Fintech Unicorn Upgrade Eyes New Funding at $3 Billion Valuation

  • CEO Renaud Laplanche previously co-founded LendingClub
  • Lending firm offers credit card, loans, checking account
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Upgrade, a lending startup that counts Banco Santander SA and SVB Financial Group’s Silicon Valley Bank as investors, is seeking to triple its valuation in a fresh funding round, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The company, advised by FT Partners, has begun discussions with growth-focused private equity firms, among others, about raising $200 million at a valuation of $3 billion or more, the person said. The terms of the funding round aren’t finalized and could change.