Beyond Banks Podcast

August 22, 2023

Law Firm Financing & Plaintiff Protection with Level Esq, Interview with CEO Justin Leto

In this interview Justin Leto presents a genuinely innovative solution to a real problem in the legal industry. He's the attorney that made legal funding better for everyone!Justin identified a clear pain point for plaintiff lawyers who finance their own cases and created an insurance product (Level) to mitigate this risk. This evolved into Level Esq, which now offers both insurance and lending to law firms.The business model makes perfect sense - lawyers front significant costs for cases that may take years to resolve, with no guarantee of success. Having an insurance product that covers these expenses in case of loss is brilliant. Their transition to also offering loans earmarked for specific cases (rather than general working capital) represents a smart evolution of the business.

Merchant Cash Advance

19 Minutes

October 6, 2023

Merchant Cash Advance Tips From SBFA Director, Steve Denis Interview

We'll discuss the critical role alternative financing plays for those mom-and-pop businesses that traditional banks often overlook - from the local mechanic to the neighborhood restaurant. Steve will share insights on regulatory challenges facing the industry, including upcoming disclosure requirements and broker regulations.

Data Handling

15 Minutes

May 31, 2024

Commercial Data Expert, Cindy Festa Interview

Cindy Festa, an expert in commercial data, discusses the evolution of data accessibility and privacy concerns over the decades. While government agencies are becoming more transparent, it is crucial to remember that each jurisdiction is unique and not all data is fit for every purpose.

Construction Lending

19 Minutes

March 13, 2024

Mobilization Funding's Customized Cash Flow Mapping

In this episode, we discuss the unique challenges faced by construction businesses due to cash flow gaps and the reluctance of traditional banks to lend to them. We explore alternative lending solutions, focusing on the importance of project-based lending, active lender involvement, and a deep understanding of the construction industry. We also touch on the transformation from traditional lending models to a more modern approach, emphasizing the need for project-specific underwriting, value-added partnerships, and industry-specific risk management.

Lending Technology

14 Minutes

February 13, 2024

Rapid Finance Lending Technology Solution

In this episode, we explore key technology for alternative business lenders. We discuss modular, API-driven technology for lenders with limited IT, and regulatory compliance tools amid increasing scrutiny. We also cover fraud prevention for lenders with higher-risk borrowers and why seamless loan origination and servicing integration is key. Tune in to learn how the right tech partner can address challenges like higher volumes, smaller ticket sizes, and faster decisions for alternative lenders.

Alternative Lending

12 Minutes

April 26, 2023

General Merchant Funding Automated Underwriting

Cobalt Intelligence API has been implemented by General Merchant Funding to automate the underwriting process, which has yielded significant benefits in terms of time savings and fraud detection. The automation includes Secretary of State Verification, Real-Time EIN Verification, and Judicial Records & Court Case Searches. These features have eliminated manual processes, saving 3-5 minutes per application.

Legal Financing

13 Minutes

August 16, 2024

Idea Financial's Automated Lending: 60% Cash Flow Underwriting Emphasis, Niche Legal Finance

Idea Financial, a small business lender for plaintiff law firms, partnered with Cobalt Intelligence to automate their verification process. The API integration led to increased efficiency in their high-volume operation and was implemented faster than with traditional bureaus. This demonstrates the value of API-based verification in alternative lending, especially with the shift towards permission-based and cashflow data.

Digital Lending

15 Minutes

October 1, 2023

1West Real-Time & Automated Lending Market Place

1West's marketplace approach and ABLE software automate the lending process, making it more efficient for both borrowers and lenders. Their partnerships and real-time offers set them apart from other marketplaces. Integration with Cobalt API further streamline the process. Overall, 1West's data-driven approach and focus on automation make them an attractive partner for lenders.