FacePOS

WestBIC is an Enterprise Ireland partner providing hands-on startup support, funding readiness and investment preparation for early-stage founders in the west of Ireland.

FacePOS Ltd. is an Irish fintech founded in 2023, headquartered in Sligo Ireland, developing an instant, account-to-account payment platform that enables secure, irrevocable payments at physical and digital points of sale using Open Banking and SEPA Instant rails.

Key issues or challenges experienced during the start-up process

The primary challenges were navigating regulatory complexity, gaining early credibility with banks and regulatory bodies, and building a payments solution that met both technical and supervisory expectations.

How you addressed these challenges

We engaged early with regulators. Consultants and Fintech Ireland, aligned our product architecture with EU payments frameworks, and focused heavily on compliance-by-design and strong governance.

Key supports received during the start-up phase

Strategic mentoring, market validation support, and access to experienced advisors were critical during our early stages.

The role WestBIC played during your start-up

WestBIC provided invaluable support through guidance, challenge, and validation, helping us refine our business model, investor narrative, and regulatory positioning.

Words of advice for new start-ups

Engage early with Local Enterprise Offices, WestBIC, customers and if needed regulators, build compliance into your product from day one, and focus on solving a real problem at scale.

Where the company is now

FacePOS is actively engaging with banks, regulators, and enterprise partners across Europe, advancing pilot projects, expanding its product roadmap, and preparing for a wider market rollout. The company was one of nine successful applicants (out of 38) to join the Central Bank of Ireland Innovation in Payments Sandbox programme.

Positioned as a foundational infrastructure layer for instant payments at the point of sale, FacePOS is aligning its solutions with upcoming EU Instant Payments Regulation milestones to enable seamless, real-time transactions.