Mexico, 28, May, 2026 – Fintech startup NewSchool is introducing an infrastructure-led lending solution for underserved consumers in Latin America, creating credit access opportunities where traditional banking systems have fallen short. By integrating directly into physical retail locations, the startup enables life-changing purchases for the 62.7% of Mexican adults who lack access to formal credit, helping them improve their quality of life and enter the workforce.
“With our current approval rates, one in every five people can secure their first-ever credit without any prior history.” said Kirill Klinberg, CEO and Founder of NewSchool. “In communities excluded from the banking system, the alternative for someone denied a loan is often not another fintech but street loan sharks, and NewSchool is fundamentally competing with that reality. We’ve built NewSchool to prove that disciplined, capital-light unit economics and broad financial inclusion are not a trade-off — they reinforce each other. We earn revenue from both sides of the marketplace, carry no balance-sheet risk, and onboard a new retailer in days rather than months.”
Unlike single-lender programs, NewSchool utilizes a real-time multi-lender waterfall to route each application across a curated network of partners calibrated to different risk profiles. This intelligent infrastructure ensures that if one lender declines a borrower, the application instantly flows to the next best match, effectively doubling approval rates compared to the industry baseline.
Strategic partnerships with retailers such as MacStore and Efectimundo already provide consumers with access to electronics, household appliances, tools, and even motorcycles. Looking ahead, the company plans to add home improvement stores, furniture retailers, and healthcare providers to its partner network. This will allow unbanked individuals to finance medical tests, MRIs, and other essential healthcare services.
Retailers integrating BNPL tools report up to a 30% increase in average ticket sizes and conversion rates exceeding 80% at the point of purchase. NewSchool is currently demonstrating 16% week-over-week growth in loan applications, underscoring strong merchant demand.
“In many communities, access to essential goods — whether a smartphone, an appliance, or tools for work — can be a prerequisite for economic opportunity,” said Armando Castellanos Giacinti, Commercial Manager of Efectimundo. “Through our partnership with NewSchool, individuals excluded from the banking system can finally purchase the products they need to start earning and improve their livelihoods. This collaboration also drives meaningful commercial impact: approval rates with NewSchool are significantly higher than any other credit-partner solution we have used, translating directly into increased sales.”
Unlike all competitors that operate as listing platforms, mobile apps or marketplaces and demand digitally savviness, NewSchool acts as the “Stripe for lending,” providing an infrastructure layer that connects retailers with credit partners to maximize approval rates. NewSchool is bringing to physical retail in Mexico the kind of seamless financing experience that Klarna, a decacorn, helped popularize in global e-commerce. Having witnessed this evolution in Northern Europe early in his career, СEO and founder Kirill Klinberg has brought that same seamless and rapid credit experience to brick-and-mortar offline point-of-sale (POS) environments.
While digital BNPL adoption is growing rapidly, its physical retail footprint in Mexico is currently limited to just 2%, significantly lower than the 21% penetration seen in the United States. The market is projected to reach $26.9 billion by 2030, driven by a 35% CAGR.
The leadership team combines elite institutional expertise with operational lending experience in Latin America. Kirill Klinberg, CEO and Founder, brings extensive experience in global fintech and investment banking following a distinguished career at J.P. Morgan and Bank of America. The Mexico operations are led by José Luis Coba who has 15+ years of experience in Latin American fintech and telecom, holding commercial leadership roles in both a US-headquartered and a Mexico-native fintech.
The startup is further strengthened by board members Matiss Ansviesulis and Davis Barons, who serve as strategic backers and early investors. These serial entrepreneurs have a proven track record of founding and scaling major fintech firms, such as AvaFin and Esketit, in more than 15 countries. Their combined expertise includes managing over $2 billion dollars in issued loans and building business with over $200 million dollars yearly revenue.
About the company
NewSchool is a Mexico-based point-of-sale (POS) lending infrastructure that enables retailers to offer instant financing to unbanked individuals. By replacing manual, single-lender processes with a unified API and a real-time lender waterfall, NewSchool maximizes approval rates and drives financial inclusion for underserved populations. The company was founded in 2026 by European entrepreneur Kirill Klinberg and the Mexico operations are led by José Luis Coba who has 15+ years of experience in Latin American fintech and telecom, holding commercial leadership roles in both a US-headquartered and a Mexico-native fintech.
