SoFi—officially Social Finance, Inc.—is a leading U.S.-based fintech company that has transformed from a niche student loan refinancer into a comprehensive digital financial services platform[1][2]. Founded in 2011 by Stanford University alumni Mike Cagney, Dan Macklin, James Finnigan, and Ian Brady, SoFi initially aimed to offer better student loan options by connecting students and recent graduates with alumni and institutional investors[1][5][7]. This alumni-funded model was designed to provide lower interest rates than federal loans, leveraging data science to assess risk and minimize defaults[5][7]. Over the past decade, SoFi has rapidly expanded its product portfolio to include personal loans, mortgages, investment products, insurance, digital checking and savings accounts, and even cryptocurrency trading[1][2][3]. Its business model is direct-to-consumer, emphasizing a seamless, mobile-first experience that integrates all financial services—banking, lending, investing, and insurance—into a single digital platform[2][3]. This approach has resonated strongly with young professionals, high earners not yet wealthy (HENRYs), and tech-savvy millennials and Gen Z consumers[2][4]. The company’s proprietary risk assessment models use artificial intelligence and machine learning to evaluate factors beyond traditional credit scores, such as education and career potential, enabling more nuanced lending decisions[3]. SoFi’s growth has been marked by significant milestones: a $1 billion funding round led by SoftBank in 2015, the launch of SoFi Money (digital banking) and SoFi Invest (investment services), and the acquisition of the payments platform Galileo, which provides technology services to other fintech companies[1][3]. Today, SoFi is publicly traded and serves millions of members nationwide, with a valuation exceeding $8 billion[3]. Its app consistently receives high user ratings, reflecting a focus on member experience, community-building (including career coaching and exclusive events