To explore a startup that nearly everyone has heard of, it’s only fair to start with Revolut — the one that, for many people, has become their second digital wallet for online shopping.
It’s hard to believe this idea began in 2015, when Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko in London decided to build a bank unlike any traditional institution. Their idea was simple: a global account that allows anyone to move money anywhere without hidden fees or banking bureaucracy.
Storonsky, Russian-born and based in the UK, holds a Master’s in Physics and Economics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and previously worked as a senior trader at Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers. Yatsenko, from Ukraine, holds a degree in Computer Science and worked as a software engineer at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse.
This rare mix of financial insight and engineering expertise built a strong foundation for a revolutionary neobank. Revolut started with an initial investment of about £1.5 million from Balderton Capital and several angel investors — no parent company, just a small team with a bold vision: to break traditional banking barriers.
Revolut soon grew within London’s startup ecosystem, attracting investors such as Index Ventures, Balderton Capital, and Ribbit Capital. Over the following years, it raised over $800 million and achieved a stunning $33 billion valuation, making it one of Europe’s most valuable fintech startups.
From a simple currency card, Revolut evolved into a complete digital financial ecosystem: multi-currency accounts, virtual cards, stock investments, cryptocurrency, and even travel insurance. Today, it employs more than 10,000 people in 30 offices and serves over 50 million users across 48 countries, with annual revenue surpassing £3 billion.
Revolut reached break-even by 2018 and became fully profitable by 2021, reporting hundreds of millions in net profit in its 2024 financial report — a milestone few traditional banks ever achieve.
The founders remain in charge: Storonsky as CEO, who also founded QuantumLight to invest in AI startups, and Yatsenko, who continues to oversee Revolut’s technology and infrastructure.
☕ A Personal Experience That Shows Why Revolut Is Different
My digital wallet is connected to Revolut.
The first time I was on a foreign flight and managed to buy a cup of coffee in another currency using Revolut’s digital payment, I realized how effortless connecting to multiple currencies could be.
At 30,000 feet, from the moment I felt thirsty to the moment I got my drink, it took only two minutes. I didn’t even need to ask the flight attendant which currency they accepted.
Revolut — my good friend — handled everything. It converted the currency, confirmed the payment, and I simply received my coffee.
At that moment, high above the clouds, with just one tap on my phone, I truly felt connected to a global bank.
If you shop online or travel internationally, you’ve probably heard of Revolut — the app that broke banking boundaries and introduced a new way of managing money. Honestly, I’m one of those who truly love it, because it proved that a simple idea, executed well, can change the world.
