Affiniti
“Can a vertical-first 'AI CFO' bundle (card + checking + bill pay + analytics) win the backbone-SMB segment that Brex and Ramp skipped?”
Founded2022
HQNew York, NY, USA
FoundersAaron Bai, Sahil Phadnis
Total raised$28M+
Latest roundSeries A, May 2025
IndustryFintech / SMB banking
The story
Affiniti began as a vertical-focused SMB credit card company targeting 'backbone' industries underserved by Brex/Ramp — HVAC, community pharmacies, podiatry — distributing through trade-association partnerships. The card program launched on i2c's processing rails with Patriot Bank as issuer. In 2025–2026 the company broadened into a full SMB financial OS, adding a Thread Bank-powered checking account, bill pay, expense management, and an 'AI CFO' agent narrative, with Column N.A. providing receivables financing to fund card growth.
Product timeline
2022
Affiniti founded by Aaron Bai and Sahil Phadnis to serve underserved SMB verticals (HVAC, community pharmacy, podiatry)· pivot
2024
Partnered with i2c Inc. to launch industry-specific Mastercard credit cards for trade-association SMBs (initially issued by Patriot Bank)· card
2024
Raised $11M seed round· funding
2025
Raised $17M Series A led by SignalFire; positioned as 'AI CFO' for SMBs· funding
2026
Signed financing agreement with Column N.A. to fund card receivables and expand product lines· lending
2026
Launched Affiniti Business Banking (checking, up to 3% APY) via Thread Bank· banking
The stack
5 layers disclosed in Affiniti’s embedded-finance stack
Banking / BaaS
Card issuing
in the full report
Card network
in the full report
Lending
in the full report
Sponsor bank
in the full report
Accounting gap: none
7 more providers across 4 layers, with confidence-scored evidence and source URLs, are in the Embedded Finance Index report.