Artificial intelligence is moving beyond answering questions and generating content. Today’s AI agents are increasingly capable of researching suppliers, negotiating prices, coordinating logistics, and completing complex workflows with minimal human involvement. However, one major limitation remains: making payments autonomously.
That challenge is creating a new opportunity for fintech innovation.
Natural, an AI-native fintech startup, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to develop payment infrastructure designed specifically for AI agents. The round was led by Forerunner, bringing the company’s total funding to $40 million.
The investment positions Natural among a growing group of companies working to modernize financial infrastructure for an emerging era of autonomous AI-driven commerce.
Building Payment Rails for AI Agents
Unlike traditional payment systems, which require human authorization for most transactions, Natural is developing infrastructure that enables AI agents to move and manage funds securely on behalf of businesses and users.
The company’s platform allows AI agents to:
- Make autonomous payments
- Collect funds
- Transact with other AI agents
- Process payments with human users
- Support both traditional banking rails and future payment technologies
By redesigning payment infrastructure for machine-to-machine transactions, Natural aims to remove one of the biggest barriers preventing AI agents from completing end-to-end business workflows independently.
Founded by Experienced Fintech Builders
Natural was founded in 2025 by Kahlil Lalji, Eric Wang, and Walt Leung.
Lalji and Wang previously co-founded Ivella, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup that was acquired by EarnIn in 2023. Leung previously served as an engineering manager at Nextdoor.
Their combined experience across banking, payments, and software engineering has shaped Natural’s approach to creating infrastructure designed specifically for autonomous AI systems rather than adapting legacy payment networks.
Competing in the Future of AI Commerce
Natural is entering a rapidly expanding market where established fintech companies and emerging startups are racing to build financial infrastructure for AI.
The company sees Stripe as one of its primary competitors, while other startups are exploring payment models built around stablecoins and blockchain-based settlement systems.
Natural, however, is taking a broader approach by supporting both traditional banking infrastructure and newer digital payment technologies, allowing businesses to integrate AI payments without replacing existing financial systems.
The startup has also attracted talent from companies including Stripe, Ramp, and Square, strengthening its expertise as it scales its platform.
Preparing for an AI-Driven Economy
According to CEO Kahlil Lalji, autonomous AI could dramatically increase the volume of digital transactions as software agents begin completing business tasks without constant human approval.
Instead of simply accelerating existing payment processes, Natural is building infrastructure for a future where AI agents become active participants in commerce, handling procurement, logistics, subscriptions, financial operations, and other enterprise workflows.
As AI continues moving from assistants to autonomous operators, payment infrastructure is becoming a critical layer of enterprise technology.
Natural’s latest funding reflects growing investor confidence that enabling secure financial transactions between AI agents, businesses, and consumers will become an essential part of the next generation of digital commerce.