Tanda is a community-driven savings service dedicated to improving financial well-being for all. It empowers users to pursue financial goals by building a co...
Key people at Tanda.
Tanda was founded in 2023 by Jesse Chor (Founder) and Chris Chan (Founder) and Mike Emery (Founder) and Glen Wong (Founder).
Key people at Tanda.
Tanda is a fintech startup building a community-driven savings and lending network that leverages the Rotating Savings and Credit Association (ROSCA) model—commonly known as a “tanda”—to improve financial well-being for small businesses and their employees. The platform enables groups to pool money, take turns accessing the collective sum, and build financial resilience through peer accountability and social trust. Tanda’s digital solution modernizes this age-old practice, making it accessible, secure, and scalable for the modern workforce.
Tanda primarily serves small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and their employees, especially in underserved markets where traditional banking access is limited. By offering a structured, app-based tanda system, Tanda solves the problem of financial exclusion, helps reduce employee turnover, and fosters workplace community. The company has gained early traction with a growing waitlist, partnerships with restaurants and brands, and $4.5 million in seed funding from Initialized Capital and Arc (Sequoia’s pre-seed/seed catalyst), signaling strong momentum and investor confidence.
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Tanda was founded in 2018 by Jesse Chor, a three-time entrepreneur with prior experience leading mobile and AR products at Yahoo and Splunk. The idea for Tanda emerged from Chor’s personal experience building a tanda app at Yahoo, which saw rapid adoption but was deprioritized after the company’s acquisition. Recognizing the enduring need for accessible, community-based financial tools—especially for SMBs and their employees—Chor revived the concept with a mission to democratize financial security.
The platform’s early traction came from pilot programs with restaurants and small businesses, where employers began offering Tanda as an employee benefit to boost retention and satisfaction. The model’s roots trace back to ancient ROSCA traditions, but Tanda’s digital approach brings transparency, ease of use, and scalability to a practice that has long relied on informal, paper-based systems.
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Tanda is riding the wave of fintech innovation focused on financial inclusion and the future of work. As remote and gig economies grow, and as traditional banking fails to meet the needs of SMBs and informal workers, platforms like Tanda fill a critical gap. The timing is especially relevant in markets where digital adoption is rising, but access to credit and savings tools remains limited.
By digitizing and scaling the ROSCA model, Tanda is influencing how communities and businesses think about financial resilience. It’s part of a broader trend toward decentralized, peer-to-peer financial solutions that empower users to take control of their financial futures. Tanda’s success could inspire similar models in other regions and sectors, further expanding the reach of community-driven finance.
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Tanda is poised to become a key player in the fintech space, particularly for SMBs and their employees seeking accessible, community-based financial tools. As the company scales its platform and expands its network of partners, it will likely deepen its impact on financial inclusion and workplace well-being. The future may see Tanda branching into new markets, integrating with payroll systems, or even offering additional financial products.
The rise of digital ROSCAs and peer-to-peer savings networks is a trend to watch, and Tanda is at the forefront of this movement. As more businesses recognize the value of financial wellness as a retention tool, Tanda’s influence could grow beyond the SMB sector, shaping how communities and organizations approach collective financial health. Tanda’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful innovations are rooted in timeless human practices—modernized for a new era.
Tanda was founded in 2023 by Jesse Chor (Founder) and Chris Chan (Founder) and Mike Emery (Founder) and Glen Wong (Founder).