.png "UK BNPL startup Zilch boosts revenue 93% to £110.3M, hits 5M users, and edges toward profitability while saving customers £750M in fees, signaling a shift in how consumer credit can deliver value.")
Hey, I’m Aadi as an MBA blending marketing and finance. I’ve spent time behind the curtains with fintech startups and chatting with investors wrestling with change in credit. In this piece I’m peeling back one of Zilch’s latest numbers to see what it might tell us about where consumer credit and rewards are headed.
Summary:
Heard that UK’s BNPL star Zilch just grew revenue 93 per cent year on year? Stick around and I’ll explain why that’s more than just growth as it’s a hint at a potential reframe in how we pay.
1. Revenue surged 93 per cent year on year to £110.3 million by March 31.
2. Gross merchandise value spiked 73 per cent to £1.9 billion showing people are actually using it.
3. Net profits have appeared lately with loss shrinking and revenue doubling as moving into profitability territory.
4. They’ve passed 5 million users under five years and saved consumers over £750 million in fees and interest.
5. Zilch is now UK’s fastest-growing unicorn with 300 per cent plus CAGR and a run-rate of £145 million.
I know what you’re thinking as another fintech hyping its numbers. But these ones feel earned. Imagine reading your bank statement and seeing a chunk of the fee you didn’t pay. That’s kinda what Zilch has done. In a year it grew revenue by nearly double and still managed to shrink its losses. That’s not hype as that’s show me the receipts kind of growth.
What’s striking is the scale of usage. 5 million people have joined up and collectively saved over £750 million. That’s not just small savings per person, that’s mass behavior change. The story is powered by a model where Zilch doesn’t charge interest as it brings in ads and merchant fees, and passes on the value to users.
They even guarantee protection regulators are about to tighten BNPL oversight in the UK as Zilch says they’ve already been playing by the rules as and planning a card launch. They're not blindsided when rules change as they’re likely ahead of the curve.
When I hear 300 percent growth, quickly turned profitable, and run-rate of £145 million, it tells me they’ve figured out unit economics. And as someone who’s had to pitch granular financials at investor meetings, that signals “founders who get it.” BNPL is crowded, but Zilch marries ad revenue and credit in a way that might just stick.
5 Do’s and Don’ts for Startup Founders, Investors, and Entrepreneurs:
1. Do think twice before dismissing BNPL. Some players are dialing in operational discipline.
2. Do test models where the value for users is transparent and benefits are obvious.
3. Don’t stretch expansion without seeing if your unit economics actually scale.
4. Don’t expect hype to last as watch metrics like profit margins and user behavior over time.
5. Do keep an eye on regulatory shifts as and if your startup already aligns, you might win trust early.