Underscore VC Backs Fast-growing SMB Contextual Lending Services Platform
Lendflow, the market leader in embedded small and medium business lending, announced it has raised a $10.8 million Series A funding round. Underscore VC led the financing, which brings its total funding raised since its 2019 inception to over $13 million. Uncorrelated Ventures, Y Combinator, 2048 Ventures, Knoll Ventures, I2BF, Hack VC and Navitas Capital also participated in the latest round.
Lendflow enables every SaaS company to become a fintech. Lendflow’s white label solution allows vertical SaaS technology companies servicing small and medium businesses (B2SMB) to easily build, enhance or embed financial products within their ecosystem and offer hyper-contextual financing solutions.
Read More: Bank of Sun Prairie Partners with 360 View to Empower Their Customer Relationship-Focused Culture
The way in which small businesses access credit has shifted away from being a standalone activity handled by a financial institution, to a more contextual, in-workflow manner, offered and managed by companies that intimately understand their SMB customers. These companies are in a better position to use the data, knowledge, and relationships with their existing customers to deliver a superior financial product experience at a lower cost.
“The idea of contextual lending isn’t new; in-market lending services have existed for some time, but historically, it took a tremendous amount of effort and time for a product or service provider to become a lender,” said Jon Fry, CEO, Lendflow. “We’ve built a platform on which software companies can quickly launch financial products tailored to their audience. This promotes higher user engagement, increases revenue per user, and decreases churn. We’re excited to execute alongside new partners, including Underscore VC, as they’re deeply committed to the vertical SaaS space, and that added expertise will be crucial as we enter this next phase of growth.”
Read More: Piper Sandler Expands Credit Union Coverage with Addition of Jon Searles
Lendflow works with top vertical SaaS companies in construction, transportation, e-commerce and home services industries to help them launch lending services quickly and effectively. The platform includes:
- Robust API and data services offerings that include KYB and credit verification, which allows customers to build elegant and seamless credit programs directly within their existing lending platforms
- User-friendly code to minimize operational complexity, development resources, and time to market
- A white label solution that provides a native experience and allows vertical SaaS platforms to maintain brand control.
“High performing teams that narrow focus on their specified areas of expertise are interesting to us as they get traction quickly and grow in a sustainable, managed way. That’s why we’re excited to back the team at Lendflow,” said Chris Gardner, Partner at Underscore VC. “They understand their customers deeply, and have the insight and know-how to deliver an integrated platform on which these companies can build to deepen relationships with their customers, and offer customized services that would otherwise have to be outsourced to banks that don’t have the intimate, industry knowledge to make these relationships consistently successful.”
Customers have embraced Lendflow’s user-friendly, industry-specific approach to lending vs. going through traditional banks. “Lendflow has helped us expand our reach into new markets by enabling us to quickly launch a robust capital program. Their full-service capabilities allow us to meet our customers’ needs for fast, transparent access to capital in an efficient, scalable way.” says Andrew Dunn, VP of Financial Products at Levelset.
The new funding will enable the company to expand its product suite with an improved customer experience and enhanced data services offerings to serve a broader group of customers in the U.S. and abroad.
Read More: Abra Launches Token-Based Rewards Program for Customers Powered by Crypto Perx (CPRX)
[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com ]
