FinTech Believers, You Can Still Prosper

It’s been less than three weeks since LendingClub’s very public debacle left everyone wondering: are the business models of such peer-to-peer lenders viable? Prosper Marketplace, one of the biggest online lending platforms in the U.S., may find out soon if there are many believers left. In an attempt to shore up its future, the San Francisco -based company hired advisers to weigh strategic options including a stake sale, according to multiple reports on Thursday.It comes at a tricky juncture for Prosper. The online lender — which connects debt investors with borrowers seeking between $2,000 and $35,000 for purposes including debt consolidation, taxes, vacations and adoptions — has lifted the rates it charges its riskier borrowers. This lessens the competitive advantage of its products.