Fraud-fighting US unicorn Alloy opens in the UK #

Digital startup Alloy is crossing the ocean to provide its services to the British.

Founded in 2015 by CTO Charles Hearn, CEO Tommy Nicholas, and President Laura Spiekerman, the company works with 350 financial institutions and fintech companies across North America to fight fraud and financial crime.

Alloy calls itself an “identity solutions platform” that makes it easier for fintech companies and their customers to work together. Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Canapi Ventures are among the investors who have put money into the company.

One of the things the company can do is automate the approval and opening of client accounts as well as the monitoring of transactions in real time. This is made possible by connecting the system to 170 data sources.

Today, the firm has valued itself at $1.55 billion, and last year it announced plans to expand to 40 more countries; the opening of the London office was the first local unit outside the United States.

Johnson, the company’s former COO, has helped the company grow from getting Series C funding to becoming a unicorn.

James Baston-Pitt, who used to be vice president of Onfido, will lead commercial activities as chief development officer for EMEA. He is also moving to the United Kingdom so he can take on more leadership roles in global development.