How one startup uses AI to expand financial access in Europe
Welcount leverages Microsoft Azure and AI to help newcomers in Europe access financial services, addressing gaps in traditional systems with support from Microsoft for Startups.
Welcount, a fintech startup supported by Microsoft for Startups, is using Microsoft Azure and AI to create a secure platform that expands financial access for newcomers across Europe. The company focuses on customers often overlooked by traditional financial systems, such as international professionals, students, and refugees. By addressing barriers like identity verification and compliance, Welcount enables faster onboarding, including opening bank accounts within 24 hours for relocating researchers. Its approach combines technology with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people adapting to new financial environments.
Founded by Rooh Savar, a refugee who experienced firsthand the difficulties of accessing financial services in France, Welcount builds solutions tailored to newcomers. The platform serves a diverse user base, including migrants, asylum seekers, and international workers, who often struggle with systems not designed for their circumstances. Welcount’s AI tools analyze spending patterns and provide personalized financial guidance, supporting multiple languages and cultural differences to help users navigate unfamiliar banking norms and fees.
Welcount’s platform is built on Microsoft Azure, which provides the infrastructure for identity verification, compliance workflows, and AI capabilities. The company expanded its use of generative AI through Microsoft GenAI Studio at Station F, integrating these tools into customer-facing experiences and internal operations. Collaboration with Visa for payments and Okali, a Crédit Agricole company, for banking-as-a-service further strengthens its infrastructure, while close work with French regulators ensures compliance with financial institution requirements.
The startup also addresses barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers, who may lack traditional identity documents. In partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Welcount developed specialized verification methods using UN-issued documentation. Recognized as Microsoft France’s Impact Partner of the Year in 2024, Welcount aims to serve over one million users by 2031, expanding across France and Europe while deepening AI personalization and onboarding support.