Estonian fintech startup Income, which connects retail and institutional investors to vetted non-bank lenders, has raised €540,000 to support its global expansion and product development. The fresh funding brings the company closer to its goal of securing €1.5 million in total capital.
The investment was led by long-time backer Dr. Hauptmann, with a further €250,000 tranche now being offered to retail investors through the SeedBlink platform.
Founded in 2020, Income aims to reshape the private debt market by offering a more transparent and risk-conscious investment platform. It currently enables more than 9,000 approved users to fund loans from non-bank lenders operating in both emerging and developed economies.
CEO Lavrenti Tšudakov said the platform was built with the modern investor in mind—one that’s increasingly cautious and values strong legal safeguards. “Today’s investors are looking beyond high returns. They want clear protections and structured downside management, which traditional P2P platforms often lack.”
Since its inception, Income has facilitated over €150 million in loans. By the end of 2024, the platform had €19 million in outstanding investments—a 77% year-on-year increase—and generated €509,000 in revenue, up 54% from the previous year. Although it reported a net loss of €599,000, the company anticipates reaching breakeven once assets under management (AUM) cross the €35–40 million threshold.
The company’s unique risk mitigation approach is at the core of its strategy. Each loan is structured with several investor protections:
- Junior Shares require lenders to absorb initial losses.
- Cashflow Buffers ensure missed payments are covered by the lender.
- Buyback Obligations allow for repurchase of non-performing loans.
- Legal structures also permit Income to assume collections in the event of lender default.
These measures aim to create a more stable and resilient experience for investors, especially as scrutiny around private debt platforms continues to grow.
“We’re not in the business of making marketing promises,” said co-founder Kimmo Rytkönen, who previously helped launch digital bank AMAR in Indonesia. “Our framework is deliberately designed to reduce risk. That’s what gives investors confidence.”
The latest round of funding will be used to:
- Broaden the investor community
- Integrate more non-bank lenders
- Improve the platform interface and analytics
- Expand the team, particularly in engineering and data functions
Looking ahead, Income is preparing to enter the Mexican and Philippine markets—regions where limited access to traditional banking has created strong demand for alternative financing. The company plans to double its base of loan originators from 11 to 22 by 2026.
A key upcoming feature is the launch of a secondary market, allowing investors to exit loan positions before maturity—addressing one of the key liquidity concerns in private lending.
Institutional interest is also rising. Income reports growing engagement from funds across Europe and Southeast Asia seeking structured exposure to private credit—especially those prioritizing legal clarity and risk-sharing over raw yield.
“We’re seeing a shift in investor conversations,” said Tšudakov. “It’s not just about returns anymore. They want to know how a platform performs when things go wrong—and that’s where our model stands out.”
With strategic expansion on the horizon and new investor protections in place, Income is positioning itself as a robust, scalable alternative to traditional peer-to-peer platforms in the evolving world of digital lending.
