Kiwi

Kiwi operates as a financial technology firm focused on the U.S. Latino community, addressing the significant barriers to financial inclusion they often face.

The company was founded in 2020 by Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter. Both originally from the Dominican Republic, their journey began after experiencing firsthand the challenges of establishing a credit history in the United States. Sanz, a finance graduate from Marquette University, and Schachter, a finance graduate from Penn State, left their positions at JP Morgan to create a solution to a problem they personally understood. Their shared background fueled their mission to provide equitable financial access to a historically underserved demographic.

Kiwi's core business revolves around providing AI-driven financial products that assist consumers in building a credit history. The business model targets the underbanked Latino population, including both immigrants and those born in the U.S., offering tools for spending, saving, and borrowing. Revenue has grown substantially, and the company reports being profitable.

The primary service is a platform that encompasses the entire credit lifecycle, from underwriting and fraud detection to compliance and servicing. By solving the initial problem of credit access, Kiwi aims to build long-term relationships with its customers, offering a suite of financial products tailored to their specific needs. The company has successfully raised significant capital to expand its operations nationwide and enhance its AI capabilities.

Keywords: financial inclusion, fintech, credit building, Latino community, AI-powered finance, underwriting, credit access, personal finance, financial services, immigrant finance, credit history, mobile finance, lending platform, U.S. market, Mariano Sanz, Alexander Schachter, financial tools, credit lifecycle, fraud detection, venture capital