HolyPay: Redefining Payments with Purpose

Los Angeles, July 31, 2025. In the lively Pico-Robertson area, where bustling eateries and community hubs hum with energy and connection, a new spark is igniting. HolyPay, a fintech startup launched in 2024 by Koby Rehman and Igor Kilimnik, is transforming routine transactions into powerful moments of impact. By embedding charitable giving into everyday purchases, HolyPay empowers consumers to support causes they love, helps businesses build loyalty by enhancing the shopping experience, and fuels nonprofits with steady support. Rooted in a vision of righteous impact, HolyPay is not just a payment platform; it’s a movement to make every dollar count for something greater.

HolyPay Cofounders - Koby and Igor

A Vision Born from Purpose

Koby Rehman, a former U.S. Army officer, founded HolyPay after noticing a recurring problem within the nonprofit world. “I kept seeing the same pattern: people genuinely care, but the support just isn’t consistent,” he says. He also noticed businesses often donated quietly, missing opportunities to build connection and goodwill with their customers. “I started thinking: how can we make giving part of everyday life? Not something that requires a big campaign or extra effort,” Rehman recalls.

This insight sparked the idea for HolyPay. “What if everyday spending could also include everyday giving?” Rehman asks. The platform lets customers choose a cause, such as a local shul, school, or charity, and directs a portion of their purchases at partner businesses to that organization. “It’s payments with purpose, where paying the bill also helps make a real difference in the community,” Rehman explains. But HolyPay isn’t just a win for consumers and nonprofits, it’s a game-changer for businesses, too. By embedding social responsibility into their operations, businesses unlock a powerful marketing advantage, helping them stand out, build deeper customer loyalty, and attract today’s socially conscious consumers.

Rehman, a religious Jew in Los Angeles’ vibrant Jewish community, draws on his personal and professional background. “I served in the U.S. Army for almost eight years, both as an enlisted soldier and a commissioned officer, and that experience gave me a deep sense of service, structure, and mission,” he says. His post-military spiritual journey deepened his commitment to community-driven initiatives. “That combination of discipline and purpose, as well as deep-rooted desire to give back, has shaped everything about HolyPay,” he adds.

Igor Kilimnik, HolyPay’s co-founder and CTO, shares this vision. “I come from a background in software and systems architecture, building complex and scalable platforms,” he says. Also a religious Jew, Kilimnik saw HolyPay as more than a startup. “When Koby shared the vision for HolyPay, I knew right away this was it. It wasn’t just a company. It felt like a mission,” he says. Their goal: disrupt the $4.5 trillion U.S. consumer payments industry by making every transaction a force for good.

Bridging the Gap in Giving

HolyPay tackles a persistent disconnect. “There was this clear gap between intention and action when it came to giving,” Rehman says. Many solutions burden consumers with separate donations or require businesses to run complicated programs like Scrip, Cause Marketing, and Charity Rebates. “Most solutions out there either put the burden on the customer to make a separate donation, or on the business to run programs that are time-consuming, require extensive coordination, and are often disconnected from the causes their customers care about,” he explains. HolyPay solves this by seamlessly integrating charitable giving directly into everyday purchases, streamlining and digitizing the entire process. “We saw an opportunity to create a platform that makes giving effortless, transparent, and part of everyday commerce,” Rehman says.

The process is simple. Customers sign up, select a cause, and link a credit card. Then, every time they shop or dine at a HolyPay partner business—many of which are local favorites like Pizza World, Taam Shabbos, Geshmak, and Bowls N’ Bunz—and pay with HolyPay, a portion of their purchase automatically goes to the cause they’ve chosen. “The business picks the donation percentage, the customer picks the cause, and HolyPay takes care of the rest,” Rehman says. Unlike PayPal or Apple Pay, HolyPay infuses every transaction with purpose. Businesses can adopt it without changing their POS systems or paying any upfront or monthly fees. “It’s designed to work right alongside what they already use and do. It’s social responsibility made easy,” Rehman notes.

The platform’s name is inspired by the Jewish concept of elevating the physical world, bringing a sense of holiness to one of life’s most routine acts: commercial transactions. By making giving an integral part of each purchase, HolyPay aligns every transaction with a higher purpose, appealing to consumers and businesses seeking to make real and meaningful impact.

Built with Integrity and Security

HolyPay’s design prioritizes trust, especially for communities valuing ethical standards. “We’ve worked closely with rabbinic advisors and poskim to make sure HolyPay is fully aligned with halacha,” Rehman says, referencing Jewish law to appeal to their initial Los Angeles Jewish user base. To avoid financial conflicts, HolyPay uses Stripe, a PCI-compliant processor trusted by companies like Airbnb, DoorDash, and Instacart. “The donation funds never pass through HolyPay, or any of our business partners,” Rehman explains. “This setup ensures transparency, security, and halachic integrity.” User-directed donations ensure every contribution reflects what’s personally important to the customer, deepening their connection to both the cause and the business that made it possible.

Security is non-negotiable. “All payment and donation processing are managed through Stripe, one of the most trusted and secure payment platforms in the world,” Kilimnik says. “All data is encrypted, role-based access is enforced, and we regularly audit and monitor the system for any vulnerabilities.” Dashboards limit data access to what’s necessary. “We know that trust is everything, especially when it comes to money and tzedakah,” Kilimnik adds.

Kilimnik tackled complex technical challenges. “One of the biggest technical challenges has been making everything look and feel simple while handling a lot of complexity behind the scenes,” he says.

Supporting five user roles, customers, businesses, nonprofits, ambassadors, and admins, requires seamless integration. “Transparency is a top priority, so every step of the process is monitored, logged, and visible to the right parties,” he explains.

Earning Community Trust

Operating in a values-driven community brings scrutiny. “It really is a tightrope walk,” Rehman says. “There’s definitely more scrutiny, and honestly, that’s a good thing.” Early questions from users and advisors focused on transparency. “We’ve definitely had questions, and that’s something we welcome,” Rehman says. By detailing Stripe’s role and oversight, HolyPay has gained support. “Once people see the integrity behind what we’re doing, and the impact HolyPay can make, the support has been amazing,” he adds.

Rehman addresses misconceptions. “One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that HolyPay is just another expense for businesses,” he says. “First off, HolyPay is completely transparent. There are no contracts, no upfront costs, and no monthly fees.” In fact, the donations made through HolyPay are tax-deductible, providing businesses with an additional financial benefit.

Businesses also benefit from consumer trends favoring social responsibility. “Consumers today are more socially conscious. They’re drawn to businesses that reflect their values and they’re more likely to support, trust, and stay loyal to businesses that demonstrate real impact,” Rehman notes, citing studies showing over 70% of consumers prefer brands that give back.

A Culture of Purpose

HolyPay’s culture reflects its mission. “The way I see it, HolyPay is really God’s company. Igor and I are just the first two employees,” Rehman says. The team, including Jewish investors, advisors, and sales staff, shares this ethos. “That shared foundation of faith and values has shaped every aspect of HolyPay,” Rehman says.

The platform respects religious observances. “From a technical standpoint, the platform continues to operate automatically over Shabbat, just like any other digital service,” Rehman explains. “So, while the platform continues running passively, our hands are off.”

Early Wins, Bold Future

HolyPay’s first donation, $71.57 to LINK Kollel in July 2025, marked a milestone. “That moment was a major validation demonstrating HolyPay’s full cycle of impact, from customer transactions to charitable distribution,” Rehman says. With an average donation percentage of 5% per transaction, the platform shows tremendous potential to do good at scale. “The owner of Pizza World texted me directly to say that working with HolyPay has already exceeded his expectations,” Rehman shares. Users are enthusiastic. “We’ve heard from several of our beta users who said they were genuinely excited to support businesses that give back,” he says.

HolyPay is scaling in Los Angeles, starting with Pico-Robertson and La Brea/Fairfax, then targeting Valley Village and Tarzana/Encino. A native app is launching later this year, and their first e-commerce integration is set for September 2025. “Our vision is to disrupt the entire payments industry and build the next generation of payment infrastructure,” Rehman says. “We firmly believe every transaction can be more than just a payment. It can be a force for good.”

A Movement for Impact

HolyPay’s strength lies in its heart. “I think what’s not obvious from the outside is how much heart and intentionality went into building this platform to be a true win-win-win for consumers, businesses, and nonprofits,” Rehman says. The local community’s response is telling. “What’s really stood out is how much heart there is in our community,” he reflects. “There’s a deep, genuine desire to give, to help others, and to build something meaningful.”

When challenges arise, Rehman seeks guidance. “God first. Then my wife. Her instincts are razor sharp. And finally, my advisors and cofounder,” he says. HolyPay is more than a fintech; it’s a call to make every routine payment an act of charity, proving that commerce can carry profound purpose for any community seeking impact.