Unlocking Credit: The Future of Financial Accessibility has arrived with Teal, a groundbreaking payroll data platform that is transforming how lenders assess risk and borrowers access credit. On June 10, 2025, Teal successfully secured a remarkable £1.4 million in pre-seed funding, led by Passion Capital and supported by investors such as ACF Investors, K Fund, and fintech luminaries from companies like Plaid and Checkout. This funding marks a significant step toward revolutionizing income and employment verification for millions across the UK.
In an age where traditional credit scoring methods are deemed obsolete, Teal is here to changes the game.
Many lenders still depend on legacy systems that utilize outdated processes—slow, error-prone, and often incomplete. As a result, individuals with sound financial backgrounds are frequently denied access to crucial investment opportunities. “Traditional credit scoring is broken,” states CEO Michael Hart, emphasizing that by sharing verified income data securely, users can finally unlock credit that works for them. The mission is clear: to create an infrastructure that not only meets regulatory requirements but also gives individuals control over their financial data.
To achieve this, Teal is pioneering the use of real-time payroll data, which serves as the foundation for assessing creditworthiness. By providing lenders with direct access to accurate income and employment data, Teal ensures that all parties benefit from a more transparent credit ecosystem. As the company continues to expand its partnerships with payroll and HCM providers, it aims to deliver a solution that effectively streamlines underwriting and enhances ongoing income verification for lenders. Teal’s innovative approach is set to lay the groundwork for a new wave of fintech solutions that promise better accessibility and inclusivity in credit, making it a compelling opportunity for future investors and startup founders alike.
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