity

For startups building next-generation infrastructure, growth is about technology and access to the right ecosystem.

That’s why DRUO stepped onto the stage at 4YFN26, participating in the 4YFN Awards and earning a place among the Top 20 most promising Fintech startups globally. 

Their goal was clear:

• Showcase a new model for global payments
• Validate demand for direct-from-bank payment solutions
• Connect with partners shaping the future of fintech

And within just a few days, the impact was immediate. At an event built to bring together founders, investors, corporates and financial institutions, DRUO found itself at the centre of conversations about the future of payments.

“4YFN was a game-changing event for our business. Our mission to create a world where payments are free gained international exposure. In just a few days, we met investors, partners and a dozen new clients. We will definitely come back.”
— Alejandro Pinzón, Founder & CEO at DRUO 

Building a payment network without intermediaries

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Globally, the shift toward account-to-account (A2A) payments, real-time payments, and low-cost payment infrastructure is accelerating. But many businesses are still tied to legacy systems.

DRUO’s solution addresses that gap directly.

By enabling merchants to:

• Accept payments straight from bank accounts
• Avoid complex payment gateways and intermediaries
• Reduce transaction fees to a fraction of traditional methods

the company is positioning itself within one of fintech’s most important growth areas: direct-debit and bank-to-bank payments innovation. 

At 4YFN, this vision resonated strongly across the ecosystem: from fintech partners to enterprise players exploring more efficient payment models.

From exposure to real business impact

For many startups, events drive awareness.

For DRUO, 4YFN delivered something more tangible: direct commercial results.

Following their participation, the company:

• Acquired 12 new clients through conversations started at the event 
• Expanded visibility across the global fintech and payments ecosystem 
• Accelerated discussions with merchants, financial institutions and infrastructure partners

Beyond immediate traction, 4YFN also strengthened DRUO’s positioning as a company building core payment infrastructure for global commerce, not just another fintech app.

This is where the real value of ecosystem events becomes clear:
the right conversations can quickly translate into revenue, partnerships and long-term growth.

Scaling a global payments vision

What makes DRUO’s trajectory particularly compelling is the scale they’re already operating at, even with minimal marketing investment.

Today, the company:

• Serves more than 1.5 million users globally 
• Connects over 10,000 financial institutions 
• Powers merchants across 13+ industries including telecom, insurance and SaaS
• Continues to grow roughly 3x year over year 

This growth reflects a broader market shift: businesses are actively searching for lower-cost, more efficient alternatives to card-based payment systems.

DRUO is tapping directly into that demand by building infrastructure designed for scale, interoperability and global reach.

What comes next: building the backbone of global commerce

Looking ahead, DRUO’s ambition is bold, but grounded in a clear market need.

The company is working towards:

• Becoming a preferred global payment provider
• Reaching €10 billion in total payment volume
• Helping businesses save up to 90% in processing fees 

At the same time, its proprietary network aims to:

• Cover the majority of bank accounts across 85% of G20 markets 
• Enable cross-border, low-cost payments at scale
• Reduce operational friction while expanding financial inclusion

The vision is simple but transformative: to create a global payments infrastructure where cost, access and complexity are no longer barriers.

Why startups like DRUO choose 4YFN

DRUO’s story reflects a broader trend seen across the 4YFN ecosystem.

For high-growth startups, events like 4YFN are not just about visibility, they are about:

• Customer acquisition
• Strategic partnerships
• Market validation
• Acceleration into new geographies

In DRUO’s case, a few days at 4YFN translated into:

• New clients
• Stronger positioning
• Faster expansion momentum

And most importantly, proof that their model is resonating globally.

Ready to scale your startup journey?

If you’re building in fintech, payments, SaaS or deep tech, DRUO’s journey highlights what’s possible when innovation meets the right ecosystem.

4YFN is where startups connect with capital, partners and global opportunities, all in one place.

👉 Stay tuned for the 4YFN Awards and be part of the next wave of success stories.