Alternative consumer lending and cash-flow credit scoring
Strategic Profile
Grain differentiates through cash-flow-based underwriting, offering customers virtual credit cards, real-time credit score tracking, and payment reporting to credit bureaus to build credit responsibly. The company positions itself against high-cost lending and predatory credit practices, leveraging Dwolla partnerships for real-time payments infrastructure.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Grain has secured meaningful funding ($16.6M–$16.7M raised as of 2023) and Y Combinator backing, but growth signals are weak. As of 2026-07-22, funding occurred over three years ago, team size has contracted from ~30 to 19 employees, and CB Insights reported an 88-point Mosaic Score decline in the past 30 days, suggesting cash burn or user churn. Revenue and active user metrics remain undisclosed.
Top Insights
Raised $16.6M–$16.7M total funding with largest round ($13.65M) closed in January 2023. As of 2026-07-22, Mosaic Score decline (-88 points/30 days per CBInsights) signals stalled growth or deteriorating financial health.
Offers unsecured lines of credit without credit score checks, differentiating via APR 15%–17.99% pricing, dashboard cash-flow tools, and credit bureau reporting. Strategic partnership with Dwolla enables real-time payment settlement mimicking card experiences.
Operational efficiency concerns: staff reduced from 30 to 19 employees (per PitchBook 2026 data); no revenue disclosed despite 6+ years of operations; last major funding event January 2023. Competes in crowded consumer lending space against Upstart, Lending Club.
Named Competitors
Upstart — AI-powered lending and credit platform
Lending Club — Peer-to-peer lending and personal credit platform
Prosper — Peer-to-peer lending platform for personal loans and credit access
SoFi — Online personal loans and financial products for underserved borrowers
Upgrade — AI-powered credit card and personal loan platform for alternative lending
Earnest — Data-driven personal loans and student loan refinancing platform
Recent Developments
(January 2023) Secured venture funding bringing total raised to $16.6M–$16.7M