Molo

Molo operates as a digital-first mortgage lender in the United Kingdom, aiming to streamline the traditionally slow and paper-intensive process of securing property financing. The company was conceptualized in the summer of 2017 and officially launched in 2018. The idea originated from co-founder Francesca Carlesi's personal frustration with the inefficiency of the mortgage application process. A veteran of the finance and banking industry with a background at McKinsey & Co., Barclays, and Deutsche Bank, Carlesi sought to build a mortgage process designed entirely around the customer's needs. She partnered with Leo Grünstein, a serial co-founder and investor, to establish the company.

Molo's core business revolves around its proprietary online platform, which leverages technology to automate decision-making and validate data in real-time, significantly reducing the time it takes to get a mortgage approval. This allows the company to provide quicker lending decisions compared to the weeks-long waiting periods common with traditional lenders. The business model focuses on being a direct lender, which means it underwrites the loans it offers, starting with the buy-to-let (BTL) market. Molo serves a range of clients, including individual landlords, portfolio investors, and those purchasing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). More recently, the company expanded its offerings to include non-resident and expat BTL lending. Revenue is generated through the interest and fees associated with these mortgage products.

A significant milestone in Molo's history was its acquisition by ColCap Financial Limited, an Australian non-bank lender. This began with a strategic partnership in 2022, followed by ColCap acquiring an 80% stake in March 2023, and culminated in ColCap taking full ownership by acquiring the remaining 20% in August 2024. This strategic transaction provides Molo with substantial funding depth and mortgage product expertise, enabling it to accelerate growth while continuing to operate as an independent brand under its current management team. In May 2024, Molo and ColCap successfully completed their first securitisation of £300 million, a key step in their strategic partnership.

Keywords: digital mortgage, proptech, buy-to-let, online lending, real estate finance, mortgage automation, property investment, expat mortgages, portfolio landlords, fintech