Lendo
Lendo is a company.
Financial History
Leadership Team
Key people at Lendo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Lendo?
Lendo was founded by Fredrik Jung Abbou (Co-Founder).
Lendo is a company.
Key people at Lendo.
Lendo was founded by Fredrik Jung Abbou (Co-Founder).
Lendo was founded by Fredrik Jung Abbou (Co-Founder).
Key people at Lendo.
Lendo is a Saudi Arabia-based fintech company founded in 2019 that operates as a crowdlending marketplace, connecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with investors for digital pre-financing of outstanding invoices.[1][2][3] It serves SMEs facing financing challenges by offering Shari'ah-compliant solutions, facilitating over $667 million in financing across more than 5,000 transactions and generating $33.3 million in investor returns.[1] The platform solves access-to-capital issues for underserved businesses, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030's goal to boost SME lending from 4% to 20% by 2030, while demonstrating strong growth through a $28 million Series B in 2023 and a recent $690 million warehouse facility from J.P. Morgan to expand lending capacity and product innovation.[1][3]
Lendo was founded in 2019 in Riyadh by Osama Alraee (CEO) and Mohamed Jawabri, entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, addressing the financing gaps for SMEs in a market dominated by bureaucratic traditional banking.[1][2] The idea emerged from recognizing SMEs' struggles with invoice financing, leading to a digital peer-to-peer platform that streamlines applications and adheres to Shari'ah principles.[2][3] Early traction built quickly, culminating in a Series B round of $28 million in late 2023 led by Sanabil Investments (a Public Investment Fund subsidiary), with participation from Shorooq Partners and AB Ventures, followed by the landmark J.P. Morgan facility in 2025 signaling pivotal validation.[1]
(Note: Lendo Group in Scandinavia is a distinct entity focused on consumer financial marketplaces and not related to this Saudi fintech.[4])
Lendo rides the fintech wave in Saudi Arabia, capitalizing on Vision 2030's push for SME empowerment, private sector growth, and increased lending amid rising international investor confidence in the Kingdom's regulatory framework.[1][3] Timing is ideal post-Series B and amid global institutions like J.P. Morgan entering, which validates the ecosystem and accelerates digitization for underserved SMEs traditionally sidelined by legacy banks.[1][2] Market forces favoring Lendo include booming SME demand, fintech liberalization, and economic diversification away from oil, influencing the ecosystem by enabling job creation, innovation, and scalable financing models that other startups can emulate.[1]
Lendo is poised for explosive growth, leveraging the $690 million facility to scale lending, launch innovative products, and deepen SME penetration, potentially surpassing its $667 million milestone rapidly.[1] Trends like AI-driven credit assessment, further Vision 2030 funding, and regional fintech expansion will shape its path, evolving its influence from a local bridge to a pan-Middle East leader in Islamic fintech. This builds on its transformative Series B momentum, solidifying Lendo as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's digital financing revolution for SMEs.[1]