Karoo

YC W25 · Active · AI native consumer lending platform for underserved Americans

Competitors

Companies closest to Karoo
Company	Category	Status	Program
KastleShared: consumer lending, borrower, lenderActiveAI	AI	Active	YCS24
CapWayShared: neobank, underserved, consumerInactiveOther	Other	Inactive	YCS20
VeritusShared: consumer lendingActiveAI	AI	Active	YCS25
ShibolethShared: consumer lendingActiveAI	AI	Active	YCW24

Adjacent

Companies next to Karoo
Company	Category	Status	Program
YenmoShared: consumer lending, borrowerActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW24
Verano HealthShared: underserved americanAcquiredOther	Other	Acquired	YCS21
CRS GroupShared: consumer lendingNot statedDevtools	Devtools	Not stated	Plug and Play
PolarShared: neobank, globally, consumer financeActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW24
TheyaShared: neobank, lending, consumerActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW23

Also from W25 in AI

All of W25

Company	Category	Status
BluebookAI for accountingActiveAI	AI	Active
CardamonAI compliance co-pilot for regulated financial businessesActiveAI	AI	Active
finbarThe AI investment analystActiveAI	AI	Active
HarperAI-native commercial insurance brokerageActiveAI	AI	Active
Liquid ComputePending CFTC regulation to be the first cash and physically settled…ActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active
MentraBuilding the open source smart glasses operating system.ActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active

Founders

Jeanot DawsonFounder/CEO
Hugo MarklandFounder
Oliver LambsonFounder/CTO

About Karoo

US consumers within the risk appetite of prime lenders are served by the most competitive and efficient consumer lending marketplace globally. However, once you fall outside of this as a borrower, market efficiency breaks down and incumbents take advantage of low levels of competition to price gouge. We're fixing this.

YC batch: W25 · Winter 2025
Status, per YC: Active
Category: AI
Team size: 3
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Founded: 2024
Checked: 1h ago

YC tags: Fintech, Consumer, Neobank

Karoo in W25: 165 companies, 83% AI

GitHub LinkedIn

Karoo: questions

Which YC batch was Karoo in?

Karoo was in Y Combinator's Winter 2025 batch (W25).

Is Karoo still active?

Y Combinator lists Karoo as active.

Who founded Karoo?

Karoo's founders, as listed on its YC page: Jeanot Dawson (Founder/CEO), Hugo Markland (Founder), Oliver Lambson (Founder/CTO).

Where is Karoo based?

Karoo lists Toronto, ON, Canada as its location on YC's directory.

Sources: each program's public company list, read twice a week. Not affiliated with Y Combinator or any other program. Logos via logo.dev; trademarks belong to their owners.