Zip
“Can Zip become the default payment and short-term credit layer for financially underserved consumers and SMB merchants globally, while defending against both traditional credit card incumbents and newer BNPL competitors?”
Zip started as a consumer BNPL credit provider in Australia, competing directly with Afterpay by targeting customers underserved by credit cards. It expanded internationally — most notably into the US — positioning itself as inclusive BNPL for 'everyday Americans' overlooked by traditional lenders and other BNPLs. Over time, Zip layered in a Visa card product, virtual single-use cards, and business lending (via Prospa partnership in Australia; WebBank partnership in the US), evolving from a pure checkout-financing tool toward a broader consumer credit and payments wallet. The company has also deepened merchant integrations via Stripe, Adyen, and Xero, embedding BNPL across both online and in-person commerce.