Lendera

Lendera is a Mexican crowdfunding platform specializing in crowdlending and crowdleasing models that connect small and medium-sized enterprises seeking financing with individual and institutional investors. Founded in 2016 by Fernando Padilla Ezeta, the company operates from Mexico City and positions itself as the first crowdleasing platform in Mexico. Lendera's primary business model allows investors to purchase equipment and machinery which is then leased to SMEs for a specified term, enabling businesses to acquire productive assets while investors earn returns on their capital. The platform also offers co-ownership products and simple credit with guarantees. Investment opportunities on Lendera begin at a minimum of 250 Mexican pesos, democratizing access to investment opportunities for retail investors. The platform has attracted a diverse investor base that includes nearly 8,000 individual investors and 58 institutional investors such as SOFOMEs and leasing companies. Since its inception, Lendera has facilitated over 103 projects benefiting approximately 80 small businesses across various industries, with total equipment investments nearing 85 million Mexican pesos. The company received its definitive authorization from the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) as a Collective Financing Institution under the Fintech Law in February 2024, following a regulatory process that began years earlier. This authorization validates Lendera's business model and compliance with Mexico's financial technology regulations, though the platform is restricted to operations permitted under the Fintech Law and must refrain from pure leasing activities not authorized for collective financing institutions. Lendera targets Mexican SMEs that face difficulties accessing traditional bank financing, offering them innovative alternatives for asset renewal and business expansion.