Lending & Credit | Vancouver, BC | Founded: 2013 | Employees: ~120 | www.progressa.com
PHONE: (855) 723-5626 | LINKEDIN PROFILE | CRUNCHBASE PROFILE
Last updated November 12, 2018 | To download a PDF version, click here.
Company Overview
Progressa is a peer to peer lending service that provides the ability for Canadians to easily pay down consumer debt. The firm sells bonds to investors, and then uses the cash flow to make loans to consumers. Progressa pays debtors directly, so the consumer never holds the cash, but still pays interest on the amount used to pay off their debt.
Senior Management
Ali Pourdad: Co-Founder and CEO (2013-Present). Has been CEO since founding the company in 2013. Previously was the founder and CEO of Simply I.T (1998-2005), a Senior Associate at PWC (2006-2010) and a manager at G-Force group (Apr 2010-Jun 2013). Education: BBA from SFU, CPA.
Kiya Hushyar: Chief Financial Officer (Jan 2017 – Present). Joined the firm after several positions including Senior Manager at Deloitte (2005-20011), VP of Operational Finance for Asian Coast Development (2012-201), and frequently worked as a consultant for finance companies. Education: BBA from SFU.
Other Notable Senior Management Members: Tony Vardy (COO), Nathan Slee (Chief Innovation Officer).
History
Progressa began as CreditLoans Canada, the parent company of urLoan, a personal loan service[1]. This service provided flexible personal and debt consolidation loans for consumers, lending between $1,000 and $15,000 at a time. In January of 2015 CreditLoans launched Progressa, a business whose sole purpose at launch was to assist Canadians in paying their past due bills[1]. Soon after, in November 2015, Progressa partnered with Centum Financial to help process loan applications[2]. In March 2016 the company appointed a COO, CFO and CRO[3]. In July of 2016 the firm shifted to focus more on providing loans in the GTA and opened an office in North York[4].
[1] http://progressa.com/templates/Creditloans%20Canada%20announces%20progressa%20-%20Jan%202015.pdf
[2] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/new-progressa-partnership-helps-canadians-improve-broken-credit-2072167.htm
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/progressa-appoints-coo-cfo-cro-130000857.html
[4] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/progressa-shifts-lending-operations-to-capitalize-on-toronto-fintech-cluster-2146628.htm
Funding
In December of 2015 Progressa announced its first funding round, in which it raised $11.4M[5]. This series A round was led by Cypress Hills Partners and Conconi Growth Partners. In August of 2018 the firm announced a Series B funding round of $84M led by Cannacord Genuity and Gravitas Securities[6].
[5] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/progressa-announces-successful-114m-series-a-financing-new-marketplace-investor-platform-2078287.htm
[6] https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/14/1551342/0/en/Progressa-Closes-84-Million-Funding-Round-Co-Led-by-Canaccord-Genuity-and-Gravitas-Securities-Supporting-Record-Growth.html
Key Corporate Developments
Press releases: http://progressa.com/about_us.html#press
Jan 29 2015: Creditloans Canada Financing announces launch of Progressa
Nov 10 2015: Progressa & Centum Financial Group announce Partnership
July 29 2016: Progressa Shifts Lending Operations to Capitalize on Toronto Fintech Cluster
Business Highlights
Strategy
Progressa lends to consumers by paying off their bills and loans directly and consolidating the consumers debt[7]. An additional value to the consumers is that by taking out a Progressa loan, they can build up their credit score. They raise funds for this by offering bonds to retail investors - any retail investor can purchase a Progressa bond[8]. They work with Centum to give clients a proprietary credit score and build a loan around each person’s unique credit situation[9].
[7] http://progressa.com/about_us.html
[8] http://progressa.com/investing.html
[9] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/new-progressa-partnership-helps-canadians-improve-broken-credit-2072167.htm
Products/Pricing
- Debt Consolidation: Progressa offers to consolidate a consumer debt and pay the debt off with a loan. Progressa will pay the debtor directly, so the funds will never be in the hands of the consumer. Progressa only offers loans of amounts between $1,000 and $15,000, and payment terms range from 6-60 months. The annual percentage rate (APR) on a progressive loan is between 19% and 46.95%, determined by borrowing history. To apply, one must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 years old, earn over $1500 in net pay Per month, and have been with an employer for at least 6 months[10].
- Paying off Debt Collectors: Another suggested use for a Progressa loan is to pay debt collectors. All details of these loans match those of debt consolidation loans[10].
- Bond Offerings: Progressa can fund these loans by selling bonds to retail investors. These bonds pay up to a 12% interest rate, and are closed opportunities, and once targeted funding has been reached the offering is closed[11].
[10] http://progressa.com/faq.html
[11] http://progressa.com/investing.html
Technology
Consumers sign up via the Progressa website and apply for a loan. Progressa then uses the information to determine one’s creditworthiness, using a proprietary credit score system. Users are then assigned a Progressa credit score, which is used to determine the interest rate of the loan.
Distribution/Logistics
Progressa is based in Vancouver, with offices in the GTA.[12]. Currently they can serve all provinces except for Quebec and Nova Scotia[10].
[12] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/progressa-shifts-lending-operations-to-capitalize-on-toronto-fintech-cluster-2146628.htm
Marketing
Currently Progressa targets Canadians living paycheck to paycheck in need of short term loans. Currently they are working to target the large consumer base in the GTA[13].
[13] http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/progressa-shifts-lending-operations-to-capitalize-on-toronto-fintech-cluster-2146628.htm
Competitors
Progressa is in direct competition with most other peer to peer lenders, as they also target consumers who are not able to receive traditional forms of funding. Competition includes but is not limited to:
- Borrowell – Offers loans to consumers for a variety of uses, including debt consolidation. Interest rates range from 5.6% to the mid 20s, and they loan between $1,000 and $35,000 at a time.
- Lendful – Offers loans to consumers tanging between $5000 and $35,000. Interest rates are flexible, starting at 6%.
Corporate Profile Created By: Nathan Creaser, Ivey HBA