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Zed

Category: AI in Fintech

A credit-led neobank in the Philippines offering a next-generation credit card that leverages AI-driven underwriting to eliminate traditional banking fees and interest. Zed was founded in 2021. The company is led by Danielle Cojuangco Abraham. Based in Manila, Philippines. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $22.5M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Accel, Valar Ventures, Y Combinator, 6th Man Ventures.

Founded
2021
Headquarters
Manila, Philippines
Team size
11-50
Total funding
$22.5M

Value proposition

Provides a credit experience with 0% interest, no annual fees, and no foreign transaction fees, utilizing AI to grant credit limits based on income and potential rather than just credit scores.

Products and solutions

Zed Titanium Mastercard (Physical & Virtual), Zed Mobile Banking App (Real-time transaction tracking and controls), Proprietary AI Underwriting Engine, Instant Digital Card Issuance

Unique value

Zed is the first Philippine neobank to secure a standalone credit card issuer license from the BSP, allowing it to operate independently of traditional partner banks. It is also the first to market a 'no interest, no fee' model in the region.

Target customer

Young professionals, Gen Z, and 'credit-invisible' individuals in the Philippines who possess stable income but lack the formal credit history required by traditional banks.

Industries served

Fintech, Consumer Finance, Banking, Artificial Intelligence

Technology advantage

Replaces traditional credit bureau reliance with a proprietary AI model that analyzes alternative data points (e.g., cash flow, employment data, and transaction behavior) to assess risk more accurately for the unbanked/underbanked population.

How they differentiate

Zed differentiates by offering the first 'no interest, no fee' credit card in the Philippines, utilizing a proprietary AI underwriting engine that analyzes cash flow and potential rather than relying solely on traditional, often non-existent, credit scores.

Main competitors

Maya (formerly PayMaya), GCash (G-Credit), Atome

Key partnerships

Mastercard (Global payment network partner), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Regulatory licensing), Accel and Valar Ventures (Lead investment partners), Y Combinator (W23 Batch)

Notable customers

Gen Z professionals, Tech-savvy young adults, First-time credit card holders

Major milestones

Accepted into Y Combinator Winter 2023 batch, Secured a standalone credit card issuer license from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in 2024, Closed $16.5M Series A led by Accel in May 2024, Launched limited release of the Zed Titanium Mastercard

Growth metrics

Amassed a waitlist of over 50,000 users prior to full public launch; first neobank in the Philippines to receive a standalone credit card issuer license from the BSP.

Market positioning

A premium, tech-first neobank disruptor targeting Gen Z and young professionals who are 'credit-invisible' to traditional banks.

Geographic focus

Philippines

Patents and IP

No registered patents disclosed; relies on proprietary machine learning algorithms and trade secrets for credit scoring.

About Danielle Cojuangco Abraham

Danielle Cojuangco Abraham is a seasoned entrepreneur and product leader with over 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley. Before founding Zed, she was a Product Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she worked on large-scale data platforms. She also co-founded Symple, a B2B payments network in the US that was backed by Y Combinator and later acquired. She holds both a BS and an MS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

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