LendingCrowd
LendingCrowd is a UK fintech peer-to-peer lending platform that provides business loans from £75,000 to £500,000 to British SMEs and limited companies. Founded in 2014 in Edinburgh, it has originated over £600 million in loans to 3,800+ businesses via direct applications and a broker network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LendingCrowd does
LendingCrowd is a UK fintech peer-to-peer lending platform, trading as Edinburgh Alternative Finance Limited, that originated in Edinburgh in 2014 to provide working-capital and growth financing to British small and medium-sized enterprises. The platform serves limited companies and limited liability partnerships with at least two years' trading history and £100,000+ annual turnover, offering unsecured business loans up to £350,000 (with personal guarantee) and property-secured loans from £350,000 to £500,000, on terms of 6 months to 5 years at fixed monthly repayment rates from 9.45%. Since inception it has facilitated over £600 million in loans to more than 3,800 SMEs across Britain, building a cumulative loan book of £192.6 million (1,626 loans) with £97.9 million (850 loans) outstanding as of July 2023.
The platform combines automated credit and identity checks with oversight from an in-house Credit Team. Core technology components include automated credit decisioning against data feeds from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; identity verification through Onfido and GB Group; fraud detection via Cifas; payment processing via GoCardless (direct debit) and Stripe (card); and a three-portal architecture comprising a Borrower Portal (app.lendingcrowd.com), an Investor Portal and a Broker/Introducer Portal (brokers.lendingcrowd.com). LendingCrowd is fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 670991, since November 2016), GDPR-registered with the ICO (ZA052875), and is accredited as a lender for the British Business Bank's CBILS (July 2020) and Recovery Loan Scheme (February 2022).
Revenue is generated primarily through interest on business loans and platform fees on matched transactions, with investors earning returns from borrower interest. Distribution is hybrid: direct online application by SMEs combined with a national network of commercial finance brokers and introducers (Sedulo, Claratus, Johnson Reed, TSF Finance, Spark Finance, among others), supported by a preferred-partner agreement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. The company's largest capital event was a £100 million facility from Barclays Bank and an unnamed global investment firm in February 2022; earlier rounds include a 2018 £2.2 million Equity Gap-led seed and a 2019 round involving NIBC Bank and the Scottish Investment Bank. The company is led by founder Stuart Lunn as CEO and Sir Sandy Crombie (former Standard Life CEO) as Chairman.
LendingCrowd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LendingCrowd
- Legal name
- Edinburgh Alternative Finance Limited
- Website
- https://lendingcrowd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LendingCrowd is a UK fintech peer-to-peer lending platform that provides business loans from £75,000 to £500,000 to British SMEs and limited companies. Founded in 2014 in Edinburgh, it has originated over £600 million in loans to 3,800+ businesses via direct applications and a broker network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LendingCrowd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- SME Business Lending
- NAICS
- Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)
- SIC
- Loan Brokers (6163)
- akta.pro primary industry
- P2P Loan Syndication & Participation Platforms (FSAKAHAL)
Keywords
Where LendingCrowd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
LendingCrowd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Loan interest income: LendingCrowd generates revenue primarily through interest charged on business loans provided to SMEs. Borrowers repay loans with interest over terms of 6 months to 5 years at competitive fixed rates.
- Platform fees: Fees collected from borrowers for loan origination and servicing. The platform facilitates peer-to-peer lending connecting borrower and lender interests.
- Investor returns: Investors on the platform earn returns from interest payments made by borrowers on funded loans. The platform acts as intermediary matching investor capital with SME borrowers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Standard business loans from £75,000 to £500,000 for UK SMEs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) loans from £25,001 to £500,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Unsecured SME loan up to £350,000 with personal guarantee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Property secured SME loan from £350,000 to £500,000 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
LendingCrowd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LendingCrowd is a UK fintech peer-to-peer lending platform that provides business loans ranging from £75,000 to £500,000 to limited companies and limited liability partnerships through its online platform and broker network. The platform combines automated credit decisioning with oversight from an experienced in-house Credit Team, delivers loan decisions within 24 hours, and disburses funds the same day via direct debit and card payment rails, while simultaneously matching borrower loans with capital from individual and institutional investors.
Product overview
LendingCrowd is a fintech peer-to-peer lending platform offering business loans as its core product. The platform operates through three integrated portals: the Borrower Portal for loan applications and management, the Investor Portal for lenders to participate in lending, and a Broker/Introducer Portal for commercial finance partners. The company also participated in government-backed schemes including CBILS and the Recovery Loan Scheme. Loans range from £75,000 to £500,000 for SMEs, with unsecured options up to £350,000 and property-secured options from £350,000 to £500,000. The platform combines automated credit decisioning with human oversight from a Credit Team.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Loans (SME Loans) Core SME business loan product offering unsecured loans from £75,000 to £350,000 (with personal guarantee) and property-secured loans from £350,000 to £500,000, with terms from 6 months to 5 years, fixed interest rates, monthly repayments, no early repayment fees, 24-hour decisions and same-day funding for approved loans. Targeted at UK limited companies and LLPs trading at least two years with £100,000+ annual turnover.
- Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) Lending Government-backed Recovery Loan Scheme product delivered through LendingCrowd's core lending platform in partnership with the British Business Bank, providing loans from £25,001 to £500,000 over 36, 48 or 60 months at rates from 9.45%, with no early repayment fees.
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) Lending Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme product delivered as a British Business Bank-accredited lender, providing loans from £50,001 to £250,000 with terms of 3 or 5 years to UK SMEs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quantifiable outcome
- Loan decisions in 24 hours
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use LendingCrowd
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
LendingCrowd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
LendingCrowd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)coreStrategic partnership making LendingCrowd ICAS's preferred partner in its Business Loans category. This agreement provides preferential access to ICAS members for SME lending services.
- Tech NationminorSelected for the prestigious Tech Nation Upscale 4.0 programme, a government-backed initiative supporting high-growth UK technology companies.
- Sedulo Funding SolutionsminorCommercial finance broker introducing SME borrowers to the LendingCrowd platform. Multiple case studies show successful loan placements through this introducer.
- Claratus Commercial FinanceminorCommercial finance broker that introduced a mobile communications provider borrower to LendingCrowd for refinancing and new contract funding.
- Johnson ReedminorCommercial finance broker that introduced a play equipment manufacturer borrower to the LendingCrowd platform.
- TSF FinanceminorCommercial funding brokerage that introduced a stoves retailer borrower to LendingCrowd for working capital support.
- Spark FinanceminorSpecialist commercial broker that introduced a linen and towels wholesaler borrower to LendingCrowd for business expansion.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LendingCrowd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Funding Circle: UK's largest P2P/originated business lending platform focused on loans to SMEs. Direct competitor across the same customer segment (UK limited companies) with a similar marketplace/P2P-plus-balance-sheet model.
- iwoca: UK fintech providing flexible working capital and term loans (£1k–£1m) to SMEs. Competes head-on with LendingCrowd in tech-enabled, speed-differentiated SME lending, with similar algorithmic underwriting.
- ThinCats: UK P2P platform originating secured and unsecured business loans to established SMEs — most direct comparability to LendingCrowd's P2P intermediation model and typical ticket size.
- Assetz Capital: UK P2P lending platform providing business loans, property finance and bridging loans to SMEs. Closely comparable marketplace model connecting retail/institutional investors with SME borrowers.
- Fleximize: UK-based alternative finance platform providing flexible business loans and asset finance to SMEs. Comparable model and ticket sizes, and overlapping broker/introducer distribution strategy.
Broad incumbents
- OakNorth Bank: UK challenger bank lending to growth-stage SMEs (£0.5m–£10m tickets). Overlaps with LendingCrowd at the upper end of LendingCrowd's £75k–£500k range and competes on speed and data-led underwriting.
- Esme Loans (NatWest): Digital SME lending arm backed by NatWest, offering loans up to £250k to UK SMEs. Comparable origination profile and target segment, leveraging NatWest's incumbent deposit base for cost-of-funds advantage.
Emerging players
- Capify: UK-based online alternative lender focused on working capital and small business loans. Competes in the smaller-ticket SME segment with similar speed-of-decision value proposition.
- MarketInvoice (Ember): UK fintech specialising in invoice finance and working capital lines for SMEs. Adjacent competitor to LendingCrowd in the cashflow/working-capital use case but with invoice-based rather than term-loan product.
Regional players
- Nucleus Commercial Finance: UK-based specialist commercial finance broker and lender offering business loans, asset finance and invoice discounting. Comparable to LendingCrowd on the broker-driven SME channel, anchored in UK market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LendingCrowd social profiles
Digital presenceLendingCrowd compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
LendingCrowd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LendingCrowd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
LendingCrowd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LendingCrowd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LendingCrowd
What does LendingCrowd do?
LendingCrowd is a UK fintech peer-to-peer lending platform that provides business loans ranging from £75,000 to £500,000 to limited companies and limited liability partnerships through its online platform and broker network. The platform combines automated credit decisioning with oversight from an experienced in-house Credit Team, delivers loan decisions within 24 hours, and disburses funds the same day via direct debit and card payment rails, while simultaneously matching borrower loans with capital from individual and institutional investors.
Is LendingCrowd a public or private company?
LendingCrowd is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was LendingCrowd founded?
LendingCrowd was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LendingCrowd based?
LendingCrowd is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does LendingCrowd make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan interest income is the primary driver. The others are platform fees and investor returns.
Who are LendingCrowd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Funding Circle, iwoca, ThinCats, Assetz Capital and Fleximize. Broad incumbents are OakNorth Bank and Esme Loans (NatWest). Emerging players are Capify and MarketInvoice (Ember). Nucleus Commercial Finance is listed as a regional player.
Does LendingCrowd have an API?
No public API is recorded for LendingCrowd.
What industry is LendingCrowd in?
LendingCrowd's product category is SME Business Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAHAL, P2P Loan Syndication & Participation Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5222 and its SIC code is 6163.