creditshelf

Alternative SME Lendingcreditshelf.com

creditshelf was a Frankfurt-based digital lending platform that arranged alternative financing for German small and medium-sized enterprises via an online origination channel, earning transaction fees on loan volume. Founded in 2014 and publicly listed (etr:CSQ), it was acquired by Swiss fintech Teylor AG in April 2024.

Company typePrivate
Founded2014
HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What creditshelf does

creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft was a Frankfurt-based, publicly listed (etr:CSQ) digital lending platform founded in 2014 that arranged alternative financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. The company operated a self-serve online origination channel through which German SMB borrowers could apply for customized business loans, bypassing traditional bank intermediation. Its product was a domain-specialized loan-arrangement workflow rather than a balance-sheet lender, with revenue derived from transaction fees on the loan volume arranged.

Under the hood, the platform digitized SME credit applications and underwriting workflows, with reported benefits including faster processing and improved unit economics (Q3 2022 margin expansion despite lower loan volume). The company supplemented its own origination with strategic debt capacity — notably a €100 million financing facility from Goldman Sachs secured in November 2022 — and extended its technology stack via the September 2019 acquisition of Valendo. Leadership included co-founders Tim Thabe (CEO) and Daniel Bartsch, alongside CFO Fabian Brügmann and CTO Dr. Gregor Heinrich.

In April 2024, Swiss fintech Teylor AG acquired creditshelf to strengthen its product lineup and expand its SME customer base in Germany. Following the deal, creditshelf's capabilities were integrated into Teylor's broader digital SME financing platform, which spans firmenkredit, leasing, factoring, and mietkauf products. The standalone creditshelf entity no longer operates independently.

creditshelf firmographics

Firmographics

Name: creditshelf
Legal name: creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft
Website: https://creditshelf.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2014
Operating status: Acquired
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: creditshelf was a Frankfurt-based digital lending platform that arranged alternative financing for German small and medium-sized enterprises via an online origination channel, earning transaction fees on loan volume. Founded in 2014 and publicly listed (etr:CSQ), it was acquired by Swiss fintech Teylor AG in April 2024.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

creditshelf industry classification

Industry

Product category: Alternative SME Lending
NAICS: Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)
SIC: Loan Brokers (6163)
akta.pro primary industry: SME Lending & Working Capital Platforms (FSAGAJAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit (FSAKAGAJ), SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB)

Keywords

SME lending platform
Alternative financing
Digital business loans
SME credit
Loan arrangement services

Where creditshelf is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Frankfurt
HQ country: Germany
HQ region: Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

creditshelf business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Loan Arrangement Fees: creditshelf generated revenue by arranging loans for SMEs, earning fees from the loan volume arranged. The company reported improved revenue and margins despite decreased loan volume in Q3 2022.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

creditshelf product offering

Product offering

Core offering

creditshelf operated a Germany-based digital lending platform that arranged customized loan products for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling businesses to apply for financing online as an alternative to traditional bank lending. The company connected SMEs seeking capital with institutional financing partners and earned transaction fees on loan volume arranged. Following its April 2024 acquisition by Swiss fintech Teylor AG, creditshelf's SME lending capabilities were integrated into Teylor's broader digital SME financing platform.

Product overview

creditshelf operated as a Germany-based alternative lending platform focused on SME financing. The company offered digital lending services including loan products for small and mid-sized businesses. Following its acquisition by Swiss fintech Teylor AG in April 2024, creditshelf's capabilities were integrated into Teylor's broader digital SME financing platform, which also includes offerings such as firmenkredit (business credit), leasing, factoring, and mietkauf (rent-to-own).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Alternative SME Lending Platform Digital lending platform providing customized loan products for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling businesses to access financing through an online application process as an alternative to traditional bank lending. Targeted at German SMEs seeking alternative financing solutions.

Companies that use creditshelf

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

creditshelf technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

creditshelf partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

creditshelf competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Grenke AG: Grenke AG is a German-listed leasing and factoring specialist serving SMEs. Teylor acquired grenke's factoring business in 2025, making grenke a relevant broader incumbent whose customer base overlapped with creditshelf.

Regional players

auxmoney: auxmoney is Germany's largest peer-to-peer consumer and SME lending platform. While P2P-focused, it is comparable as a German-headquartered digital alternative lending platform operating in the same regulatory environment.

Direct peers

Spotcap: Spotcap (formerly Zencap) provides online working capital loans to SMEs across European markets including Germany. It is a direct competitor in the digital SME lending space.
Younited Credit: Younited is a European consumer and SME credit platform offering instant credit decisions and digital loan origination. It is comparable as a digital-first European lender serving underbanked SMEs and consumers.
Lendio: Lendio operates an SMB lending marketplace matching small businesses with multiple lenders. It is comparable as a digital SME lending intermediary platform, though focused on the US market.
Iwoca: Iwoca is a leading UK-headquartered but Germany-focused digital SME lending platform providing flexible working capital loans to small businesses. It is a direct competitor in the German alternative SME finance market.
Funding Circle: Funding Circle operates a global SME lending marketplace connecting small businesses with institutional and retail investors. It is a comparable digital SME lending platform operating across multiple European markets.
Kreditech: Kreditech is a German-headquartered digital lending platform using alternative data for credit decisions, serving consumers and small businesses in emerging and developed markets. It is comparable as a German fintech lender.
Teylor AG: Teylor AG is creditshelf's direct acquirer and the leading digital SME financing platform in Europe, offering firmenkredit, leasing, factoring, and mietkauf. It is directly comparable as a digital SME lender serving the DACH market.

Emerging players

Capify: Capify provides online working capital and small business loans across the UK, US, and Australia. It is comparable as a smaller-scale digital SME lender using alternative data for underwriting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

creditshelf financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

creditshelf leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

creditshelf funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

creditshelf M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about creditshelf

What does creditshelf do?

Is creditshelf a public or private company?

creditshelf is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.

When was creditshelf founded?

creditshelf was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is creditshelf based?

creditshelf is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.

How does creditshelf make money?

One revenue line is on record: loan Arrangement Fees.

Who are creditshelf's main competitors?

Grenke AG is listed as a broad incumbent. auxmoney is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Spotcap, Younited Credit, Lendio, Iwoca, Funding Circle, Kreditech and Teylor AG. Capify is listed as an emerging player.

Does creditshelf have an API?

No public API is recorded for creditshelf.

What industry is creditshelf in?

creditshelf's product category is Alternative SME Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAJAA, SME Lending & Working Capital Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAJ, SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit. Its NAICS code is 52231 and its SIC code is 6163.