Settle
“Can a CPG-focused AP automation platform become the default financial OS for growing consumer brands by bundling working capital natively into procurement and payables workflows?”
Founded in 2019 as an alternative lending platform for e-commerce brands, Settle initially focused on extending vendor payment terms using Settle's own capital. Over time the company built out a broader back-office suite — accounts payable automation, procurement, and cash flow management — effectively becoming the financial operating system for CPG and DTC brands. The embedded finance angle is specifically the working capital product layered on top of real purchasing and payables data, enabling underwriting without equity dilution. Settle has positioned itself to compete with both AP automation tools and specialty lenders simultaneously.