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Company Research Report: Stronghold



Company Overview



Name: Stronghold

Mission: To provide fast, secure, and accessible financial services for all, facilitating access to both legacy and next-generation payments and financial services through developer APIs. The vision is to build a more inclusive, stable, and connected global economy.

Founded: 2017

Founders: Tammy Camp and Sean Bennett discovered their shared vision back in 2014 through work on the Stellar platform.

Key People:
  • Tammy Camp - Founder & CEO

  • Sean Bennett - Co-Founder, Developer

  • Scott Snow - VP of Customer Success

  • Angie Keh - Director of Business Operations

  • Hazen Baron - Director of Compliance

  • Ina Bagne - Video Creative Director


Headquarters: Oakland, California

Number of Employees: No information is available.

Revenue: Grew from $1 million in 2020 to $7 million in 2021.

Known For: Stronghold is known for its payment processing services, particularly in high-risk categories such as alcohol, cannabis, and gaming. The company also created its own cryptocurrency, the SHX token, used as loyalty rewards for customers.

Products



ACH Payments


  • Description: Provides a way for businesses to capture and verify bank details and payment authorization through APIs.

  • Key Features:

  • Programmable ACH payments

  • Secure and reliable

  • Seamless customer experience


Stronghold Direct


  • No information is available about specific features.


Merchant Financing


  • Description: Provides business financing solutions.

  • Key Features:

  • Fast and easy access to funding

  • Equity preservation

  • Scaled repayments


Checkout


  • Description: Online card payment processing.

  • Key Features:

  • Simple and transparent pricing

  • Browser-based card acceptance

  • Secure payment processing


Card Processing


  • Description: Enables businesses to accept online payments via card.

  • Key Features:

  • No hidden fees

  • Consistent rates across card brands


Real-Time Payments


  • Description: Offers near-instant clearing and settlement.

  • Key Features:

  • Real-time visibility and analytics

  • Regulatory technology compliance


Virtual Payment Networks


  • Description: Customizable payment networks for businesses.

  • Key Features:

  • Multi-party access and controls

  • Compliance and governance tools

  • Interoperability with existing systems


Recent Developments



New Products and Features


  • Launch of StrongholdNET: A payment ecosystem aiming to modernize payments.

  • Launch of $100 Million Investment Fund: Stronghold announced the creation of this fund to support companies within its ecosystem.


Partnerships


  • Partnership with IBM: Stronghold’s blockchain infrastructure is used by IBM to transform payments.


General Developments


  • Compliance Enhancements: Completed the Nacha ACH Audit and received SOC 2 Type II Certification to improve regulatory compliance.

  • SHx Token Updates: Listings on various global exchanges (Gate.io, KuCoin, BitMart, Bittrex Global) and trading competition incentives.

  • Acquisition of 20022 Labs: Enhancing technology and standards.


Summary



Stronghold is a fintech company headquartered in Oakland, California, with a mission to make financial services more inclusive and accessible. Founded by Tammy Camp and Sean Bennett, the company is at the forefront of blockchain and payment processing innovation. It offers a suite of products including ACH Payments, Merchant Financing, and Real-Time Payments, and is expanding its ecosystem through strategic partnerships and a dedicated investment fund. Stronghold continues to grow its presence and capabilities in the digital payment space.