Affirm

SAN FRANCISCO

Makes instant 3-to24-month pointof-sale loans to finance purchases from 1,500 online merchants at APRs between 10% and 30%, with some sellers subsidizing 0% APR rates.

FUNDING: $450 million; latest valuation of $1.8 billion1

BONA FIDES: issued $2 billion-plus in loans in 2018, double 2017 volume

COFOUNDER & CEO: max levchin, 43, a cofounder of paypal