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US fintech firm Lendbuzz plans $1.5b Nasdaq IPO

Lendbuzz, an Israeli-founded fintech firm based in Boston, plans to list on the Nasdaq with a targeted valuation of US$1.5 billion.

The company specializes in using AI to provide auto loans, particularly to customers with limited or poor credit histories.

Lendbuzz reported US$172.9 million in revenue and US$11.1 million in net income for the first half of 2025, up from US$125.4 million and US$5.6 million, respectively, year-on-year.

Founded in 2015 by Amitay Kalmar and Dan Raviv, Lendbuzz partners with car dealerships to expand access to auto financing.

The IPO will include share sales from both the company and existing investors.

🔗 Source: Calcalist

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Lendbuzz targets a substantial underbanked market with proven growth trajectory

  • The company focuses on foreign-born nationals in the U.S., a market of over 43 million people with 27 million in professional jobs who often lack traditional U.S. credit histories1.
  • This targeted approach has delivered strong results, with Lendbuzz previously reporting 320% growth in loan origination business and over 100% year-over-year growth in auto loan originations as of 202212.
  • The sustained growth demonstrates the substantial unmet demand in this market segment, where traditional lenders have historically been reluctant to extend credit.
  • J.P. Morgan’s decision to provide a $150 million credit facility to Lendbuzz in 2022 signals institutional confidence in the company’s underwriting model and market opportunity2.

IPO timing aligns with strong fintech market momentum

  • Lendbuzz’s public debut comes during an exceptional period for IPOs, with the first half of 2025 seeing an average first-day performance of 27.5%, approaching decade highs3.
  • Fintech companies specifically have outperformed the broader market, with fintech revenues growing 21% year-over-year compared to just 6% growth for the broader financial services industry4.
  • The IPO market has seen 216 offerings in 2025, representing a significant increase from 2024, with fintech IPOs showing particularly promising returns45.
  • However, the broader fintech investment landscape shows some cooling, with global fintech investment falling to $44.7 billion in H1 2025 from $54.2 billion in H2 2024, making successful IPOs potentially more valuable as alternative funding sources6.

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