Octane Secures $350M from Nuveen to Fuel America's Adventure Economy

NEW YORK, NY – May 20, 2026 – In a significant validation of its specialized lending model, fintech innovator Octane has closed a $350 million forward-flow agreement with Nuveen, the global investment arm of TIAA. The deal underscores mounting institutional confidence in the burgeoning market for powersports and outdoor recreational vehicles, a sector Octane has aggressively targeted with its digital-first financing platform.

The one-year agreement will see Nuveen, a financial heavyweight managing $1.4 trillion in assets, purchase fixed-rate installment loans for products like ATVs, personal watercraft, and outdoor power equipment. These loans are originated by Octane's in-house lender, Roadrunner Financial, Inc., and will be serviced by its affiliate, Roadrunner Account Services, LLC. Guggenheim Securities acted as the sole structuring advisor on the transaction.

This latest capital infusion is not just a transaction but a testament to a deepening strategic partnership. It follows a successful $150 million whole-loan sale between the two firms in 2025 and marks a significant expansion of their relationship, signaling strong belief in the quality and performance of Octane's loan portfolio.

A Partnership Built on Performance

The deal represents a powerful synergy between a specialized originator and a capital provider seeking exposure to high-performing, niche asset classes. For Nuveen, whose strategy increasingly embraces private credit and structured asset-backed finance, the partnership provides access to a portfolio of consumer loans in a market segment often overlooked by traditional financiers.

"Building long-term partnerships with best-in-class originators like Octane is core to who we are as investors," said Ken Price, Managing Director of Private ABF at Nuveen. "Our expanded relationship with Octane reflects our confidence in the quality of their assets and the strength of their platform. We look forward to continuing to support Octane's growth as a long-term capital partner."

Octane views the agreement as a cornerstone of its diversified funding strategy. The company has now secured over $2.2 billion in forward-flow commitments through five separate agreements, providing a stable and predictable capital pipeline to fuel its rapid growth.

"We're excited to build on our existing relationship with Nuveen, a highly respected institutional investor and valued long-term partner, through this forward-flow transaction," commented Nicholas Makarov, SVP and Head of Capital Markets at Octane. "The expansion of our partnership underscores the strong performance of our assets and Octane's continued success in building a durable, diversified funding platform supported by leading institutional investors."

Fueling the Adventure Economy

This financial maneuver is directly powering what could be called America's "Adventure Economy." The proceeds will support Octane's continued expansion at a time when consumer demand for powersports, RVs, and marine craft remains robust. The company has become a critical enabler in these lifestyle markets, which are collectively valued at over $150 billion.

Octane's growth trajectory illustrates the market's vitality. The company saw its originations, facilitated by Roadrunner Financial, surge by 36% to over $1.6 billion in 2024, followed by another 29% jump to a record $2.1 billion in 2025. This momentum has pushed its aggregate originations past the $8 billion mark since its inception in 2014.

Particularly notable is its rapid ascent in the RV and marine sectors. After entering the RV market in 2022, Octane has doubled its originations in that segment year-over-year and is on track to repeat the feat in 2025. This success highlights the effectiveness of its technology-driven approach in making large discretionary purchases more accessible to a wider range of creditworthy consumers.

A Diversified and Resilient Funding Engine

The Nuveen agreement is a key component of a sophisticated and multi-faceted capital markets strategy that sets Octane apart from many fintech peers. Rather than relying on a single source of funding, the company has built a resilient financial engine powered by three primary channels: forward-flow agreements, whole-loan sales, and a highly successful asset-backed securitization (ABS) program.

Since late 2023, Octane has sold or committed to sell over $3.6 billion in loans through forward-flow and whole-loan transactions with major institutional players. This includes a landmark $700 million facility with New York Life, MetLife Investment Management, and Equitable in 2025, and a $500 million agreement with AB CarVal in 2024.

Simultaneously, its ABS program has become a benchmark in the industry. Since December 2019, Octane has issued over $4.7 billion in asset-backed securities across 16 transactions. The program's quality was recognized when its OCTL 2024-RVM1 deal—the first securitization backed entirely by RV and marine collateral in two decades—won "ABS Deal of the Year" at the GlobalCapital US Securitization Awards. Consistently strong ratings from agencies like S&P and Kroll Bond Rating Agency provide third-party validation of the company's rigorous underwriting and strong credit performance.

Redefining Niche Market Lending

At its core, Octane's success is a story of digital disruption in markets underserved by traditional banks. The company has built an end-to-end digital platform that simplifies and accelerates the entire buying journey, from online discovery to closing the deal.

For its network of over 4,000 dealers, Octane's platform provides a competitive edge. Tools like Octane Prequal and Prequal Flex allow dealers to offer instant financing decisions through a soft credit pull, removing a major friction point in the sales process. The company has also introduced innovative products like "All-In-Advance," which simplifies deal structuring for prime buyers and gives dealers more flexibility.

This technology-first approach, combined with a robust and diversified funding base, creates a powerful flywheel. More capital allows Octane to serve a broader spectrum of customers, which in turn drives more business to its dealer partners, strengthening the entire ecosystem. By seamlessly connecting consumers, dealers, and capital markets, Octane is not just financing vehicles; it is building a new blueprint for modern consumer credit in the digital age.