Acima
“Can a virtual lease-to-own platform become the default alternative-credit spending layer for non-prime US consumers across retail, eCommerce, and everyday purchases?”
Founded in 2013 as Simple Finance, Acima built an AI-driven, alternative-data lease-to-own platform targeting non-prime consumers who lack access to traditional credit. Acquired by Rent-A-Center in 2021 for $1.65B, it became the company's virtual/digital LTO engine operating as Acima Digital, LLC under the newly rebranded Upbound Group. Post-acquisition, Acima expanded from pure in-store LTO into a full digital ecosystem — mobile app, marketplace, browser extension — and in 2024 launched a co-branded Mastercard credit card, moving beyond lease-to-own into mainstream credit products for its underserved consumer base.