The Challenge
When Ontime secured £1.5 million in pre-seed funding, their COO, Tim, was thrilled, until he realised how difficult managing it would be. The company’s bank had a £1 million cap, leaving their funds in limbo. Worse, their setup lacked diversification, liquidity, and visibility.
The treasury problem:
- £1 million cap at their bank limiting fund management
- Lack of diversification across accounts
- Limited liquidity options
- Poor visibility across funds
The quote:
“The raise closed and we immediately had a treasury problem to solve. We needed diversification, liquidity, and visibility, and we needed it quickly.”
— Tim Philip, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Ontime.
Alternatives Considered
Tim explored ways to manage the funds within existing banking constraints.
For Treasury:
- Traditional bank setup - Limited by £1 million cap and lack of flexibility
- Manual diversification - Required opening multiple accounts
- Existing banking tools - Lacked visibility and efficient fund management
Core issue: Managing large funds within traditional banking systems created limits on diversification, liquidity, and visibility.
The Solution
Ontime adopted Round to manage treasury more effectively and remove banking constraints.
Treasury Module
- Diversification into FSCS-backed accounts without opening multiple accounts
- Access to BlackRock money market funds
- Next-day liquidity for funds
- Improved visibility and reconciliation through dual portals
“Round gave us the tools to manage £1.5 million effectively. Round made us think smarter.”
The Results
Time saved:
- Hours of operational effort saved
- Streamlined fund management processes
- Reduced manual treasury management
Money earned:
- Higher returns through money market funds
- Yield generated on previously idle capital
Risk eliminated:
- Diversification across FSCS-backed accounts reduced risk
- Improved security of funds
- Increased confidence in treasury management
Key Features They Love
Startup-friendly design:
“Unlike traditional banks, Round delivered institutional-grade solutions, tailored for early-stage startups.”
Ease of use:
“From onboarding to execution, Round made complex treasury operations intuitive and accessible.”
Collaborative support:
“Working with Round didn’t just solve our problems—it made us feel like we were shaping the solution together.”
Liquidity and control:
“Because of Round, we moved incredibly quickly. It wasn’t just about returns; it was about confidence.”
The Setup
Onboarding was smooth with tailored scenarios and options provided, dual portals enabled easy tracking and reconciliation, and no treasury expertise was required to get started.
Looking Ahead
Ontime continues to use Round to manage funds efficiently, turning initial banking constraints into a scalable treasury setup that supports growth and reduces risk.
About Ontime
Ontime is a salary deduction payment network that enables employees to pay recurring bills directly from their salary at the point they are paid, before money reaches their current account
About Round
Round builds AI-powered financial infrastructure that automates treasury, AP, and payroll operations for European companies and VC funds. Backed by Alstin Capital, Round helps finance teams earn more on idle cash while spending less time on operational busywork.
