sources : https://www.40seas.com/

For SMEs involved in cross-border trade, shipping isn’t just about logistics it’s also a cash flow crisis waiting to happen. Once goods are shipped, suppliers often wait 30, 60, or even 90 days to get paid, locking up working capital at a critical time. Importers, on the other hand, must often pay large sums upfront or on shipment, straining their budgets before goods are even sold. Traditional banks and trade finance institutions are slow, paper-heavy, and rarely cater to the dynamic needs of smaller businesses. These payment bottlenecks create uncertainty, delay shipments, and hold back global expansion for SMEs.

40Seas is a fintech startup transforming cross-border trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through its AI-powered, embedded “Order Now, Pay Later” platform, it enables exporters to get paid immediately at shipment and importers to defer payments, effectively bridging the global trade finance gap. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, with offices spanning New York, Toronto, and Shenzhen, 40Seas aims to streamline global receivables, automate workflows, and modernize trade for SMEs. 

The concept behind 40Seas traces back to CEO Eyal Moldovan’s childhood experiences in his father’s retail store, where he witnessed firsthand the friction and complexity of trade financing reliant on paperwork, slow banking processes, and rigid payment terms. Fast-forward 25 years later, Moldovan co-founded 40Seas to offer a modern, digitized solution to a longstanding problem.

40Seas was founded by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in fintech, logistics, and trade finance, bringing together more than 60 years of combined experience. The founding team includes Eyal Moldovan, Co-founder and CEO, who previously served as General Manager at Pioneer and has extensive knowledge in global payments and SME financial services. Gil Shiff, Co-founder and COO, is an experienced entrepreneur who co-founded Convert Media, later acquired by Taboola, and brings operational and scaling expertise. Suki Gao, Co-founder and General Manager for China, has held senior roles at PayPal, Pioneer, and Ant Group, contributing a strong understanding of Asian markets and cross-border financial operations. Finally, Igor Zaks, Co-founder and Chief Risk Officer, has a background at Dell, Citibank, Daiwa, and Commerzbank, bringing critical expertise in credit risk, financing structures, and corporate banking. Together, they built 40Seas to modernize global trade financing for SMEs.

40Seas offers a next-generation trade finance platform designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in cross-border trade. At its core is the “Order Now, Pay Later” solution, which allows exporters to receive immediate payment once goods are shipped, while giving importers the flexibility to defer their payments over time. This dual-sided model helps ease cash flow pressure on both buyers and sellers, bridging a gap that traditional banks and trade finance providers often fail to serve. Beyond financing, the platform integrates accounts receivable automation, global payment capabilities across currencies and methods, AI-driven credit assessments, ERP integration, and trade insurance management, providing end-to-end visibility and efficiency for global transactions. Available either as a standalone platform or as an embedded API within logistics and e-commerce ecosystems, 40Seas not only streamlines financial operations but also reduces manual paperwork, speeds up decision-making, and offers SMEs access to capital that was once out of reach in conventional trade finance structures.

40Seas secured its initial $11 million seed funding in January 2023, led by Team8, a venture-building group based in Israel, with participation from ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, an established Israeli shipping giant. Alongside this equity investment, ZIM also provided a $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility (with an option to extend to $200 million) to support exporters and importers. Six months later, in August 2023, the 40Seas extended its seed round by raising an additional $6 million, bringing total equity funding to $17 million. This extension welcomed new investors Eminence Ventures from China and QED Investors from the United States while retaining continued backing from Israeli investors Team8 and ZIM 

Case Study

Integration with ZIM and Ship4wd (2023):

Following its emergence from stealth in January 2023, 40Seas received a strategic equity investment and a $100M credit facility from ZIM. Leveraging this, the platform was embedded into ZIM’s digital freight forwarding subsidiary, Ship4wd, offering SME customers embedded trade financing solutions enabling exporters to be paid immediately and importers to defer payment. 

This integration streamlined operations for SMEs, reduced administrative friction, and exemplified how embedded finance can reshape B2B trade flows just as Moldovan’s father had needed.

As of early September 2025, under new CEO Or Kapel, the company has scaled to over 10,000 transactions per month and are on track to process $1 billion through the platform in the coming 12 months. 

Conclusion

40Seas stands out for its mission-driven approach to closing the global trade finance gap for SMEs. Leveraging personal insights combined with leadership in fintech, logistics, and risk management, the founding team built a platform that digitizes and streamlines B2B trade finance. Backed by a $17 million equity base from global VCs and a substantial $100 million credit facility, 40Seas has already demonstrated tangible impact through strategic partnerships (like ZIM/Ship4wd), rapid transaction growth, and a bold trajectory toward processing $1 billion in trade.

In a market where traditional trade finance remains sluggish and opaque, 40Seas is carving out a new model one that aligns with modern digital trade, operational agility, and embedded financial services.

References

40Seas. (2023). About us. 40Seas. https://www.40seas.com/about

40Seas. (2023, January 10). Announcing our $111M fundraise. 40Seas. https://www.40seas.com/blog/announcing-our-111-fundraise

Business Insider. (2023, August 8). 40Seas pitch deck: How trade finance fintech raised seed funding. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/40seas-pitch-deck-trade-finance-fintech-raise-seed-2023-8

Calcalist Tech. (2023, August 8). 40Seas raises $6 million seed extension. Calcalist Tech. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1qojypon

Finsmes. (2023, August 7). 40Seas raises additional $6M in seed funding. Finsmes. https://www.finsmes.com/2023/08/40seas-raises-additional-6m-in-seed-funding.html

Finextra. (2023, January 10). Israeli trade financing start-up 40Seas raises $111M. Finextra. https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/95752/israeli-trade-financing-start-up-40seas-raises-111m

Investors ZIM. (2023, January 10). 40Seas, a new fintech platform designed to modernize cross-border trade financing, secures funding of $111 million from ZIM and Team8. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. https://investors.zim.com/news/news-details/2023/40Seas-a-New-Fintech-Platform-Designed-to-Modernize-Cross-Border-Trade-Financing-Secures-Funding-of-111-Million-from-ZIM-and-Team8/default.aspx

Medium. (2023, March 22). Interview with Eyal Moldovan, CEO of 40Seas. Medium. https://medium.com/@usetech/interview-with-eyal-moldovan-ceo-of-40seas-0ef94adcbaf6

Team8. (n.d.). Suki Gao – Partner & Co-founder, 40Seas. Team8. https://team8.vc/team/suki-gao

Tracxn. (2023). 40Seas company profile. Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/40seas/__Wh9_Gs7fvW9tjamdLaPl4EKsoa1IdbQxoMsWJzA7FgM

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas

Reviewer     : Imam Buchari, David Ratner