PayJoy, a financial services provider serving underserved consumers across emerging markets, has acquired select strategic assets from Finia AI, Inc., a fintech company that developed AI-powered underwriting and financial products for micro-businesses in Mexico. The transaction, announced on October 12, 2026, is designed to strengthen PayJoy's underwriting capabilities and expand its product offering for customers with limited access to formal credit. PayJoy has already reached more than 20 million customers across nine countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Transaction Overview
The acquisition will allow PayJoy to apply Finia's technology and expertise to its global platform, strengthening underwriting capabilities and expanding products for customers with limited access to formal credit. Finia built its AI underwriting capabilities specifically for small and informal businesses with limited financial data and owners who have little or no formal credit history. The financial terms of the asset acquisition were not disclosed.
Strategic Rationale
PayJoy's platform has reached more than 20 million customers across nine countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia through products including digitally secured smartphone financing, credit lines, and the PayJoy Card. The company views Finia's technology as a way to address a key financial inclusion challenge, which is assessing creditworthiness when traditional financial data is limited. This acquisition brings technology developed specifically for small and informal businesses to a platform with the scale and reach to extend those innovations globally.
Leadership Commentary
Uri Pomerantz, founder and CEO of Finia AI, said the company spent years building AI underwriting and financial products for micro-businesses in Latin America that traditional lenders too often overlook. He noted that PayJoy's global reach creates an opportunity to scale Finia's technology and insights alongside one of the strongest teams in fintech. Pomerantz also highlighted a shared commitment to improving customers' financial well-being.
Operational Impact
Jose Luis Gonzalez, Head of Growth for PayJoy Mexico, described Finia's technology and deep insights as valuable assets for addressing credit assessment when traditional financial data is limited. He said bringing these capabilities to PayJoy will strengthen the platform, enhance risk assessment, and broaden product offerings. Gonzalez added that the company sees a meaningful opportunity to extend the impact of Finia's work across the markets it serves.
Customer Transition
PayJoy and Finia AI are also partnering to help eligible Finia customers access PayJoy's loans and other financial products. Interested customers can apply through a dedicated PayJoy link, subject to PayJoy's eligibility requirements and approval. This arrangement provides continuity for Finia's existing customers while connecting them to PayJoy's broader suite of services and its goal of reaching more first-time borrowers.
About Finia AI
Finia AI, Inc. develops AI-powered underwriting and financial products designed to expand access to credit for micro-businesses. The company has served tens of thousands of micro-businesses across Mexico through credit cards and installment loans tailored to their needs. Its investors include Deciens Capital, Precursor Ventures, and Clocktower Technology Ventures, alongside venture funds and angel investors across the United States and Mexico.
About PayJoy
PayJoy expands credit access across emerging markets through point-of-sale financing and card offerings. Its proprietary secured-credit technology enables first-time borrowers to responsibly build financial stability and participate fully in the modern economy. Through machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI, PayJoy has financed over US$3.5 billion of loans with more than 20 million people and employs over 1,000 people worldwide.
The acquisition of Finia AI's strategic assets represents a targeted step by PayJoy to deepen its underwriting expertise and serve a broader range of customers with limited formal credit histories. By integrating Finia's technology into its global platform, PayJoy aims to enhance credit access for small and informal businesses across emerging markets. The partnership also ensures that eligible Finia customers can transition to PayJoy's products, reinforcing the combined effort to advance financial inclusion.