# Santiago Suarez

> Santiago Suarez is the Colombian co-founder and CEO of Addi, a credit, payments and commerce platform. A Yale political science graduate and former JPMorgan and LendingClub executive, he returned to Colombia in 2018 to build the business with Daniel Vallejo and Elmer Ortega. His public writing covers lending economics and startup funding; he also invests in and advises startups.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Addi
- **Organizations:** Addi, JPMorgan, LendingClub, McKinsey & Company, Village Global, Yale Economics Association, Student Micro Finance Initiative
- **From:** Cali, Colombia
- **Nationality:** Colombian
- **Education:** Joint B.A./M.A. in Political Science, Yale University
- **Known for:** Received Yale’s Roosevelt L. Thompson Prize for public service in 2007., Founded the Yale Economics Association, co-founded the Student Micro Finance Initiative and co-led the Yale Tour Guides., Co-founded Addi in 2018; by September 2026, Suarez reported nearly four million customers, around 60,000 merchants and operations across 1,050 Colombian municipalities.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Graduated from Yale with a joint B.A./M.A. in Political Science and received the Roosevelt L. Thompson Prize for public service; joined McKinsey in New York after graduation.
- **Before 2015** — After McKinsey, worked at a late-stage venture capital firm on the US West Coast and an artificial intelligence startup with MIT-trained colleagues.
- **2015** — His Yale alumni account described three and a half years in JPMorgan strategy in New York and London, followed by helping establish its New Product Development group.
- **Before 2018** — Led strategy and corporate development at LendingClub in Silicon Valley.
- **2018** — Returned to Colombia and co-founded Addi with Daniel Vallejo and Elmer Ortega. Company incorporation in September was followed by the first loan in November.
- **2019** — Andreessen Horowitz announced its investment in Addi, which was then live in more than 200 stores.
- **2020** — Published essays on debt facilities, capital efficiency and building venture-backed companies in Latin America.
- **2021** — Addi operated in Brazil and announced more than $200 million in debt and equity financing in December, with a reported valuation above $700 million.
- **2022-2024** — Made profitability the guiding company metric from August 2022 to August 2024. Addi exited Brazil and focused on Colombia.
- **2024** — A March funding package comprised $36 million in equity and $50 million in debt; Suarez said the valuation had fallen to roughly half its late-2021 level.
- **2026** — Addi announced a $150 million structured facility with JPMorgan and Fasanara Capital, authorization for Addi CF as a financing company, and an $85 million Series D.

## Achievements

- Received Yale’s Roosevelt L. Thompson Prize for public service in 2007.
- Founded the Yale Economics Association, co-founded the Student Micro Finance Initiative and co-led the Yale Tour Guides.
- Co-founded Addi in 2018; by September 2026, Suarez reported nearly four million customers, around 60,000 merchants and operations across 1,050 Colombian municipalities.
- Reported eight consecutive profitable quarters for Addi in September 2026.
- Included in Fast Company’s 2026 Pacesetters list.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — In a September 17 interview, Suarez reported nearly four million users, around 60,000 merchants, 1,050 municipalities and eight consecutive profitable quarters. Savings accounts remained an upcoming product.
- **2026-07** — Addi announced an $85 million Series D led by Citius and co-led by BTG Pactual, with GIC and Monashees participating.
- **2026-04** — Addi announced a $150 million structured facility with JPMorgan and Fasanara Capital and authorization for Addi CF to operate as a financing company.

## Links

- Website: https://santiasua.wordpress.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santisuarez
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/SantiaSua

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/santiago-suarez
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07