Apron Payments Ltd

Closing the Gap in Small Business Payments

Apron is a London-based fintech company on a mission to modernize how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) manage their finances. Founded in 2021 by Bogdan Romanykha (a former product lead at Revolut), Apron provides a unified platform that digitizes and simplifies the entire payments process. By capturing invoices, issuing expense cards, and streamlining both accounts payable and receivable, the company serves as a single source of truth for bills, payroll, and bookkeeping.

With a team of around 100 people across the UK, Germany, and Spain, Apron has quickly scaled to address the cash flow challenges that threaten small businesses. Backed by a $30M Series B in September 2024 (bringing total funding to $50.5M), the company is aggressively expanding its product suite and international footprint.

A Culture of Humble Pros and Entrepreneurs

Apron describes its culture as a "team sport" where different opinions are valued and straight, respectful talk is the norm. The company emphasizes a "humble pro" mentality—leaving egos at the door and taking ownership of mistakes as inevitable parts of pushing the limits.

Employees are encouraged to act like entrepreneurs. The focus is on hustling, getting things done, and nurturing ideas rather than poking holes in them. This fast-paced, product-led environment requires engineers and product managers to embrace the complexity of finance, navigating intricate business logic while maintaining precision and attention to detail.

What You'll Actually Do

Working at Apron means building with the customer in mind. Engineers are tasked with designing systems and developing core financial integrations to ensure customer funds are secure and transactions are routed with market-leading speed.

The technical environment is heavily focused on the backend, utilizing Kotlin for server-side development, alongside Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes, Terraform, and advanced Postgres features. Cross-functional collaboration is key, as backend engineers work closely with frontend developers, product managers, and designers to build out new verticals like Capture, Bill Pay, Apron Card, and FinCrime.

Compensation & Benefits

Apron offers a highly competitive compensation package. Based on Levels.fyi data for the UK, Software Engineers can expect total compensation ranging from £123K to £171K+ per year, while Product Managers see ranges from £126K to £177K+.

Beyond base salary and meaningful stock options, the benefits package is comprehensive. It includes a Nest pension plan, health insurance (with optical and dental cover), life assurance, enhanced parental leave, and 29 days of holiday (plus bank holidays). The company also provides a weekly Deliveroo allowance, flexible working hours, and operates on a hybrid model requiring 3 days a week in their London (Liverpool Street) office.

The Interview Process

Apron prides itself on a straightforward and fast-moving interview process, promising feedback within 24 hours at each stage. For engineering roles, the typical flow includes:

1. Recruiter Screen: A 30-minute initial conversation.

2. Live Coding Session: A 45-minute technical assessment.

3. System Design Interview: A 60-minute deep dive into architecture and scalability.

4. Leadership Interview: A final 60-minute round with the leadership team.

Offers are typically extended within 24 hours of the final interview, reflecting the company's commitment to moving quickly.

Why Join / Why Not

Why Join: Apron is in a hyper-growth phase, having raised significant capital from top-tier investors like Index Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Zinal Growth. If you want to work on complex financial logic, use modern tech (Kotlin, GCP, Kubernetes), and have a tangible impact on small businesses, Apron offers a compelling platform. The transparent, fast-paced culture and strong compensation make it highly attractive for ambitious builders.

Why Not: The environment is inherently demanding. The focus on intricate business logic and the pressure of a rapidly scaling fintech startup might not suit those looking for a slower, highly structured corporate pace. Additionally, the strict 3-day-a-week in-office requirement in London may be a dealbreaker for candidates seeking fully remote opportunities.