Clove, a new UK wealthtech startup focused on personal finance and wealth management, has officially exited stealth mode after raising $14 million in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Accel, with participation from Kindred Capital, Air Street Capital, and notable angel investors including Cleo’s Barney Hussey-Yeo, former Google CFO Patrick Pichette, GoCardless’s Erez Mathan, and Gideon Valkin (formerly of Monzo and ClearScore).

Founded in 2025 by Christian Owens, the founder of payments unicorn Paddle, and Greek Cypriot Alex Loizou, co-founder of Trouva (acquired by Made.com in 2022), Clove aims to bridge the financial advice gap through a blend of AI technology and human expertise.

>>How Alex Loizou Built an International Company and Sold it Twice<<

After the sale of Trouva, Loizou spent two years advising early-stage startups and investing in founders he believed in — a period of reflection that helped him define his next big mission.

“That search led me back to one of the hardest and most interesting problems I’ve ever come across: how people manage, plan, and build their financial lives,” Loizou shared on LinkedIn.

He added that Clove was born from the need to bridge the gap between “DIY investing apps that gamify money” and “traditional advisers who only work with the very wealthy.”

“With Christian Owens, we intend to bridge that gap: combining real human financial planners with the power of AI to make quality advice accessible, personal, and continuous. It’s early days, but the mission is clear: make money make sense.”

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates that fewer than 10% of UK adults currently benefit from professional financial advice, even though those who do see an average 10% boost in wealth over time.

In the UK alone, 13 million mass-affluent individuals hold €4.4 trillion in investable assets — a massive, underserved segment. “Too many people are missing out on the support they need to build a more secure financial future,” UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned.

Clove’s model — combining AI automation with regulated advisers — aims to change that, making high-quality financial planning affordable and scalable.

While initially focused on UK clients, Clove plans to expand internationally, targeting markets across Europe. Loizou said the company’s long-term vision is to offer investing, savings, and pension tools that grow with users’ financial needs.

Clove plans a full public launch in 2026, pending FCA authorisation, and is currently expanding its six-person team.