With a record growth of +271% in EMEA and over $130 billion in payments processed worldwide, Airwallex has established itself as one of the most dynamic fintechs on the international stage. Founded in Melbourne and valued at nearly $10 billion, the Australian unicorn aims to revolutionize cross-border financial services for modern businesses.

In this momentum, Airwallex has opened an office in Paris, in the heart of the 9th arrondissement, to lead its development in France and Southern Europe. This hub plays a strategic role in its European anchoring: it brings the fintech closer to its e-commerce, SaaS, and travel clients — as well as to regulators, at a time when DSP3 and DORA are redefining the landscape.

Far more than just revenue, Airwallex champions a fluid, global, and connected vision of modern finance. Ben Hornby, Director SME & Growth for the EMEA region, reflects on this establishment and the ambitions it embodies.

To begin, could you briefly introduce Airwallex and your role within the organization?

Airwallex is a global fintech founded in 2015, offering a modern financial infrastructure for global businesses. Our platform enables companies to manage payments, FX, multi-currency accounts, cards, and treasury operations seamlessly – all via a single API or dashboard.

I am the Director, SME and Growth, EMEA at Airwallex. In this role, I’m responsible for the SME and growth sales function across the region, including leading our go to market in the French market. In the last 12 months, we’ve grown the French team from 1 to 7 (with 2 open roles). We have built strong momentum in the market, and are supporting major clients in the ecommerce and travel space; including From Future, and ElevenParis.

What made Paris Region the ideal location for your EU Region's expansion?

The Paris Region is a strategic launchpad with deep talent, a strong fintech ecosystem, and cultural ties to Southern Europe and Francophone Africa. It combines the scale of a mature EU market with access to high-growth regions. Many of our key verticals – ecommerce, SaaS, and travel – are well represented here. This makes Paris an ideal base to serve both France and Southern Europe. It’s a natural fit for our expansion strategy.

How do you plan to work with banks, e-commerce platforms, and SaaS publishers based in Paris Region?

We’re focused on building collaborative, not competitive, relationships in the ecosystem. This includes integrating with ecommerce and SaaS platforms to streamline finance operations. We also explore partnerships with banks to complement their services with our global reach. We already work with several local SaaS players and are expanding tech partnerships. Our goal: create value for merchants, platforms, and end-users alike.

DSP3 and DORA are coming: how can your local presence help you anticipate these changes?

Having a local team keeps us close to regulators and evolving EU frameworks like DSP3 and DORA. We actively engage with regulatory bodies to stay ahead of changes. This proximity helps us anticipate requirements and adapt our product roadmap. It also ensures our clients stay compliant – without added friction. For us, regulation is a driver of innovation when addressed early and locally.

What profiles do you recruit in Paris Region, and what would you say to local talent to attract them to Airwallex?

We’re hiring in sales, partnerships, operations, and marketing, focusing on tech-savvy, entrepreneurial talent. Airwallex offers a rare chance to join a fast-growing global company with real local impact. You get the agility of a startup and the backing of a global unicorn. You’ll work with top clients, launch new products, and grow rapidly. Join us to help shape the future of global finance.

After payments and FX, which functionalities (cards, yield, lending, etc.) would you like to launch first on the French market?

We already offer cards and a full spend management product. Our next priority is launching French IBANs – currently in progress – particularly for scaling companies aiming to simplify global spending. After that, we plan to introduce yield solutions to help clients maximize idle cash and lending products to support growth in ecommerce and SaaS sectors.

How does your value proposition differ from that of Stripe, Adyen, or traditional banks?

Airwallex is more than just payments – we offer a complete financial stack. Where Stripe and Adyen focus primarily on acquiring, we go further: combining inbound and outbound payments, FX, cards, treasury, and embedded finance into one unified platform. Compared to traditional banks, we’re API-first, much faster to deploy, and built for global scale from day one.

You've joined the 1% Pledge movement. What impact projects do you plan to support in Paris Region?

We’re committed to supporting projects that drive financial inclusion, tech education for underserved youth, and diversity in fintech. For example, in Australia, we’ve partnered with the University of Melbourne to fund scholarships and mentorship programs for students. Ultimately, we want to replicate these initiatives everywhere, including in Paris Region, to create lasting impact in underrepresented communities.

Your goal is to reach $1 billion in revenues by 2025; what role will your Paris office play in this trajectory?

France is one of the largest Travel, ecommerce and SaaS markets in Europe – so the Paris office is core to our revenue and growth strategy. It’s not just about local sales, but about building a regional hub that can serve clients across the Southern Europe region. The team here plays a strategic role in client acquisition, partnerships, regulatory engagement, and overall European expansion.

What's your #1 piece of advice, based on your own experience, for those considering moving to Paris Region?

Build your network early – in tech, regulation, and local business. Paris is a city full of opportunities, but success here often comes from proximity, trust, and knowing how to navigate the ecosystem. Also: don’t underestimate the dynamism and openness of the local talent and startup scene. It’s an excellent place to grow.