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Empower Finance
Empower Finance (Tilt) has extended over $1B to 5M+ customers using income-based underwriting instead of credit scores.
Empower Finance
The firm, rebranded as Tilt, positions itself as an alternative to traditional credit underwriting from its San Francisco base. Instead of relying solely on FICO scores, its proprietary technology evaluates over 250 signals of financial health to approve applicants for cash advances and credit cards. The platform reports having matched over 5 million customers with products, accumulating more than 450,000 five-star reviews on its app. Tilt’s core offering blends a mobile-first credit card with short-term cash advances, supplemented by an application that provides automated savings, personalized budgeting, and credit-score monitoring. It underwrites consumers by analyzing current income and spending patterns, an approach that the firm says allows approval for three out of four applicants. Founder and CEO details, the company's incorporation date, and its funding history remain undisclosed on its public channels. Scale metrics published on the website reflect consumer adoption rather than institutional asset values or investment partnerships. It cites $1 billion in capital extended and a user base of 5 million, though it does not report a deployment total, office footprint beyond San Francisco, or adjacent investment vehicles. Customer testimonials dated March 2025 and January 2025 are featured prominently in its marketing. Tilt's structural distinction lies in its direct-to-consumer distribution and real-time cash-flow underwriting, bypassing traditional bank infrastructure and credit bureau reliance. The model functions as a vertically integrated lending operation, managing sourcing, underwriting, and repayment through its own app without depending on institutional LP capital or fund structures.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Empower Finance and the Tilt brand?
Tilt is the consumer-facing brand for the products operated by Empower Finance. The website and all customer-facing materials use the Tilt name, while the corporate entity remains Empower Finance. The firm uses Tilt for its cash advance, credit card, and financial wellness app, with the website domain empower.me serving both the corporate entity and the branded offering.
How does Tilt's underwriting model differ from traditional lenders?
Tilt evaluates over 250 non-traditional signals of financial health, primarily current income and spending behavior, instead of relying on static credit scores. The firm states that this approach allows it to approve three out of four applicants who might be declined by traditional FICO-based models. The technology dynamically adjusts credit limits and advance amounts based on observed repayment patterns.
Does Tilt operate as an institutional investor or a consumer lender?
Tilt functions entirely as a direct-to-consumer lender and financial technology platform, not an institutional investment firm. There is no evidence of LP relationships, fund commitments, co-investments, or private-market portfolio holdings. The firm deploys capital through its own balance sheet directly to individual borrowers via cash advances and credit lines.
Who runs Tilt and what is its ownership structure?
The current leadership and ownership structure of Empower Finance are not publicly disclosed on the firm's website or available marketing materials. No founder, CEO, or managing principal is named in any of the scraped pages. No information about venture capital backing, institutional shareholders, or a family-office affiliation could be verified from primary sources.
What products does Tilt offer beyond cash advances?
The Tilt app bundles a credit card, automated savings tool, personalized budgeting, and credit-score monitoring alongside its signature cash advances. The savings feature uses an AI engine that automatically sets aside what it calculates the user can afford. The budgeting tool categorizes spending and allows users to set custom caps.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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