Papaya, founded in 2016, set out to make bill payments in the U.S. faster and more efficient.
In a market still dependent on paper invoices and mailed checks, Papaya's mission was to simplify payments through technology.
Luby partnered with the company to bring this vision to life — building a robust Android app powered by AI and computer vision that automated invoice reading and payments, helping the fintech secure major funding from Sequoia Capital and Sound Ventures.
While Papaya had successfully launched its iOS app, its growth was limited — half of U.S. users were on Android, leaving a massive share of the market untapped.
The challenge: build a fully native Android app from scratch, replicating the functionality of the existing iOS version while improving technical scalability, performance, and automation.
Papaya turned to Luby as a consultative and technical partner to lead the development and expand the company's reach across the U.S. fintech market.
Luby assembled a dedicated squad of fintech engineers to develop the new Android native app, integrating artificial intelligence and computer vision to automate the process of reading invoices and executing payments.
The project began with a version built in Java, enabling the app to recognize invoice data automatically through AI-powered scanning. Later, a full rebuild in Kotlin enhanced performance, stability, and maintainability.
Luby worked hand-in-hand with Papaya's internal product team using Scrum methodologies, actively participating in product planning and iteration cycles. This close collaboration allowed the team to:
As Papaya grew and matured, it internalized much of its product development but continued to rely on Luby's specialized fintech engineering services for ongoing support, maintenance, and product evolution.
This partnership model gave Papaya agility, technical confidence, and consistent product quality throughout its growth journey.
Luby's payment integration specialists played a crucial role in connecting Papaya's app with Plaid, enabling users to securely link their bank accounts to make real-time payments and transfers.
Our deep experience with Plaid integrations ensured rapid, secure deployment — allowing Papaya to launch new payment capabilities with confidence and speed.
Impact of the Luby + Papaya Partnership:
Android App Downloads
Average App Rating
Payments Processed
Valuation Growth
Following investor rounds
Papaya successfully expanded into the Android market with a high-performance, AI-driven app, cementing its position as one of the most innovative bill payment fintechs in the U.S.
I was very pleased working with the Luby team. Everyone is professional, responsive, and flexible. They've been open to suggestions, new ways of collaborating, and always seek feedback to continuously improve the process.
— Jason Meltzer, CTO & Co-Founder of Papaya