LatAm Fintech Kiwi Raises $80 Million To Provide Underbanked Consumers with Credit Access in the U.S.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kiwi, a fintech dedicated to helping consumers build credit history and improve financial literacy, today announced that it has closed a $75 million credit facility and $4.5 million pre-series A funding round. The debt financing was provided by i80 Group an investment firm that specializes in providing credit solutions to growth companies, while Advent-Morro Equity Partners, Altio Capital and Independent Capital led the equity round.

Founded in 2020 by first-generation immigrants Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter, Kiwi is committed to addressing the financial challenges faced by millions of Latino consumers in the US. These individuals often lack credit history and are excluded from the traditional financial system. Utilizing proprietary AI and machine learning models, Kiwi offers thin-file borrowers with affordable capital, enabling them to build their credit profiles and manage everyday expenses.

With a strong customer base of over 30,000, Kiwi has already demonstrated its leadership in its market. Now, fueled by new funding and a surge in demand, the company is set for a phase of exponential growth. The company plans to introduce new products to establish itself as the primary platform where underbanked Latinos access a broader suite of financial services.

“Our investors’ support is a testament to the value of our mission and the impact that we’re having on our customers’ lives,” said Mariano Sanz, Co-founder and CEO of Kiwi. “We take pride in equipping underserved Latin immigrants with the tools and resources necessary to establish credit and secure access to capital. Addressing the difficulties faced by underbanked consumers in joining the traditional credit system will have the most significant positive impact on their financial lives. We remain dedicated to growing and expanding our services to serve more customers across the US and eventually Latin America."

Market statistics reveal that US Latinos are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the country, for example, comprising over 18% of the total US population. With more than 60 million US Latinos, this number is expected to surpass 100 million in the coming decades. If compared to global economies, the US Latino GDP would rank fifth-highest worldwide.

"We're excited to support Kiwi in their mission to promote financial inclusion amongst underbanked Latinos," said Edward Goldstein, managing director at i80 Group. "Kiwi's innovative approach to credit access and their strong reception from customers make them a leader in the market and position them well to provide essential financial resources to people who need it. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success."

Kiwi plans to use the funding to continue to expand its services and reach more customers across the US and Latin America.

About Kiwi
Founded in 2020 by immigrants Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter, Kiwi is a fintech company dedicated to helping consumers build credit history and improve financial literacy. The company is committed to addressing the financial challenges faced by millions of Latino consumers in the US, many of whom often lack credit history and are excluded from the traditional financial system. Utilizing proprietary AI and machine learning models, Kiwi provides borrowers with affordable capital, enabling them to build their credit profiles and manage everyday expenses. For more information, please visit www.kiwicredito.com

About i80 Group
i80 Group is an investment firm designed to propel the innovation economy forward by empowering growth. The firm provides bespoke financing solutions that are unique to each investment partner's needs and are designed to help companies advance through critical growth milestones. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, and London. For more information, please visit www.i80group.com.

About Advent-Morro Equity Partners
Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Advent-Morro Equity Partners, and its tech venture fund Morro Ventures, is a leading private equity firm that invests in early-stage and growth-stage opportunities in Puerto Rico and across the Latin American and US Hispanic markets. Founded in 1989, Advent-Morro has been a supportive financing and operating partner to companies in myriad industries and stages of development. For more information, please visit www.adventmorro.com.

Contacts

Media
media@kiwicredito.com

First published on Mon, May 22, 2023

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