Esusu raises $50M at a $1.2B valuation to help millions of renters build credit through verified rental data in U.S.

Esusu, a Black-owned fintech startup focused on helping renters build credit, has raised $50 million in Series C funding, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. The round was led by Westbound Equity Partners with support from foundations and family offices. Esusu addresses a major gap in the U.S. credit system: although renters pay over $1.4 trillion annually, most rental payments are not reported to credit bureaus. By reporting verified rent payments to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, Esusu helps renters build credit histories that can unlock access to loans and mortgages. Renters using the platform have already enabled more than $30 billion in mortgages. The company now covers over 5 million rental units and works with 65% of the largest U.S. real estate operators. The new funding will support three priorities: expanding its rent-reporting API for banks and fintechs (including a partnership with Zillow), launching Esusu Pay in 2026 to allow rent installment payments, and strengthening identity and rental data verification as rental data becomes part of mortgage underwriting. As rental data goes mainstream in U.S. finance, Esusu is positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider for turning rent payments into recognized financial identity and credit access.