According to EU-Startups, London fintech startup Sencillo has secured €397,000 in pre-seed funding led by Fuel Ventures to address the skyrocketing costs of education in the UK. The platform helps parents plan, fund, and manage education expenses that now range from €4,000 annually for early childcare to over €25,700 per year for university including living costs. Founder Adam Amos, previously of Pigzbe and EY, launched the “by parents for parents” platform to tackle what he calls a fragmented and stressful process. The funding will support team growth and platform expansion ahead of Sencillo’s planned launch in early 2026. This comes amid broader European fintech momentum with roughly €47 million in adjacent sector investments announced recently.
The education finance crisis
Here’s the thing: education costs have become absolutely brutal for UK families. We’re talking about numbers that would make anyone’s eyes water – over €25,000 per year for university when you include living costs? That’s insane. And private schooling can run you up to €56,000 annually. Basically, we’ve reached a point where even middle-class families are getting priced out of quality education options.
The timing for Sencillo seems pretty smart though. With VAT being introduced on private school fees and limited bursaries available, parents are getting squeezed from multiple directions. And let’s not forget the growing accessibility gap for children with special educational needs – that’s a massive underserved market that traditional financial institutions have largely ignored.
How Sencillo actually works
So what exactly are they building? Sencillo’s platform starts with smart digital calculators that help parents visualize the total cost of their child’s entire education journey. Think of it as financial planning software specifically designed for education expenses. Parents can input their savings and family contributions, then see exactly where the gaps are.
Where it gets interesting is the embedded credit solutions. When parents need financing, Sencillo connects them with strategic partners for tailored funding options. The money goes directly to the educational institution – whether that’s a nursery, school, or university. This direct payment approach actually makes a lot of sense because it ensures the funds are used for their intended purpose.
Right now they’re focused on unsecured credit products, but I’m curious to see if they’ll expand into other financial products down the line. Education financing is such a massive, complex problem that no single solution will fix everything.
Broader fintech context
Look, Sencillo isn’t operating in a vacuum. European fintech is having a moment in 2025 with around €47 million in related funding announcements. Copenhagen’s ReBloom got €400k for secondary trading, Groundley secured €970k for AI finance insights, Paris-based Finary raised a massive €25 million for wealth management, and London’s BKN301 Group landed €21.5 million for Banking-as-a-Service.
But here’s what makes Sencillo different: they’re targeting a very specific, very emotional pain point. Parents will move mountains for their kids’ education, and that creates a powerful market dynamic. While other fintechs are building general financial tools, Sencillo is going deep on one of the most expensive investments families ever make.
The challenges ahead
Now, let’s be real – this isn’t going to be easy. Education financing is incredibly complex with regulatory hurdles, credit risk concerns, and the simple fact that we’re talking about people’s children. Emotions run high when education is involved, which means Sencillo needs to be exceptionally careful about how they position and deliver their financial products.
The platform’s success will depend heavily on their partner network and the quality of their credit underwriting. Get it wrong, and you could put families in difficult financial situations. Get it right, and you’re genuinely helping solve one of the biggest financial stressors modern parents face.
I’m cautiously optimistic about their approach though. The focus on responsible lending and clear financial visibility is exactly what this space needs. And with Sencillo’s upcoming launch in 2026, we won’t have to wait long to see if they can actually deliver on their ambitious vision.
