Habacus
Habacus is an Italian fintech credit broker (founded 2017, Milan) that operates a digital comparison and AI-assisted advisory platform connecting university students and families with 20+ partner banks for student loans, including state-guaranteed Fondo per lo Studio products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Habacus does
Habacus S.r.l. is an Italian fintech founded in 2017 by Paolo Cuniberti and headquartered in Milan that operates as a registered credit broker (OAM no. M661) facilitating student loans for post-diploma education. The company's core product is a digital comparison platform that enables students and families to evaluate loan products from 20+ Italian banks, verify eligibility in minutes without requiring bank account data, and receive guided human support via WhatsApp and free webinars through to loan approval. Supporting products include the Advisory Model (an AI-assisted study planning tool launched in partnership with Studenti.it in January 2025), the Find University cost-of-education explorer, family-orientation services, and integration with the state-guaranteed Fondo per lo Studio program managed by CONSAP.
The underlying technology is an API-based platform that digitizes the full student loan credit cycle, including a proprietary Academic Performance Certification System developed in collaboration with Bancoposta (under Decree No. 100 of April 30, 2021) and continuous monitoring of student academic career data used to verify tranche-level loan disbursement eligibility. Habacus has also integrated Fabrick S.p.A. as an Account Information Service Provider under PSD2, enabling aggregation of user payment account data in its mobile app.
Habacus operates a free-for-students business model, generating revenue through transaction-based credit mediation commissions from its 20+ banking partners (including Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banco BPM, Banca Popolare Sondrio, BCC ICCREA, Sparkasse, and Civi Bank). Distribution occurs through a digital self-serve platform (habacus.com and comparatore.habacus.com), partnerships with approximately 1,300 educational institutions and employers, the Carta Giovani Nazionale initiative via the IO App, and media partnerships including Corriere della Sera. The company reports having accompanied over 50,000 students since founding, with 30,000+ students financed, 10,000+ students using the platform annually, and a stated dropout rate among supported students of 0.8% versus a 17% national average.
Habacus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Habacus
- Legal name
- Habacus S.r.l.
- Website
- https://habacus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Habacus is an Italian fintech credit broker (founded 2017, Milan) that operates a digital comparison and AI-assisted advisory platform connecting university students and families with 20+ partner banks for student loans, including state-guaranteed Fondo per lo Studio products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Habacus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Loan Brokerage / Education Fintech
- NAICS
- Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)
- SIC
- Loan Brokers (6163)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Loan Marketplace Lending (FSAKAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Short-Term Credit Broking & Lead Generation (FSAKAMAN), Credit Bureaus & Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies (FSAKAKAA)
Keywords
Where Habacus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Habacus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Credit Mediation Commissions: Habacus operates as a credit broker (registered with OAM no. M661), earning commissions from banking partners for facilitating student loans. The service is free for students. The company also processes loan disbursement verifications for each tranche.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free for students - all services provided at no cost to the borrower |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Habacus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Habacus operates as an OAM-registered Italian credit broker (mediatore creditizio) that compares student loan offers from 20+ partner banks for prospective and enrolled university students. Its core offering is a free online comparison platform that performs eligibility verification without requiring bank account data, presents transparent bank conditions, and guides students via WhatsApp operators through to loan approval. The company also operates an API technology that partner banks integrate into their lending processes, with proprietary academic performance certification and continuous monitoring through each disbursement tranche.
Product overview
Habacus is an Italian student-focused fintech company offering a unified platform centered on student loan comparison and academic financial planning. The core product is the Comparison Platform (Comparatore), which enables students to compare student loans from over 20 partner banks. Supporting modules include WhatsApp chat support with operators, free webinars, and the Advisory Model (with Studenti.it partnership) for strategic study planning. The platform also integrates with the state-backed Fondo per lo Studio program managed by CONSAP, facilitating access to government-guaranteed student loans. Habacus acts as a credit broker registered with OAM, facilitating the relationship between students and financial institutions rather than directly lending funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Comparatore (Student Loan Comparison Platform) Online comparison platform that lets students verify eligibility in minutes without sharing bank account data, view and compare loan conditions from 20+ Italian banks transparently, and proceed to apply with operator support via WhatsApp until loan approval. Free for students; revenue generated through mediation commissions from partner banks.
- Advisory Model (AI Study Planning Tool) Strategic study planning tool using proprietary algorithms integrated with artificial intelligence to help high school students plan their university path, manage study and living expenses, compare costs across Italian cities, and evaluate post-graduation career prospects. Launched in partnership with Studenti.it.
- Find University (Trova Università) Discovery tool for prospective university students that explores education costs (tuition, ISEE reductions, cost of living by city) and surfaces compatible financing options across Habacus's partner bank network.
- Value Added Services App (PSD2 Aggregated Account View) Mobile app functionality that allows users to view aggregated data from their payment accounts (balances and transactions) via Fabrick S.p.A.'s AISP services under PSD2, integrated with Habacus's certification scoring system.
- Student Loan Webinars Free guided online sessions (30-40 minutes) for students and families explaining how student loans work in Italy, including disbursement requirements, repayment plans, and the state-backed Fondo per lo Studio program, followed by live Q&A.
- Family Support Services (Prestiti per le Famiglie) Dedicated support service for families that financially sustain a student's education, offering free chat-based guidance on loan costs, timelines, conditions, and family obligations to help parents make informed decisions about educational investment.
- Fondo per lo Studio Facilitation (State-Guaranteed Loan) Service facilitating student access to Italy's state-backed Fondo per lo Studio loan program managed by CONSAP, covering up to 70% of bank risk and enabling students aged 18-40 to obtain financing without income or guarantor requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Only 0.8% dropout rate among students supported by Habacus vs 17% national average dropout rate in Italy (Istat)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Habacus
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Habacus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Habacus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Carta Giovani Nazionale (Presidenza del Consiglio)coreHabacus joined the Carta Giovani Nazionale digital initiative, providing orientation and financing tools for under-35s through the IO App. Habacus offers high school students orientation services exploring study costs and career prospects, and a financing exploration tool for academic funding.
- Studenti.it (Mondadori)coreCollaboration with Studenti.it to provide an Advisory Model tool using proprietary algorithms integrated with AI. The tool helps high school students plan university paths, compare study costs and living expenses across Italian cities, and evaluate post-diploma career prospects.
- CONSAPcoreHabacus has an agreement with CONSAP for the Fondo per lo Studio (state guarantee program), participating in the ecosystem that enables state-backed student loans. The July 2024 reform introduced a state guarantee of last resort covering up to 70% of the capital disbursed.
- Banca Intesa SanpaolocoreOne of 20+ partner banks offering student loans through the Habacus platform. Students can compare conditions across multiple banks including Intesa Sanpaolo.
- Banco BPMcorePartner bank in the Habacus network. Students can compare conditions across all partner banks including Banco BPM.
- Banca Popolare Sondrio (BPS)corePartner bank in the Habacus student loan network.
- BCC Banca ICCREAcorePartner bank (Banca di Credito Cooperativo) in the Habacus student loan network.
- BCC CredifriuliminorRegional BCC (Banca di Credito Cooperativo) partner in the Habacus student loan network.
- BCC Banca Don RizzominorRegional BCC (Banca di Credito Cooperativo) partner in the Habacus student loan network.
- BPPB (Banca Popolare di Puglia e Basilicata)minorPartner bank in the Habacus student loan network.
- UniCreditcoreMajor Italian banking group partner in the Habacus student loan network.
- Sparkasse - Cassa di RisparmiominorRegional banking partner in the Habacus student loan network, serving the South Tyrol area.
- Civi BankminorRegional banking partner in the Habacus student loan network.
- Corriere della SeracoreMedia partnership with Corriere della Sera. Habacus contributes educational content to Lezioni del Corriere della Sera platform on orientation and future education planning.
- Fabrick S.p.A.coreFabrick S.p.A. (Piazza Gaudenzio Sella 1, 13900 Biella), operating under direction and coordination of Banca Sella Holding S.p.A., provides Account Information Service Provider (AISP) services under PSD2 for Habacus's Value Added Services. Through Fabrick, users can view aggregated data from their payment accounts linked to the Habacus app.
- SatispayminorPayment services partner listed in the Habacus ecosystem.
- ScalapayminorPayment services partner listed in the Habacus ecosystem.
- Alpha TestminorEducational services partner helping students who want a loan for studies.
- JointlyminorCorporate partner helping employees' children access student loans through Habacus.
- Nova StudentsminorStudent services partner in the Habacus ecosystem.
- JoivyminorHousing services partner helping students find accommodation as part of the student loan ecosystem.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Habacus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Credible: US-based online marketplace that lets student loan borrowers compare and refinance offers from multiple lenders. Closely comparable to Habacus in operating a multi-lender comparison and brokerage model for student loans, though Credible focuses on refinancing rather than initial origination.
- LendKey: US student loan marketplace connecting borrowers with community banks and credit unions. Direct comparable to Habacus's model of aggregating demand from students and routing them to a network of lending institutions for student loan origination.
- Prodigy Finance: Cross-border student loan platform serving international master's students. Comparable to Habacus in originating/facilitating student loans for tertiary education and underwriting on academic merit rather than income guarantees — a similar value proposition to students lacking traditional credit history.
Emerging players
- Edly: Income-share agreement (ISA) and student loan marketplace targeting higher education. Comparable to Habacus in the student-credit intermediary niche, with a similar focus on academic-performance-linked credit decisions, though operating in a different financing structure.
Broad incumbents
- SoFi: US fintech originally founded to refinance student loans, now a full-service consumer bank. Comparable to Habacus as a student-loan-rooted platform that expanded into adjacent financial services; however, SoFi operates as a direct lender rather than a broker/marketplace.
- Younited Credit: European consumer credit marketplace operating across France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and beyond. Comparable to Habacus in operating a multi-bank credit brokerage model with API-based bank integrations, though Younited serves broader consumer credit use cases rather than specializing in student loans.
- Funding Circle: UK-headquartered SME and consumer marketplace lending platform. Comparable to Habacus in operating a regulated multi-lender credit marketplace with technology-enabled onboarding, though serving businesses rather than students.
- Findomestic: Italian consumer credit provider (BNL Paribas group) offering personal loans including education financing. Comparable to Habacus as an established Italian lender competing for the same student loan demand, but operating as a direct lender rather than a multi-bank broker.
Regional players
- Prestiamoci: Italian peer-to-peer lending platform registered with Banca d'Italia and Consob. Comparable to Habacus as an Italian alternative finance intermediary using technology to match borrowers with capital sources, though focused on personal rather than student loans.
Others
- Fabrick: Italian open banking platform (Banca Sella group) providing PSD2 AISP/PISP infrastructure. Comparable to Habacus as an ecosystem enabler — Fabrick is Habacus's actual infrastructure partner for account aggregation services and represents the type of platform layer Habacus sits on top of in the Italian fintech stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Habacus social profiles
Digital presenceHabacus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Habacus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Habacus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Habacus 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 Habacus
What does Habacus do?
Habacus operates as an OAM-registered Italian credit broker (mediatore creditizio) that compares student loan offers from 20+ partner banks for prospective and enrolled university students. Its core offering is a free online comparison platform that performs eligibility verification without requiring bank account data, presents transparent bank conditions, and guides students via WhatsApp operators through to loan approval. The company also operates an API technology that partner banks integrate into their lending processes, with proprietary academic performance certification and continuous monitoring through each disbursement tranche.
Is Habacus a public or private company?
Habacus is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Habacus founded?
Habacus was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Habacus based?
Habacus is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Habacus make money?
One revenue line is on record: credit Mediation Commissions.
Who are Habacus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Credible, LendKey and Prodigy Finance. Edly is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are SoFi, Younited Credit, Funding Circle and Findomestic. Prestiamoci is listed as a regional player. Fabrick is listed as an others.
Does Habacus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Habacus.
What industry is Habacus in?
Habacus's product category is Student Loan Brokerage / Education Fintech. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAHAE, Student Loan Marketplace Lending, with a secondary code of FSAKAMAN, Short-Term Credit Broking & Lead Generation. Its NAICS code is 52231 and its SIC code is 6163.