Altman and JPMorgan-Backed Lending Startup Joins Forces with Amazon

## Slope Partners with Amazon to Offer AI-Driven Credit Lines to Sellers

**New initiative leverages AI and proprietary data for real-time lending decisions, aiming to fuel growth for Amazon’s vast seller network.**

In a significant move to bolster the financial infrastructure supporting e-commerce, lending startup Slope has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon, commencing this Tuesday. The collaboration will provide eligible U.S. Amazon sellers with a reusable line of credit, facilitated through a credit facility underwritten by JPMorgan Chase. This innovative program bypasses traditional lending hurdles by employing artificial intelligence to assess business viability and risk, offering a streamlined, real-time application and approval process directly within Amazon Seller accounts.

The genesis of Slope lies in the personal experiences of its co-founder and CEO, Lawrence Lin Murata. Growing up in São Paulo, Murata witnessed firsthand the financial challenges faced by his parents at their family-owned toy shop, a business operating for over three decades. He identified cash flow volatility as a persistent pain point for small businesses, inspiring him to develop an AI-powered lending platform. Backed by prominent figures including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and JPMorgan Chase, Slope aims to democratize access to capital for businesses operating within the digital marketplace.

“Our core innovation lies in leveraging AI to underwrite these businesses, enabling us to manage the complexities of risk assessment with unprecedented efficiency,” explained Lin Murata. “Simultaneously, we’re delivering an exceptionally user-friendly, real-time experience for the businesses we serve.”

The new lines of credit will commence with an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 8.99%. To qualify, vendors must demonstrate at least one year in operation and report annual revenues exceeding $100,000. Once approved, Amazon sellers can draw funds as needed, with repayment terms ranging from three to twelve months, allowing for flexible alignment with inventory cycles and sales patterns. Specific financial terms of the agreement between Slope and Amazon were not disclosed.

Alice Deng, Slope’s co-founder, emphasized the critical role of independent sellers in the e-commerce ecosystem. “More than 60% of Amazon’s sales are driven by independent sellers. They are, in essence, the backbone of Amazon and e-commerce at large,” Deng stated. “Slope is stepping in to fill a crucial gap in financing solutions for these vital businesses.”

While some third-party options exist for Amazon sellers seeking capital, Deng noted that existing initiatives often cater to smaller-scale operations. Slope, conversely, is focusing on more mature sellers, including those with revenues in the hundreds of millions, who require sophisticated, bank-grade financing solutions. Historically, when Amazon offered its own lending programs approximately four years ago, the total addressable market was estimated between $1 billion and $2 billion. With Slope spearheading this initiative, the company anticipates significant growth in this market segment.

An Amazon spokesperson commented on the partnership: “We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Slope, which expands the financing tools available to Amazon selling partners. Access to adequate capital is a critical need for small business owners, whether they are just starting or looking to scale. We are continuously exploring new avenues to empower sellers to thrive within the Amazon store.”

The integration allows sellers to apply for capital within minutes directly through Amazon Seller Central. Leveraging proprietary Amazon performance data and Slope’s advanced large language model, the platform delivers near-instantaneous approvals. “This direct integration and real-time data analysis is precisely what allows us to offer a more compelling financing solution compared to external applications,” Lin Murata elaborated. “We analyze Amazon performance data and cash flow in real time, providing immediate decisions.”

Slope’s co-founders highlighted the inherent advantages of their AI-driven approach over traditional bank loans for small businesses. The granular data available through the Amazon platform, such as detailed sales breakdowns by product, empowers Slope’s AI model to make more informed lending decisions than a bank relying solely on generalized financial statements.

This new agreement with Amazon places the e-commerce giant alongside an impressive roster of Slope’s existing clientele, which includes industry leaders such as Samsung, Alibaba, and Ikea. Early trials of the Amazon integration, though only a few weeks old, have already shown remarkable traction, with applications experiencing a 300% week-over-week growth.

“Our ambition, rooted in the foundational inspiration of my parents’ business, is to become the credit intelligence layer for these businesses,” Lin Murata concluded. “Ultimately, our mission is to facilitate business growth by providing fair, affordable, fast, and exceptionally accessible financing solutions.”