Lendela, a Singapore-based loan matching platform, has announced the appointment of Kent Huang as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Steven Wong as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). These strategic hires will drive the company’s ambitious expansion across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
Huang and Wong bring decades of combined experience in finance and fintech to Lendela. Their leadership will be crucial as the company scales its unique reverse auction model, aiming to solidify its dominant position in the APAC lending landscape. Huang will be based in Singapore, while Wong will operate from Kuala Lumpur.
Wong’s 15-year track record scaling tech-driven financial platforms positions him well to optimize Lendela’s technology infrastructure. “The reverse auction model is a breakthrough in lending that has already created a much more transparent and competitive space where both borrowers and lenders benefit,” said Wong. “Lenders can acquire customers more efficiently while borrowers gain access to better, more tailored financing options. I’m very excited to help Lendela optimize this experience at scale, ensuring technology continues to enable informed financial decisions across Asia Pacific.”
Huang, with nearly two decades of financial leadership experience at companies like PayPal and Intuit, will steer financial strategy, risk management, and regulatory compliance. “A fintech’s story isn’t and shouldn’t be just about growth—it’s also about sustainable, responsible scaling,” said Huang. “Lendela is at the forefront of this shift, ensuring both borrowers and lenders thrive in an ecosystem built on transparency and efficiency. My goal is to drive financial governance and strategy that supports long-term expansion while reinforcing trust in digital lending across Asia Pacific.”
Founded in 2018, Lendela simplifies financing and enables greater financial access. Its innovative reverse auction model allows financial institutions to bid for borrowers, offering their most competitive financing options. This benefits both borrowers, who gain access to transparent loan options, and lenders, who acquire customers more efficiently.
Since 2024, Lendela has demonstrated impressive growth, increasing its headcount by nearly 30 percent. The platform has facilitated over 400,000 loan applications and partners with over 100 lenders across the region, including major banks in Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2023, Lendela raised $5 million in an oversubscribed Series A round, backed by investors including Walter de Oude’s Chocolate Ventures and Cocoon Capital. Lendela currently serves customers in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia.
“With Wong’s track record in fintech product innovation and Huang’s extensive experience in financial leadership, we are well-positioned to scale sustainably while staying true to our mission of making borrowing fairer and more transparent,” said Nima Karimi, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Lendela. “Lendela has created a unique model where consumers make better financial decisions and lenders gain access to a wider pool of qualified borrowers at lower acquisition costs, and I know that the duo will be instrumental in scaling this win-win model across the region.” Cocoon Capital is proud to support Lendela in its mission to revolutionize lending in APAC.