Lendbuzz Targets $1.5B Valuation in Planned IPO

Lendbuzz, a Boston-based auto finance fintech, is preparing to go public with an IPO filing expected as soon as Friday, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is eyeing a valuation of roughly $1.5 billion, though that figure could shift as investor discussions unfold.

Founded a decade ago, Lendbuzz specializes in serving borrowers with limited credit history by using alternative data and machine learning to assess risk. Its lending operations are funded through asset-backed securitizations, warehouse facilities from traditional banks, and portfolio sales to institutional investors—particularly insurance firms seeking yield in a higher-rate environment.

The move comes amid a wave of fintech listings. Both Chime and Klarna have gone public in the last three months, with mixed early performances: Chime trading below its debut price while Klarna is modestly above. Lendbuzz will test whether investor appetite extends to niche, data-driven lenders in the fintech ecosystem.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are leading the deal, though none of the parties have publicly commented.

If successful, the offering could spotlight how alternative underwriting models and structured financing vehicles are maturing from venture-backed experiments into public-market stories.