Upstart
Upstart is a financial technology company that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide personal loans and assess credit risk. Founded in 2012 by ex-Googlers Dave Girouard, Anna Counselman, and Paul Gu, Upstart aims to improve access to affordable credit while reducing the risk for lenders. The company utilizes non-traditional variables, such as education and employment, to predict a borrower's creditworthiness, thus expanding credit access to a broader array of individuals. Upstart went public in December 2020 and has continuously worked to innovate and refine its AI-driven lending platform.