
Parlay Closes Seed Round and Partners with JAM FINTOP to Transform Small Business and SBA Lending
"By democratizing access to AI-powered technology, Parlay is helping community banks to better compete while advancing their mission to serve local businesses."
Closing the Small Business Lending Gap
While small businesses drive 44% of U.S. GDP, the lending infrastructure serving them remains stuck in the past – until now.
Parlay's Loan Intelligence System (LIS) unlocks legacy bottlenecks that have plagued community lenders for decades. By complementing existing Loan Origination Systems (LOS), the LIS empowers lenders to increase loan volume, improve operational efficiency, and maximize profitability without increasing risk. The platform's capabilities include digital customer onboarding, information verification, and an AI-powered decision management system to streamline processes for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, which are traditionally complex and costly to underwrite. The LIS expedites eligibility verification and identifies the best-fit loan products for each applicant.
"JAM FINTOP's investment and network of banks creates a powerful multiplier effect for our technology," said Alex McLeod, CEO and co-founder of Parlay. "Through this partnership, we're empowering community lenders nationwide to maintain rigorous underwriting standards while drastically improving operational efficiency and insight. By democratizing access to AI-powered technology, Parlay is helping community banks to better compete while advancing their mission to serve local businesses."
Next-Generation Technology Meets Proven Market Access
This funding comes as Parlay deepens partnerships with several JAM FINTOP Network banks who recognize the platform's value in streamlining SBA processes and increasing operational efficiencies. The capital will accelerate Parlay's mission to democratize access to capital through better lending technology for community banks and credit unions nationwide. The company will expand product development, deepen integrations with existing systems of record, and grow its network of community lenders and mission-driven financial institutions. Stephen Schroder will be joining Parlay's board of directors as the company continues to scale.
'Small business lending represents one of the most compelling growth opportunities for our bank limited partners, yet execution requires the right technology and infrastructure," said Stephen Schroder, Investor at JAM FINTOP. "Parlay has built what our banks need: a system of intelligence that integrates with existing systems of record to deliver substantial improvements in both volume and efficiency. We are confident the team's deep understanding of banking operations and proven ability to execute will drive value for financial institutions nationwide.'
For community lenders ready to capture market share in small business lending, Parlay represents the competitive advantage they have been waiting for.
About Parlay
Parlay Finance is a SaaS-based Loan Intelligence System (LIS) that helps lenders efficiently qualify SBA and small business loan prospects. Their AI-powered platform streamlines digital onboarding, verification, and eligibility assessment while complementing Loan Origination Systems to boost volume and profitability. For more information, visit www.parlay.finance.
About JAM FINTOP
JAM FINTOP is a joint venture between JAM Special Opportunity Ventures and FINTOP Capital. The partnership brings together bank experts and seasoned fintech entrepreneurs to invest in companies changing the way financial institutions and their customers move, track, and interact with money. For more information, visit www.jamfintop.com.
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In addition to the requirements set by the SBA, lenders will also have their own business loan requirements you must are a variety of reasons why your application may have been rejected. The size of your business, cash flow and a few other factors will all play a role. If the explanation you receive isn't clear, you can always reach out to the lender you applied with for more information. Credit While the SBA doesn't have a set minimum credit score, the lender you apply with likely does. You will need to meet both a minimum personal credit score and a minimum business credit score, if applicable, to qualify for an SBA loan. Lenders may evaluate you on the five c's of credit, which include a capacity to repay and the economic conditions of your industry. Business size Your business must meet the SBA definition of a small business. Some requirements include meeting minimum annual revenue requirements and having fewer than 500 employees. However, this may vary based on your industry. 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Real estate investment firms Businesses involved in speculative activities Lenders, banks, finance companies, lease companies or insurance companies Multi-sales distributions or multi-level marketing Gambling, excluding lottery sales or state-regulated gambling Charity organizations, religious organizations or nonprofits that rely on charity In addition, any business that operates illegally or is involved in illegal activity is ineligible. Finances The SBA requires you to have invested sufficient personal equity into your business and to have exhausted all other financing options before you apply for SBA loans. This means you may need to consider first applying for a business loan through a bank or alternative lender to qualify for SBA funding. On the upside, SBA loans don't require a personal guarantee because part of the loan is already backed by the government. There are also revenue or income requirements for SBA lending. These vary based on the lender. 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