Pledg

Pledg is a French financial technology firm established in 2016 by Nicolas Pelletier and Benoit Lienart, focusing on 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) solutions. The company's inception was driven by a desire to simplify group purchases among friends, which evolved into a broader mission of facilitating flexible payment options for consumers and accelerating growth for merchants. Co-founder Nicolas Pelletier, leveraging a background as an investment banker at BNP Paribas and CEO of mobile music company Musiwave, applied his passion for finance to develop accessible BNPL solutions.

The company provides white-label BNPL technology and financing, allowing merchants to offer payment solutions under their own brand. This business model serves both B2C and B2B companies across e-commerce, in-store, and call center channels. Pledg's revenue is generated by enabling these financing options for merchants' customers. Its product suite includes payment in installments (from 3 to 12 installments), deferred payments, and shared payments, which are integrated directly into the merchant's environment without redirecting the customer to a third-party site. This seamless integration is designed to improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction by allowing consumers to pay at their own pace while merchants receive immediate payment. Pledg utilizes algorithms that process over 100 criteria and Open Banking technology to assess customer solvency in real-time, mitigating risks for its partners.

A significant milestone in Pledg's history was its acquisition by Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance on February 29, 2024, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary. This strategic move integrated Pledg's agile technology with the financial stability of a major banking group, aiming to bolster the offerings of Sofinco, Crédit Agricole's retail financing division. Prior to the acquisition, Pledg had secured significant funding, including a raise of €80 million in 2021, and had established partnerships with over 200 merchants, including notable names like Decathlon, Carrefour Voyages, and Club Med. The company operates across 10 European countries and continues to enhance its fraud protection capabilities through strategic collaborations.

Keywords: Buy Now Pay Later, BNPL, payment facilitation, installment payments, deferred payments, shared payment, white-label fintech, e-commerce financing, B2B payments, retail financing, point-of-sale financing, consumer credit, Open Banking, fraud prevention, payment solutions, merchant services, customer conversion, financial technology, Crédit Agricole, Sofinco