Rally seeks UK fleet partners to streamline finance processes with AI

A Berlin-based fintech startup is inviting UK fleet operators to help shape the future of fleet finance management through a new AI-powered platform designed to modernise back-office operations.

Rally, founded in earlier this year, is still in its formative stages, but its ambitions are clear: to overhaul what it sees as outdated financial workflows common across fleets, and to do so in close collaboration with early adopters.

Rally founder and chief technology officer, Thiago Peres, told Fleet News: “We're not taking a traditional sales-first approach.

“What we’re looking for in the UK is what we call design partners – fleet operators who want to collaborate with us as we build out the platform to suit regional needs.”

Addressing the fleet finance operational pain points

Rally was born out of firsthand experience. Peres (pictured below) previously worked for fin-tech company Stripe, as well as Meta and Booking.com, while his co-founder and chief executive Nick Telecki (pictured below) ran a last-mile delivery startup in Greece with a fleet of 40 vehicles. 

“From both sides, we saw that finance processes – from expenses to reimbursements – are often manual, fragmented and slow,” said Peres.

Launched just six weeks ago, Rally's initial product is a universal spending card that works across petrol, diesel and electric charging for anywhere across Europe that accepts Visa payments.

The card is already being used by fleet customers in Germany and Spain. “We’re focused on fleets that are embracing technology to improve their operations, with a specific focus initially on those operating light commercial vehicles – typically between 100 and 500 – and especially those with mixed electric and ICE vehicles,” Peres noted.

Rally’s clients to date include utility service providers and security support fleets, often with cross-border operations. Though the UK rollout is still at an early stage, the platform is live and fully functional in the region.

AI-driven automation and financial tools

Unlike traditional fuel card systems that often bundle in fee structures, Rally offers a flat monthly fee per driver.

“One thing we feel we’re doing differently is transparency,” Peres said. “There are no hidden charges – just a single monthly cost that varies slightly based on fleet size.”

Rally’s platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate receipt capture and matching, removing the need for manual data entry.

“Drivers transact as normal, then receive a WhatsApp message prompting them to send a photo of the receipt. Our system auto-matches it with the transaction, extracts the line items and populates the records – all in under a minute,” Peres explained.

There is also a Rally app and web applications, but Peres said this Whatsapp method is popular with drivers due to its simplicity and familiarity.

This user flow also enables more precise VAT recovery and carbon monitoring. As receipts are scanned and itemised, Rally can calculate fuel types and volumes, offering insight into emissions data – a feature likely to appeal to UK fleets facing tightening environmental reporting obligations.

Aiming for the fleet finance back office

The wider goal, Peres explained, is to centralise fleet finance operations.

Future features will include digital invoicing and payments to help improve cash flow and reduce late payments.

“We’re building a platform that doesn’t just record transactions – it helps finance teams manage incoming and outgoing payments, including payroll and supplier costs,” he said.

Initial priorities for the year include rolling out tools to allow fleets to receive payments faster, with expanded capabilities for vendor payments to follow.

An invitation to collaborate

For Rally, entering the UK market is not just about expansion – it’s about adaptation. “Every market has its nuances, and we’re eager to learn from UK operators directly,” Peres said.

The company is particularly interested in connecting with tech-forward fleets that are open to testing and providing feedback.

“We’re not asking for contracts or commitments. We want to partner with a handful of fleets that value modern systems and want to co-develop something better,” Peres added.

Rally is accepting expressions of interest from UK operators now, with no long-term lock-in.

The company plans to onboard a limited number of UK fleets initially to maintain a close feedback loop during this early stage.