Companies in Alternative Lending
There are 20,384 companies in Alternative Lending which include SoFi, Affirm, Klarna, Square, BharatPe. 5,109 companies in Alternative Lending are funded, with 2,159 having secured Series A funding. Till date, the sector has seen the creation of 74 Unicorns. United States has the most number of companies in Alternative Lending (6,800), followed by India
(2,503), and then United Kingdom (1,720).
2026 has seen the creation of 186 Alternative Lending companies. On average, the last 10 years have seen 1,041 new companies launched every year. Most number of Alternative Lending startups have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, Harvard University and IIT Delhi.
Here is a List of top companies in Alternative Lending

1. SoFi
Online bank offering consumer loans and insurances. It offers multiple loan products including personal loans, student loans, home loans, business loans, and more. It also offers insurance including life insurance, home insurance, and more. It also features an app-based platform for trading stocks, ETFs, crypto, and accessing financial services. The app is available on IOS and Android devices.
Key facts about SoFi
- Founded Year: 2011
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $3.04B
- Investors: Renren, Baseline Ventures and 77 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Feb 18, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 87/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 608 Competitors
2. Affirm
Provider of point of sale financing solutions for consumers and merchants. It facilitates payment plans with transparent terms and no hidden fees. The company provides options for consumers to pay over time at various retailers. It offers a mobile application and browser extension to manage payments.
Key facts about Affirm
- Founded Year: 2012
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $1.22B
- Investors: GIC, Founders Fund and 43 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series G, Sep 17, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 70 Competitors

3. Klarna
Developer of an online platform for point-of-sale financing. It enables users to purchase products within the partnered merchant network and split the cost of the purchase from the stores into interest-free payments and also works in-store. It also enables users to make instalment payments by credit or debit cards on retail purchases, receive price changes, and deal alerts. Its mobile application is available on Android and iOS platforms.
Key facts about Klarna
- Founded Year: 2005
- Location: Stockholm (Sweden)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $4.19B
- Investors: Sequoia Capital, Macy's and 136 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, Aug 21, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 85/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 320 Competitors
4. Square
Provider of integrated point of sale and business management solutions. The company delivers hardware and software for payments, retail, restaurants, and appointments. It offers tools for managing teams, payroll, marketing, customer relationships, and cash flow. The business provides solutions for various industries, including food and beverage, retail, beauty, and services.
Key facts about Square
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $520M
- Investors: Victory Park Capital Advisors, Rizvi Traverse and 58 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Mar 03, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 84/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 2,538 Competitors
5. BharatPe
Provider of payment solutions, lending, and investment opportunities for businesses. It offers tools for payment acceptance, including QR codes and card payment devices. Additionally, it facilitates business loans and provides an investment platform. The company aims to support businesses with financial products.
Key facts about BharatPe
- Founded Year: 2018
- Location: Gurugram (India)
- Stage: Series E
- Total Funding till date: $584M
- Investors: Coatue, Ribbit Capital and 60 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, Mar 07, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 84/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 423 Competitors
