What Lendo does

Lendo is a Saudi Arabia-based, Shariah-compliant debt-based crowdfunding (crowdlending) marketplace that connects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking financing with retail and institutional investors. The platform offers four core financing products - invoice financing, working capital financing, term loans (up to SAR 3 million), and purchase order financing (launched May 2024) - structured through Tawarruq and Murabaha Islamic finance mechanisms and certified by the Shariyah Review Bureau. Lendo holds SAMA debt crowdfunding license 61/AS/202203 and operates under an independent Shariah Supervisory Board, with all transactions executed through a fully digital, API-driven bilingual (Arabic/English) platform accessible via web and mobile app.

The company's technology stack centers on a proprietary Scoring Engine that processes 150+ structured data points per borrower to generate A-D credit risk classifications, alongside an Auto-Invest tool for automated portfolio distribution. Identity verification is integrated with Saudi government systems (Absher, Yaqeen), and the platform supports Apple Pay, Mada, and HyperPay payment integrations. Lendo operates a three-tier investor structure (Basic, Premium, High Net Worth) with SAR 1,000 minimum entry and a 20% success fee on investor profits, while charging SMEs a maximum 3% administrative fee per financing transaction. The platform also co-invests its own capital at 5-25% per opportunity.

Lendo generates revenue through three streams: SME administrative fees (up to 3%), investor success fees (20% of profits), and balance sheet co-investment returns. Its go-to-market combines self-serve digital onboarding with inside sales and channel partnerships, particularly through six government programs (Monsha'at, Tourism Development Fund, MODON, Cultural Development Fund, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Kafalah) that provide subsidized or guaranteed financing pathways. To date, Lendo has facilitated over SAR 5 billion in cumulative financing across 10,000+ financings with a 2.93% overall default rate (December 2025), and has stated intent to pursue an IPO in the coming years.

Name

Lendo

Legal name

Lendo Saudi Arabia for Financing

Website

https://lendo.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lendo is a SAMA-licensed, Shariah-compliant debt crowdfunding marketplace in Saudi Arabia that connects SMEs seeking invoice, working capital, term, and purchase order financing with retail and institutional investors. The platform has facilitated over SAR 5 billion in cumulative financing across 10,000+ deals since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Debt Crowdfunding Marketplace

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

P2P Small Business / SME Marketplace Lending (FSAKAHAC)

Keywords

• Debt crowdfunding platform
• SME financing marketplace
• Shariah compliant lending
• Invoice financing solutions
• Alternative lending platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Administrative Fees (Companies): Lendo charges businesses seeking financing an administrative fee determined based on credit study, with a maximum rate of 3% of the financing amount. This covers due diligence, financial analysis, and evaluation services.
2. Success Fees (Investors): Platform charges investors an administrative fee (success fee) of 20% of the profits generated for each investment opportunity, automatically deducted from returns. No fees are charged for deposits or withdrawals.
3. Platform Co-investment: Lendo participates in financing opportunities offered through its platform, with participation ranging from 5% to 25% of total financing amount per opportunity, generating returns on its own capital deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lendo operates a SAMA-licensed, Shariah-compliant debt-based crowdfunding marketplace in Saudi Arabia that connects SMEs seeking financing with retail and institutional investors. It offers invoice financing, working capital financing, term loans, and purchase order financing to SMEs, and provides investment opportunities with risk-categorized returns (9%-24%) to investors via a digital platform.

Product overview

Lendo operates as a Sharia-compliant debt-based crowdfunding (crowdlending) platform connecting SME borrowers with retail and institutional investors in Saudi Arabia. The platform offers a modular product architecture centered on three core financing products — Invoice Financing, Working Capital Financing, and Term Loans (with Purchase Order Financing added in 2024) — alongside a three-tiered investor platform (Basic, Premium, and High Net Worth tiers) with enabling tools including Auto-Invest and a Scoring Engine. Lendo also embeds government partnership programs (SME Bank, TDF, MODON, CDF, Monsha'at, MIM, Kafalah) that provide subsidized or guaranteed financing pathways for specific sectors. The platform is regulated by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) under license 61/AS/202203 and uses the Tawarruq Islamic finance mechanism, with Sharia supervision by Shariyah Review Bureau. Key platform statistics include SAR 5+ billion in cumulative financing, 7,500+ completed financing operations, and an overall default rate of 2.93% as of December 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Invoice Financing Shariah-compliant invoice financing that allows SMEs to convert outstanding deferred sales invoices into immediate cash liquidity, with repayment structured through the Murabaha process. Targeted at Saudi-registered businesses with verifiable invoices from reliable entities.
• Working Capital Financing Flexible working capital financing designed to help SMEs cover daily operational expenses, inventory needs, and short-term growth requirements with immediate liquidity. Targets Saudi businesses needing rapid capital deployment.
• Term Loans Fixed-amount term financing repaid over an agreed period through structured payments, supporting SME business growth and expansion plans, with maximum financing available up to SAR 3 million.
• Purchase Order Financing Financing product launched in May 2024 enabling SMEs to obtain funding against confirmed purchase orders rather than invoices alone, expanding the financing product portfolio to cover the full order-to-cash cycle.
• Basic Investor Account Entry-level retail investor offering for individuals starting their investment journey, with minimum investment of SAR 1,000, active investment cap of SAR 250,000, and access to up to 25% of any single opportunity. Aimed at Saudi citizens and residents aged 18+ seeking Shariah-compliant returns.
• Premium Investor Account Mid-tier investor offering with higher allocation limits, priority access to new investment opportunities, enhanced diversification flexibility, and full access to investment tools including Auto-Invest and advanced dashboard insights.
• High Net Worth Investor Account

Quantifiable outcome

• SAR 5 billion+ total financing facilitated
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Monsha'at (SME Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2026Partnership valued at SAR 6 billion including short and medium-term financing programs with flexible repayment options. Supports access to digital financing for SMEs as part of Vision 2030 objectives.
• Tourism Development Fund (TDF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFintech Platforms for Tourism initiative providing flexible financing solutions for tourism businesses. Supports sector growth and enhances local tourism experiences as part of economic diversification.
• MODON (Saudi Industrial Cities and Technology Zones Authority)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides tailored financing for factories in industrial cities with flexible repayment options. Enables investors to avoid lump-sum payments through structured installment plans.
• Cultural Development Fund (CDF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinema Sector Financing Program as part of IGNITE initiative. Lendo facilitates Shariah-compliant funding for eligible cultural and creative projects including film production and content distribution.
• Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports industrial and mineral sector projects with sustainable growth financing. Enables SMEs to access digital financing through Lendo's platform.
• Kafalah ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment initiative providing guarantees to financing entities, encouraging lenders to support businesses and fostering job creation aligned with Vision 2030.
• Shariyah Review Bureau WLL (SRB)coreOthersIndependent Sharia advisor appointed to review and certify Lendo's product documentation and activities. Ensures compliance with Sharia product interpretation and principles across all operations. Licensed by Central Bank of Bahrain.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FundingPears: Saudi Arabia-based debt-based crowdfunding platform connecting SMEs with investors under SAMA regulation. Most directly comparable to Lendo in geography, regulatory framework, and Shariah-compliant SME lending focus.
• Beehive: UAE-headquartered P2P lending marketplace for SMEs across the MENA region. Comparable business model — marketplace lending to SMEs with retail and institutional investor participation — with similar Shariah-compliant product structuring.
• Raqamyah: Saudi fintech platform offering SME financing and invoice discounting products. Operates in the same Saudi SME credit market with comparable target borrowers and investors.
• Funding Circle: UK-founded global P2P/SME lending marketplace. Closest large-scale international analog to Lendo's marketplace lending model, with comparable dual-sided fee structure and SME underwriting approach.
• LendingClub: US-headquartered P2P lending platform that pioneered consumer and small-business marketplace lending. Comparable in business model architecture — two-sided marketplace with credit scoring and institutional capital participation.
• Prosper Marketplace: US P2P lending marketplace for consumer and small-business credit. Comparable as a regulated two-sided lending marketplace with automated credit scoring and tiered investor access.

Regional players

• Yomken: Egypt-based crowdfunding platform operating in the MENA region with SME and project financing offerings. Regional peer serving a comparable SME borrower base, though operating primarily in Egypt rather than Saudi Arabia.

Broad incumbents

• Upstart: US AI-driven lending platform that partners with banks to originate personal and small-business credit. Comparable in its use of automated credit scoring and risk-tiered investor/partner participation, though broader and more mature in scale.
• SoFi: US diversified consumer and small-business fintech that originated as a P2P student lender. Adjacent incumbent that has scaled well beyond the marketplace model Lendo operates in, but relevant for marketplace-to-full-stack trajectory.

Others

• Lean Technologies: Saudi Arabia-based fintech API infrastructure provider enabling open banking data connectivity. Ecosystem-adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same Saudi fintech ecosystem with overlap in SME digital infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lendo_sa

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lendo