Funding Circle announced it is expanding its U.S. operations with a second office in Denver, Colo. With the move, Funding Circle will look to hire around 290 new employees in the Denver area over the next two years to support the company's growth.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said: "Funding Circle's presence in Colorado helps strengthen our state's entrepreneurial and investor ecosystem. Their innovative platform provides greater access to capital and will help create sustainable job opportunities in tech and financial services — two of our state's fastest growing and most vibrant sectors."

Bernardo Martinez, U.S. Managing Director of Funding Circle, said: "Denver today serves a hub for both the financial services and technology industries, making it an ideal second home for us in the United States. We are excited to become part of the Denver community and grow our team in the Mile High City."

At Funding Circle, businesses can obtain fixed-rate loans within days to purchase equipment and inventory, hire new employees or for other needs. With U.S. businesses now having accessed more than $1 billion in funding through the platform, Funding Circle is now the first lending platform anywhere in the world to have facilitated more than $1 billion across two markets.