Affirm

Affirm is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) fintech company founded in 2012 by Max Levchin, a co-founder of PayPal. It provides transparent point-of-sale installment loans - offered online, in-store, or through digital wallets - with no late fees, no hidden charges and no compounding interest, and with terms disclosed upfront. The company operates in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and is the largest U.S.-based buy now, pay later financier.

The technical work spans machine learning, credit underwriting and risk modelling, and payments technology. Affirm applies machine learning alongside traditional credit scores to perform holistic, ethical underwriting, and builds payment products intended to help merchants increase conversion rates and order values. Its lending products and merchant growth solutions operate at a scale of nearly 26 million users and roughly $37 billion in annual payment volume.

The company's stated philosophy is one of aligned incentives: "When customers win, Affirm wins." Its approach to consumer finance centres on honest and friendly credit, with a commitment to transparency and consumer-friendly financial products across consumer lending, e-commerce, payments and financial services.