When American Express began scaling back a niche credit card for non‑U.S. clients who keep money in American banks and brokerages, it left institutions scrambling to find a replacement for some of their most demanding customers. Now, a startup is trying to plug that gap with a WhatsApp‑run premium card that lets international travelers turn those assets into spending power.
Miami-based Karta, founded by serial entrepreneurs Freddy Juez and Orlando Espinoza, announced on Wednesday that it has raised a $15 million Series A round led by Galaxy Ventures, with new investor Illuminate and existing backers Canary and Clocktower Ventures also participating. It also announced a $125 million debt facility provided by CIM, an investment firm specializing in credit facilities.
