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Bridge <a href="https://bitcomme.com/openai-launches-admin-plugin-for-chatgpt-work-codex/” title=”OpenAI launches Admin plugin for ChatGPT Work & Codex”>Launches $500M Direct Lending Fund to Finance Suppliers of America’s Largest Retailers
AI Lender Will Give Suppliers Fast, Transparent Production Capital to Fund Orders for Major Retailers
NEW YORK, NY – August 26, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) – Bridge, a Citi-backed AI-powered lending platform, has announced the launch of a $500M direct lending fund purpose-built for CPG brands and retail suppliers fulfilling purchase orders for America’s largest retailers. Since its spin-out from Citi in 2023, Bridge has deployed more than $800M and facilitated financing for hundreds of growing businesses. The fund launch marks Bridge’s next phase of growth, driven by demand from suppliers selling into major retailers.
Through its work with Walmart, Bridge recently funded DogSauce, a pet-food super broth meal topper that expanded from 1,200 to 3,000+ Walmart stores on a single order that nearly doubled the brand’s prior year revenue. “When Walmart calls with an expansion like this, you don’t want to say no,” said Dakota Sheets, founder of DogSauce. “But the financing gap between production and payment is real, and Bridge makes it possible to fill the orders without giving up equity.”
When a brand wins an order from a major retailer, the win often comes with a financing gap that most people outside the industry never see. The supplier has to pay for manufacturing, raw materials, packaging, freight and compliance before the goods are delivered and long before the retailer pays. That timing mismatch can leave even strong brands choosing between draining operating cash, raising equity for routine production, delaying fulfillment, or turning to financing options that may be fast but are costly, opaque or poorly aligned with retailer payment cycles.
“Retail is being reshaped by volatility in tariffs, freight, oil prices and consumer demand, and the pressure often lands first on the growing suppliers that have the least room to absorb it,” said Rohit Mathur, CEO and Co-Founder of Bridge. “Bridge is using AI to put capital to work for the businesses that need it. By analyzing the business, the order, and the retailer relationship more deeply than legacy underwriting allows, Bridge can move faster and get from no to yes for strong suppliers that traditional lenders might miss.”
“Bridge’s Purchase Order Financing Program gives Walmart suppliers an additional option for funding their orders. Expanding the range of capital options available to our suppliers is one of the ways we support our supplier community,” said Brandy Newhof, Senior Director of Global Treasury at Walmart.
Bridge was built to provide access to efficient, affordable capital – which is an important part of helping suppliers scale their businesses and keep products moving through the supply chain.
