Announcements

DataMerch.com Surpasses 50,000 Records

Tampa, July 7th, 2021 /DeBanked/ — DataMerch.com, an online underwriting database for the alternative financing industry, announced they had surpassed 50,000 records in their database. The company that was founded in 2015 has grown to become an industry standard in up front application screening.

“Our records are unique because they are a datapoint that doesn’t exist anywhere else,” said Co-Founder Cody Burgess. “The challenging part when underwriting in the alternative financing industry is that credit and other reports only carry so much information. Our records are entered directly by our funder-members, so it’s easy access to see what type of history a merchant business has in our industry.” When asked what differentiates DataMerch records from other reports, Mr. Burgess responded, “Some of our categories are unique, like suspicious activity, slow pay, split payer, and Covid-19 Hardship. Our largest category is Default, which is also often difficult, if not impossible, to find on other reports. All data we hold is reported directly from our members, so it’s direct communication without aggregating all sorts of other information. We believe it is simple and powerful information for any underwriting department.”

DataMerch leadership say they will continue to grow their record count in the years ahead and hope to surpass 100,000 records in the future. They also hinted at upcoming updates to standardize uploading records moving forward with a rolling minimum upload requirement. Management says this will ensure that all members will evenly contribute moving forward and will help with the long-term success of the platform.

About DataMerch

DataMerch LLC was founded in 2015 to help funders in the alternative financing industry make informed underwriting decisions. DataMerch members can screen their applications using DataMerch’s specifically designed FEIN search and enter unsatisfactory businesses into the database. DataMerch currently has over 110 industry-leading subscribed members working together as a community. DataMerch can be accessed at https://www.datamerch.com and contacted for membership at support@datamerch.com

Good Funding Announces Closing of up to $30 Million Credit Facility

Transaction Represents Company’s Inaugural Institutional Financing

TUSTIN, Calif., May 19, 2021 – Good Funding, LLC (“Good Funding”), a recently-launched small business finance company, has closed on a $20.0 million senior revolving credit facility with a U.S.-based, credit focused asset manager. The agreement includes an accordion feature with the option to increase the credit facility to $30.0 million. The transaction represents Good Funding’s inaugural institutional financing. Proceeds will be used to increase the Company’s funding capabilities and execute its strategic growth plan.

“We are thrilled to have closed on this first round of institutional financing,” said Jason Osiecki, Co-Founder and President of Good Funding. “This credit facility will allow us to accelerate the growth of our funding platform, expand our team, and ultimately empower even more small businesses to move forward.”

“With less than a year in business, in the midst of a pandemic that is still negatively impacting America’s small businesses, we view this investment as a strong endorsement of what Good Funding can accomplish,” said Co-Founder and CEO of Good Funding Ben Gold. “Closing on this credit facility validates our mission to transform the way small businesses access the capital they need to grow and thrive. We cannot wait to put this investment into action.”

Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company’s exclusive Advisor and Placement Agent in connection with this transaction.

About Good Funding, LLC
Founded in 2020, Good Funding is a privately-held financial services firm that provides alternative funding resources to America’s small businesses. Our products are designed for business owners who cannot access working capital through traditional methods, or simply need funding with a rapid-fire turnaround. Good Funding allows entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to build self-reliance and a brighter financial future.

Media contact:
Jenny Alonzo
VP, Marketing
714.384.7189
jalonzo@goodfunding.com

North Mill Continues Record-Setting Trajectory as March Volume Hits All-Time High

NORWALK, CT – North Mill Equipment Finance LLC (“North Mill”), a leading independent commercial equipment lessor providing small-ticket financing through its network of referral agents, announced today that the company reached an all-time high in monthly loan and lease originations in March. Funded volume surged to more than $24 million, a growth rate of 53% from last March and an increase of 22% from the company’s previous high-water mark last December.

“We’re firing on all cylinders,” said David C. Lee, Chairman and CEO, North Mill. “We reported a record breaking year in 2020 and I anticipate that we’ll continue to see an upward trajectory as the economy opens up. First quarter volume topped $54 million, an increase of more than 18% from Q1 of last year while our weighted average FICO climbed an additional 9 points to 717.” Average deal size also hit a record for March, according to Lee, as it reached nearly $90k per transaction.

A strategic initiative that has had a resounding impact on North Mill’s success is its continued commitment to financing assets across an array of industries. Transportation, which made up nearly 100% of the firm’s asset portfolio a few years ago, now accounts for about 40% of funded volume. The company has expanded into many types of equipment including, but not limited to, construction, health care, franchise opportunities and livery.

As referral agents continue to turn to North Mill to obtain financing for their customers, the capital markets have also demonstrated confidence in the company. Last month, North Mill closed NMEF Funding 2021-A, its fourth commercial equipment backed securitization (ABS), its largest ever. The $236,588,000 ABS issuance was well received by institutional investors as evidenced by strong oversubscription levels across all tranches of notes. Capital was raised from a total of 23 investors, more than double the number from the company’s previous issuance (NMEF 2019-A).

About North Mill Equipment Finance

Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, North Mill Equipment Finance originates and services small-ticket equipment leases and loans, ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 in value. A broker-centric private lender, the company handles A – C credit qualities and finances transactions for numerous asset categories including, but not limited to, construction, transportation, vocational, healthcare, manufacturing, printing, franchise opportunities and material handling equipment. North Mill is majority owned by an affiliate of Wafra Capital Partners, Inc. (WCP). For more information, visit www.nmef.com.

Forward Financing Reaches $1 Billion in Funding to Underserved Small Business

Boston-based Fintech Company Expands Main Street’s Access to Capital During Pandemic, Achieves Major Growth Milestone

Boston, Mass., March 1, 2021 – Forward Financing, a financial technology company that provides flexible revenue-based financing to small businesses, today announced that they have provided $1 billion in funding since their inception in 2012. The majority of this funding has gone to underserved small businesses nationwide; those that are unable to obtain financing through traditional sources like banks or the Small Business Administration.

“Nine years ago, we started this company upon the realization that so many small businesses lacked access to working capital,” said Forward Financing co-founder and CEO Justin Bakes. “As we look ahead to our next $1 billion milestone, we will continue to focus on providing best-in-class customer service and on helping our small business customers reach their full potential, no matter what challenges may arise.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the U.S. economy and many small businesses have needed additional financial resources to get by. Despite over $600 billion in loans provided through the Payroll Protection Program, this alone has been insufficient in fulfilling the need for capital. As a result, many small business owners have turned to funders like Forward Financing for support.

Forward Financing is uniquely suited to help small businesses during this economic downturn because it offers financing that is based on revenue, and is not a loan. Therefore, small business customers who may be experiencing a revenue slowdown can reduce their payments proportionately.

“Forward Financing has helped me grow my business and take advantage of opportunities,” a retail business owner recently said. “Their service has been excellent and when COVID hit, they easily and efficiently helped me adjust my payment schedule so I remained current and my business was not interrupted. I will use them again and again in the future!”

Over the past six months, Forward Financing has grown daily funding volume at an average rate of 17% per month as they continue to help small businesses navigate the pandemic economy. In order to help meet rapidly growing demand, they are currently expanding headcount in Boston by 20%.

About Forward Financing

Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company that provides fast, flexible working capital to small businesses nationwide. Their dedicated account representatives and advanced proprietary technology help customers spend less time finding capital and more time growing their business. With a simple, secure online application, business owners can trust that Forward Financing works to get them approvals within minutes, funding within hours, and personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward Financing has expanded Main Street’s access to capital by providing over $1 billion in funding to nearly 30,000 small businesses. The company is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and ‘Excellent / 4.9 stars’ on Trustpilot.com. Forward Financing was named a Best Place To Work by both

the Boston Business Journal and Built In Boston, and has been named by both Inc. Magazine and the Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts’ fastest-growing companies each year since 2017. Forward Financing is committed to helping more small business owners succeed and achieve their full potential. To learn more, visit www.forwardfinancing.com.

Media Contact
Lauren Groccia
lmelaugh@forwardfinancing.com
508-314-3574
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