Lorien Finance nets US$2.25M to expand student loan access in India, SEA

Lorien Finance, a fintech firm connecting global capital markets with students in emerging economies, has secured US$2.25 million in pre-Series A funding.

The funding round was led by FlatIronX, a New York-based early-stage VC firm with strong ties to Asian markets. Additional investors include Seedstars International Ventures (SIV), backed by IFC, Visa Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Symbiotics, as well as Ahimsa Capital, Bhavesh Gupta (Ex-Paytm President & COO), Ashneer Grover (ex-BharatPe MD), Play Holdings, and Silver Ridge Accelerator.

This investment aims to enhance its education financing platform and facilitate expansion into key markets, including Southeast Asia.

In the first phase, the company will expand its reach to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, where financing access is limited. By 2026, Lorien Finance aims to extend its student loan services to Southeast Asian countries, providing tailored financing solutions like tuition support, flexible repayment plans and scholarships.

Lorien will also strengthen its AI-driven risk assessment technology to expedite underwriting decisions and offer more personalised financing solutions for students and lenders.

Also Read: Breaking barriers: How crypto is disrupting education funding

With the global education financing market projected to exceed US$500 billion by 2029, Lorien Finance addresses students’ affordability challenges in emerging markets. It connects students to a US$3 billion+ lending pool from over 17 international lenders, including Sallie Mae, offering interest rates as low as 3.49 per cent.

To date, over 1,000 Indian students have applied for funding through Lorien Finance.

According to Acumen’s 2024 Key Trends in Southeast Asia report, over 350,000 Southeast Asian students are studying abroad, making the region the third largest globally for outbound student mobility, following China and India. Lorien Finance leverages AI-driven lending and a global lender network to make education financing more accessible, faster and smarter.

Nikhil Mudgal, founder & CEO of Lorien Finance, stated that the investment will enable the company to offer personalised funding solutions and empower lenders to make confident, real-time decisions.

Shreya Choubey, Partner at FlatIronX, highlighted Lorien Finance’s digital-first lending process and data-driven risk assessment model as key factors in its compelling value proposition, benefiting both students and lenders.

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