Zippi

Zippi is a São Paulo-based fintech that provides working capital to micro and small businesses and self-employed workers in Brazil. Credit is delivered as a limit that customers draw on directly through Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, from the company's mobile app, without a physical or virtual card. Invoices close weekly rather than monthly, a cycle the company says matches the daily or weekly income patterns of informal and self-employed workers; once a customer pays, the limit is restored within seconds and can be reused as often as desired. Limits grow automatically with continued on-time usage, and the app advertises up to R$5,000 available per week [0][1][2].

The product is positioned as a replacement for consumer credit cards in a business context, with a common use case being paying suppliers or buying stock via Pix so that suppliers receive funds immediately and the buyer can negotiate discounts. Zippi also runs vertical-specific landing pages, for example one aimed at food-sector workers [4]. Onboarding is done online, collecting an e-mail and authorizing credit-bureau data checks [3]. Y Combinator describes the company as a payment platform for LatAm micro and small businesses and as a personal loans provider for self-employed people, with weekly invoices, in-app payments and no annual fee [7].

The company funds its lending through a Credit Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) rather than solely through equity, and has raised three rounds into that vehicle: $12M in 2024, $15M in 2025 and $42M announced in February 2026, the latter reported in Brazilian currency as R$220 million. Earlier equity backers include Tiger Global, Y Combinator and Globo Ventures [5][6].

Founding story

According to the founders, the company took shape in the United States while André Bernardes and Bruno Lucas were studying at MIT. Coming from finance, they became interested in fintech and concluded they needed a technical co-founder; they evaluated around 60 software-engineering professionals, of whom one was a woman, Ludmila Pontremolez, an Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) engineer with experience at NASA and Microsoft. She joined as co-founder and CTO, and the fintech was founded in 2019 [6][7].

Business model

Zippi originates short-term revolving working-capital credit to micro and small businesses, disbursed and repaid over Pix, with weekly billing cycles and dynamically increasing limits. Lending is funded through a Credit Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) into which institutional investors subscribe; the company expects up to $67M in assets under management in the fund by the end of 2026 [5][6].

The company charges interest/fees on the credit it extends; the app states that rates are disclosed before a customer confirms a drawdown, and Y Combinator's description notes no annual fee is charged [2][7]. Sources do not disclose pricing levels or revenue figures.

Traction

The website reports more than 100,000 transactions per month, presence in over 3,440 municipalities, more than 145 professions served and 250% growth in 2022; the iOS app listing cites roughly 250,000 self-employed users and holds a 4.1 rating across 782 ratings. Valor reports a client base of 200,000 and R$5 billion in credit extended in 2025, with a target of R$10 billion in 2026; LatamList reports the company expects $2B in transactions in 2026 [0][2][5][6].

Latest developments

In February 2026 Zippi announced a $42M raise for its FIDC — its third and largest round for the vehicle — with Credit Saison joining Itaú Asset, Tesouraria do Itaú BBA, Bradesco BBI and Valora Investimentos; Valor's April 2026 report describes the same round as R$220 million with investors including Bradesco, Itaú BBA and Verde. The company expects up to $67M in FIDC assets under management and $2B in transactions in 2026, and targets R$10 billion in credit extended in 2026. Founders also highlighted that 50% of leadership and 45% of the workforce are women [5][6].