Articles by Press Release
CFG Merchant Solutions Upsizes Corporate Note to $30.0 Million
March 6, 2024NEW YORK, NY. March 6, 2024 – CFG Merchant Solutions, LLC (“CFGMS” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled specialty finance and alternative funding provider, announced the upsize to $30.0 million of its investment-grade corporate note. The transaction was assigned a BBB rating by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization.
Since its founding in 2015, CFGMS has a proven track record of asset performance and profitability, and has funded more than $1.3 billion to over 31,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across diverse industries throughout the U.S. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the issuance to support continued growth of the business.
Our business has experienced considerable growth as banks and other funders have pulled back on credit over the past year,” said Andrew Coon, Chief Executive Officer of CFGMS. “This additional capital will help us continue our momentum in serving SMBs across the U.S.”
Bill Gallagher, President of CFGMS, added, “At CFGMS, we believe our unique platform is differentiated from other funders across the space. We are pleased that institutional investors share this view and continue to support us. This flexible capital will be very valuable as we seek to gain further market share.”
Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent in connection with the transaction.
About CFG Merchant Solutions
CFG Merchant Solutions (“CFGMS”) is an independent, technology-enabled alternative funding platform focused on providing capital access to small and mid-sized businesses that have historically been underserved by traditional financial institutions and may have experienced challenges obtaining timely financing. The Company utilizes its historical transactional data, proprietary underwriting, predictive analytics, and electronic payment technologies and platforms to assess risk, and provide access to flexible and timely capital.
For additional information about the Company, visit: https://cfgmerchantsolutions.com/.
Contact:
Name: Richard Polgar
Title: Chief Financial Officer
rpolgar@cfgms.com
A New Commercial Financing Expo Is Coming to Las Vegas This Fall
March 4, 2024
Coming to Las Vegas in 2024, an inaugural commercial financing expo powered by deBanked in collaboration with the Small Business Finance Association will be held in the Fall. The conference will bring together the leading lenders, funders, and brokers from across the spectrum of commercial finance, leasing, mortgage, and revenue-based capital products. The event will replace deBanked’s annual CONNECT event that has typically taken place in San Diego.
“We’ve had our eye on Las Vegas for a long time and resolved last September that we’d aim to go there next,” said deBanked founder Sean Murray. “We’ve built up years of experience through running the annual Broker Fair conference in New York City and this event will have everything from across the commercial finance and small business finance industries.”
“deBanked is a powerful industry leader and we look forward to working with them to produce a high level event where the commercial finance industry can learn and network together,” said SBFA Executive Director Steve Denis.
The deBanked team has produced nearly two dozen events since 2017. Additional information will be made available soon. For inquiries, email events@debanked.com or call 917-722-0808.
Northteq’s Aurora Platform Powers ElmBlue Capital’s Equipment Finance Launch
February 12, 2024[MINNEAPOLIS, MN, February 12, 2024] – Northteq, LLC, a leading provider of Salesforce loan origination solutions, is thrilled to support the launch of ElmBlue Capital, an emerging lender in the equipment finance market. Co-founded by industry veterans Greg Bourdon, Paul Reny, and Jake Broom, ElmBlue Capital is leveraging Northteq’s Aurora platform to streamline operations and deliver an automated digital lending experience to its customers and vendors.
“We knew we wanted the power and flexibility of Salesforce, and Northteq’s Aurora platform was the perfect match to quickly operationalize our vision,” said Greg Bourdon, co-founder of ElmBlue Capital. “Aurora allowed us to select the features we need now while laying a solid foundation for our future operations to grow.”
The integration of Aurora is a central component of ElmBlue’s business strategy, providing the scalability and flexibility that is critical to compete in the rapidly evolving equipment finance industry. Aurora’s automation and seamless third-party integrations provide real-time data access for vendors, streamlining processes while enhancing transparency and speed in operations.
“We are placing an emphasis on providing resources and financial tools for our partners that expand beyond the scope of what currently exists in the equipment finance space today,” Paul Reny, co-founder of ElmBlue added. “Our focus on automating our workflows and leveraging technology from the onset will ensure our level of service remains consistently high, regardless of capacity or market conditions.”
ElmBlue’s strong operational foundation not only allows them to compete with industry veterans, but also sets them apart through key differentiators such as:
- Fully Automated: ElmBlue launched with Northteq’s out-of-the-box, fully automated loan origination platform, Aurora. This turnkey solution, designed for deployment in weeks, not months, takes deals to signed documents in minutes, streamlining front-end operations while ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Agile and Future-ready: Aurora’s agile, open architecture and ability to seamlessly integrate with Salesforce AppExchange partners will enable ElmBlue to rapidly adapt to market and customer needs. This ensures that their business model is scalable and poised for future growth, keeping them at the forefront of industry advancements.
- Improved Vendor and Customer Relations: Aurora’s real-time data access and streamlined processes create an unparalleled user experience, helping ElmBlue build transparency and trust with its vendor partners and borrowers.
“Partnering with Northteq has been instrumental in actualizing our vision for ElmBlue,” Jake Broom, co-founder of ElmBlue noted. “Our strategic emphasis on establishing a scalable and efficient operation from inception has positioned us for sustained success in the long run.”
To learn more about ElmBlue Capital’s financing capabilities or to become a vendor partner, visit elmblue.com.
To learn more about the Aurora system and the automation tools Northteq used to support ElmBlue Capital’s business launch, visit northteq.com.
About Northteq
Northteq, LLC is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based fintech company that has helped over 175 lenders provide their customers, vendors, and employees with intuitive, thoughtfully designed lending solutions. Aurora, Northteq’s flagship product, is an automated, Salesforce powered loan origination system and partner portal. They also offer turnkey Salesforce apps created through key partnerships with fintech industry leaders including Middesk, PayNet, FICO, Equifax, Experian, D&B, TimeValue, LexisNexis, Nintex, Ocrolus, Plaid, and many more.
Northteq is now primarily owned by Arthur Ventures, a respected Minneapolis-based early growth capital firm known for leading investments in B2B software companies. This partnership positions Northteq for continued growth and innovation. Since 2013, Arthur Ventures has partnered with over 50 companies across the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit northteq.com.
About ElmBlue Capital
ElmBlue Capital is a fintech-focused equipment financing lender. Committed to transparency, integrity, and partnership, ElmBlue Capital aims to build long-term relationships, supporting clients and vendors in the trucking and transportation, manufacturing, food processing, packaging, and construction industries. To learn more, visit: elmblue.com.
# # #
Dedicated Financial GBC Announces Office Relocation and Appoints Jay Keckhafer as President
February 9, 2024Shoreview, Minnesota – February 9, 2024 – Dedicated Financial GBC, a leader in the financial services industry, is proud to announce two significant milestones in its growth. The company has recently relocated its office from Roseville to Shoreview, Minnesota, and concurrently, Jay Keckhafer has been appointed as the new President of Dedicated Financial GBC, effective January 2024.
The decision to move to a spacious 15,000+ square foot building from the previous 3,000 square foot location is in response to Dedicated Financial GBC’s remarkable growth. The company has tripled in size, necessitating a larger facility to accommodate expanding teams and enhance capabilities in first-party servicing, third-party collections, litigation management, bankruptcy servicing, account scoring, and asset management services.
Founder and CEO, Shawn Smith, emphasized the strategic nature of the relocation, stating, “This move supports our expanding team and aligns with our commitment to meeting the rising demands of our clients. We are excited about the enhanced workspace that will not only increase productivity but also prioritize the well-being of our dedicated team members.”
The new office space is designed with employee engagement in mind, featuring sit-stand desks, larger common spaces, additional meeting rooms, offices, and amenities. Dedicated is also actively undertaking initiatives to brand the interior of the office, contributing to the development of a robust and vibrant company culture.
Most notably, Dedicated Financial GBC is excited to announce the appointment of Jay Keckhafer as its new President. With over two decades of experience, Jay brings a wealth of expertise to his new role, having served as the Executive Director of Operations and Legal Outsourcing for the past six years. His extensive career includes notable roles such as Director of Collection Operations at OPTIO Solutions, LLC, and Director of Collections at AscensionPoint Recovery Services.
As president, Jay will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of Dedicated Financial GBC, leveraging his skills in business analysis, operations management, financial analysis, and business strategy. His leadership is expected to drive the company’s growth and success in the financial services industry.
Shawn Smith, founder and CEO, expressed his excitement about Jay’s appointment, stating, “We are grateful to have Jay Keckhafer as the President of Dedicated Financial GBC. His background in operations, legal outsourcing, and business operations makes him the perfect leader to guide Dedicated to new heights. We look forward to the innovative strategies and insights he will bring to our team and the leadership he will bring in support of our mission to use business to make the greatest impact on people in need locally and globally.”
Dedicated Financial GBC remains committed to providing unmatched financial services to its clients. The office relocation and Jay Keckhafer’s appointment as President mark a monumental moment in the company’s journey as it expands its capabilities and solidifies its position as a leader in the industry.
About Dedicated Financial GBC:
Dedicated Financial GBC shatters the stereotype of a financial services portfolio management company by providing innovative financial and asset solutions to commercial funders. As a single resource, Dedicated offers a complete range of services to the financial sector, including portfolio servicing, first-party solutions, collections, equipment remarketing, voluntary and involuntary repossessions, litigation and bankruptcy management, account scoring, and consulting. Dedicated Financial GBC’s values are grace, growth, significance, and excellence. They drive their mission of using business to change the world on a local and global scale and drive their team toward success for their clients. For more information, please visit dedicatedgbc.com.
SellersFi Announces Financing Solution With Amazon Lending To Provide E-Commerce Sellers Credit Lines Up to $10M
January 30, 2024Weston, FL, January, 30, 2024 – SellersFi, a global e-commerce financing and financial services company, today announced a financing solution with Amazon that will provide eligible Amazon sellers with access to credit lines of up to $10 million through Amazon Lending.
Through this relationship, eligible Amazon sellers can now seamlessly access broader lines of credit to support their Amazon stores.
“SellersFi was launched seven years ago to address e-commerce sellers’ paramount challenge: to secure the right capital to grow their businesses,” stated Ricardo Pero, co-founder and CEO of SellersFi. “This relationship with Amazon highlights our dedication to transforming e-commerce financing to empower small and medium-sized businesses with the accessible financial tools they need to focus their energy and aspirations on amplifying their businesses and attaining exceptional growth.”
Sellers face a range of hurdles in building successful online businesses including competition, order fulfillment, visitor conversion, marketing and more. Even when effectively addressing those factors, however, 32% of e-commerce startups fail due to running out of money, according to research by Marketing Signals. These lines of credit from SellersFi and Amazon Lending are meant to support sellers experiencing such challenges.
“Working with the Amazon Lending team has been an exceptional experience for SellersFi,” said Leonardo Felisberto, Head of Global Business Development and Partnerships at SellersFi. “Their dedication to empowering sellers aligns perfectly with our mission, and together, we’ve unlocked more possibilities for e-commerce entrepreneurs. We’re hopeful this can be another step toward supporting the growth aspirations of online sellers in the US and beyond.”
“Amazon is committed to providing our sellers with flexible and convenient access to capital, regardless of their size,” said Tai Koottatep, director and general manager, Amazon WW B2B Payments & Lending. “Through this lending option with SellersFi, we’re able to strengthen that commitment and offer sellers even more opportunities to grow their business.”
This announcement bolsters SellersFi’s expansion as a financial services platform. The company currently offers working capital, prepaid debit cards and digital wallets with insurance, business credit and debit, and checking accounts in the pipeline.
For more information about investment opportunities with SellersFi, please visit www.sellersfi.com. To learn more about SellersFi lines of credit via Amazon Lending, please visit sell.amazon.com/programs/amazon-lending.
About SellersFi: SellersFi, formerly SellersFunding, is a global financial technology company that utilizes AI-driven credit scoring models and extensive integration with leading e-commerce platforms to offer working capital and cash management solutions to empower e-commerce merchants looking to grow. As e-commerce evolves, SellersFi will drive the fintech innovations that allow sellers and brands to worry less about funding and finance and to focus more on growth and achieving their business goals. From inventory and marketing to product launches, international expansion, and more, thousands of e-commerce sellers trust SellersFi to achieve limitless success.
First Ever Domain Name Loan by Smart Contract Was Executed on Ethereum
January 27, 2024
History was made on Saturday when the first ever loan against a domain name was executed with a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain. The significance is that the success marks the birth of a new asset class that can be leveraged to unlock capital for business owners or domain name investors in an expeditious and secure manner.
deBanked founder Sean Murray was the executor of the transaction. The process involved tokenizing a domain name (domainfi.net) into an NFT and then offering that NFT as collateral on an NFT loan marketplace. When a loan was executed on the platform with a smart contract, the domain name was automatically placed into an ethereum address to be held as escrow. If the borrower were to default on the loan, the smart contract would automatically release the domain name to the lender, who would now have full control of it.
The process involved two parties, the tokenizing registrar and the NFT loan marketplace. The loan, which was consummated for proof of concept, carried a 10% APY and a 7-day term. It took less than 20 minutes combined to complete the tokenization and loan execution process.
“I was guessing that this capability might still be another year away and I had not even dreamed that I would be the very first one to execute this type of loan,” said Murray. “Following this space closely probably contributed to that stroke of luck. There is still time until this is ready to be a consumer-facing product in the marketplace, but the tech already exists and transactions of this nature are already viable. It will be fascinating to watch.”
About deBanked
deBanked was launched in 2010. For questions or inquiries email info@debanked.com and call 212-220-9084.
Northteq’s January Product Release Delivers Enhanced Lending and Pricing Solutions
January 23, 2024MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (January 23, 2024) – Northteq, Inc., a leading provider of Salesforce loan origination solutions, is thrilled to announce a range of new features and enhancements in our January Product Release. This release focuses on making operations smoother, expanding financial product options, and improving vendor and partner collaboration. It is all about making things better and easier in the world of equipment finance. We are excited about continuing to evolve our Aurora LOS and Partner Portal and know these enhancements will open new possibilities for our clients. Here is a glimpse of what we are rolling out:
Expanded Product and Pricing Offerings
- Enhanced Asset-Based Pricing: We are transforming the way you price in Aurora. The updated asset-based pricing feature, powered by TValue, allows for individualized pricing of each asset with different rates, residuals, and more. Asset pricing can be rolled up on the application or into a blended rate as suits your business needs.
- Line of Credit Capabilities: Introduce new revenue streams with our Line of Credit product featuring the same automated credit decision-making in Aurora that you love. After approval, you can auto-approve an application against an approved borrower line of credit.
- Enhanced Residuals: Experience a breakthrough in pricing flexibility with advanced residual pricing tables that accommodate both currency amounts and percentages, automatically calculating the corresponding value on the equipment record. The dynamic residual pricing feature enhancement is seamlessly integrated into program residuals, improving reliability and efficiency of pricing and quotes.
- Flexible Payment Frequency Options: Updated to offer a multi-select field, catering to a wider range of client preferences and requirements.
Vendor and Partner Portal Advancements
- Vendor Enabled TValue Pricing: We’re supercharging our Aurora Partner Portal with TValue’s industry-leading calculations and data. This means more accurate quotes and risk-based pricing options, right at your vendor’s fingertips.
- Streamlined Partner Portal Quotes: Improved integration and handling of quotes from the Partner Portal to the LOS for better efficiency and accuracy.
- Single-Page Borrower Application: An updated, more intuitive application process designed to improve completion rates and user satisfaction.
But that’s not all. We’re also rolling out enhancements across our Salesforce partner apps and integrations including Ocrolus, Middesk, TValue, Paynet, Experian, Transunion, Equifax, and OFAC. Expect improvements in user experience, performance enhancements, and essential bug fixes.
Our January 2024 release is part of Northteq’s continuous commitment to refining and advancing our platforms. As we innovate and adapt, we look forward to more impactful enhancements in our upcoming releases this year, each one bringing fresh advancements to the industry. This update is a key part of our ongoing mission to align our technology with the ever-changing market needs and to continuously improve the equipment finance lending experience. Check out the full list of upgraded products and features here.
This is just the beginning of what we have planned for the year. Stay tuned for what’s next at Northteq – we’re just getting started on a year full of innovation!
About Northteq
Northteq, Inc. is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based fintech company that has helped over 175 lenders provide their customers, vendors, and employees with intuitive, thoughtfully designed lending solutions. Aurora, Northteq’s flagship product, is an automated, Salesforce powered loan origination system and partner portal. They also offer turnkey Salesforce apps created through key partnerships with fintech industry leaders including Middesk, PayNet, FICO, Equifax, Experian, D&B, TimeValue, LexisNexis, Nintex, Ocrolus, Plaid, and many more.
Northteq is now primarily owned by Arthur Ventures, a respected Minneapolis-based early growth capital firm known for leading investments in B2B software companies. This partnership positions Northteq for continued growth and innovation. Since 2013, Arthur Ventures has partnered with over 50 companies across the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit northteq.com.
Dragin Technologies Announces New President and CEO
January 11, 2024Dragin Technologies’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce Mark Ross as the new President & CEO. In this role, Mr. Ross will spearhead the expansion of the company’s technological capabilities, as well as its business development, sales, and marketing functions.
Mark’s journey with Dragin began following his tenure at Morgan Stanley, where, as Vice President of Strategy on the Sales & Trading desk, he developed trading tools that earned the bank millions each year. His transition to Dragin marked a turning point for the company, shifting its core focus from OCR to process automation leveraging AI and Machine Learning technologies.
At the core of Dragin’s ethos is a commitment to revolutionizing client operations. The firm’s mission is straightforward: To significantly enhance client processing speeds while concurrently reducing costs. Under Mark’s leadership, Dragin has undergone a comprehensive software overhaul, a transformation that has enhanced efficiency and equipped the company with limitless scalability.
Beyond his technological impact, Mark has also played a crucial role in driving the company’s business development and sales. His efforts have been pivotal in acquiring Dragin’s inaugural clients and forging numerous strategic business partnerships.
As Mark Ross assumes the CEO position, Dragin Technologies is poised to accelerate its growth, evolving into a formidable force in the tech industry. The company looks forward to a future of continued innovation in the process automation space, assisting clients in achieving ‘hands-free’ data processing and expanding the range of industries supported by Dragin’s products.
To learn more about Dragin, visit: https://www.dragin.io
