In a move that could reshape financing for online merchants, AI-powered lending startup Slope is launching an exclusive partnership with Amazon to provide U.S.-based sellers with a reusable line of credit. The initiative, backed by a credit facility from JPMorgan Chase, will allow eligible vendors to apply for and access capital directly through their Amazon Seller accounts with real-time approval, the company told CNBC.

The partnership aims to address a critical cash flow challenge for small and medium-sized businesses. Eligible sellers—those in business for at least one year with over $100,000 in annual revenue—can secure credit starting at an 8.99% APR. Once approved, they can draw funds as needed and choose repayment terms from three months to a year to align with inventory cycles.

Filling a Financing Gap for "The Backbone of Amazon"

"More than 60% of Amazon's sales are driven by independent sellers," said Slope co-founder Alice Deng. "They are the backbone of Amazon and e-commerce in general." Deng explained that while some third-party financing options exist, they often target smaller sellers. Slope's program is designed for more mature businesses, some generating hundreds of millions in revenue, that require "bank-grade financing."

The company leverages proprietary Amazon performance data and its own large language model to underwrite loans in minutes. "We analyze Amazon performance data and cash flow in real time," said CEO Lawrence Lin Murata, who co-founded Slope with Deng. "That's why we can give a more compelling offer than if you were outside the Amazon dashboard."

From Family Toy Shop to AI Lending

Lin Murata's inspiration came from his family's three-decade-old toy shop in São Paulo, where he witnessed firsthand the financial strains of running a small business. "Cash flow was a large pain point," he recalled. This experience led him to build Slope, which counts OpenAI CEO Sam Altman among its backers.

"Leveraging AI, we're able to underwrite these businesses and handle all the complexity of risk assessment while providing a very easy, real-time experience," Lin Murata said. The AI model uses granular data—like sales breakdowns by product—to make more informed decisions than traditional banks relying on standard financial documents.

A Growing Platform with Rapid Traction

Amazon becomes the latest major partner for Slope, joining a client roster that includes Samsung, Alibaba, and Ikea. An Amazon spokesperson stated the company is "excited" to expand financing tools for its selling partners, emphasizing that access to capital is "a critical need for small business owners."

Although the integration has been in trial for only a few weeks, Slope reports significant demand, with applications growing 300% week over week. The company did not disclose the financial terms of its deal with Amazon but expects the total addressable market—estimated at $1-2 billion during Amazon's own lending program four years ago—to grow substantially.

"Ultimately, we're helping these businesses grow by giving them fair, affordable, fast, and easy access to different forms of financing," Lin Murata said, reflecting on his initial inspiration. "We want to be the credit intelligence layer for these businesses."