Sila
“Can a single API platform compress the entire US banking and payments compliance stack into developer-friendly infrastructure for fintech builders?”
HQPortland, OR, USA (1022 NW Marshall Street, Suite 480, Portland, OR 97209)
FoundersShamir Karkal
IndustryInfrastructure / BaaS
The story
Sila was founded by Shamir Karkal, co-founder of Simple (the original US neobank, sold to BBVA in 2014), as a payments infrastructure-as-a-service business. Rather than building another consumer fintech, Karkal pivoted to the infrastructure layer — providing ACH rails, digital wallets, KYC/KYB compliance, and the SilaUSD stablecoin as an API platform for fintech developers. Sila operates as an agent of financial depository institutions, enabling B2B customers to embed banking and payments without holding their own licenses.
Last 12 months
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Product timeline
2019
Sila launched its Money API providing ACH rails, digital wallets, KYC/KYB, and bank account linking for fintech developers.· banking
2022
Sila launched international money transfer API integration, expanding beyond domestic ACH.· banking
2023
Sila partnered with Sivo to make debt financing/debt-as-a-service available to its ecosystem customers.· lending
The stack
Banking / BaaS
Undisclosed financial depository institution partners (agent model, in-house operation)
Lending
Open banking
Sponsor bank
Undisclosed financial depository institution partners
FX & payouts
Accounting gap: minor