The next generation of secure and transparent debt investing

The European fintech landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with alternative lending and investment platforms rapidly gaining ground as viable options for both retail and institutional investors.  

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, in particular, has emerged as a powerful solution, offering direct access to private debt investments outside the traditional asset classes such as stocks or bonds. This shift is driven by tightening bank credit, a growing appetite for higher yields, and the demand for transparent, tech-enabled investment opportunities.

Market opportunity and growth dynamics

The European P2P lending market is projected to reach $180 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual rate of 25%. This robust expansion is fueled by investors seeking better returns and faster access to credit, as well as institutions looking for scalable, compliant platforms. In 2025 alone, the market is expected to grow by over 4%, with average annual yields plateauing at around 11.6% p.a. Notably, long-term investors are becoming the main drivers of this growth, favoring platforms that offer security and reliability.

P2P platforms have evolved to address key industry challenges like investor protection, operational efficiency and global reach. Leading platforms are expanding into emerging markets, tapping into underserved lending ecosystems with high growth potential.

Despite these advances, not all platforms are created equal. The market is seeing consolidation, with only those emphasizing investor protection and operational excellence thriving.

Income Marketplace: a differentiator in the market

Founded in 2020 in Estonia, Income Marketplace has established itself as one of the fastest-growing P2P lending platforms in Europe. The platform connects investors directly with vetted non-bank lenders, offering a diverse mix of investment opportunities in short- and long-term loans across multiple markets.  

Since their launch, Income has funded over €160 million in loans, grown its assets under management to €23 million, and grown its investor base to over 9,500 approved users.

Income stands out for its robust risk mitigation features, which include:

• Buyback Obligations: loans are backed by a 60-day buyback guarantee, ensuring that if borrower repayments are delayed, the loan originator repurchases the investment and pays accrued interest.

• Cashflow Buffer: lenders are required to retain a subordinated portion in each loan (the Junior Share), absorbing losses before investors are affected. This structure reduces investor risk in the event of a default.

• Proprietary Loan Registry: Income’s end-to-end digital infrastructure that connects directly to the Loan Originators back end systems replaces manual frameworks, enhancing transparency, operational efficiency, and scalability.

Income’s performance metrics underscore its market traction:

• Low default rate: the platform outperforms other P2P platforms with only around €100K in defaulted loans, a tiny fraction compared to the €160 million of loans that have already been funded through it.  

• Strong unit economics: With a projected loan-to-value/customer acquisition cost (LTV/CAC) ratio of nearly 12x by 2026, Income demonstrates robust unit economics and scalability.

• International expansion: Income is actively expanding into high-growth markets such as Mexico and the Philippines, leveraging its technology and risk management expertise to serve new borrower segments.   
  

Investment opportunity

Income is led by a seasoned team with deep fintech and lending expertise, including founder Kimmo Rytkönen, CEO Lavrenti Tšudakov and CTO Jüri Pruulmann. Their strategic roadmap focuses on scaling investor and loan originator onboarding, enhancing platform security, and accelerating international growth.

Income’s growth has been supported by strategic investors, such as Tolaram Fintech, and previous successful funding rounds, including a €1.15M SeedBlink round. This backing, combined with limited external financing, has enabled Income to outpace competitors in revenue-to-AUM ratios and investor growth metrics.

Income is back on SeedBlink for a new round, with the purpose to scale investor and loan originator onboarding, further development of its secure, seamless technology and fuel international expansion.  

As the P2P lending sector matures, Income is setting a benchmark for secure, transparent, and investor-friendly debt investment. Its innovative risk management features, strong growth metrics, and global expansion plans make it a compelling opportunity for investors seeking to participate in the transformation of alternative finance.

Explore the opportunity and see how Income is scaling safer, smarter loan investing.