BUSINESS STRATEGY
SmartBiz | January 20, 2023
On January 19, 2023, Sunflower Bank, N.A., announced the start of a new small business lending platform in collaboration with SmartBiz, the renowned artificial intelligence-powered small business financing platform. Through this new end-to-end online portal, small businesses within Sunflower Bank, N.A.'s branch network, will now have access to a smoother process to apply for conventional small business loans ranging from $25,000 to $350,000. Express Line loan products and small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) will be accessible beginning in the second quarter of 2023.
Sunflower Bank provides financial solutions to the individual communities it serves. It offers a comprehensive array of banking services, including personal, small business, commercial, wealth management, credit cards, and mortgages. By utilizing SmartBiz's cutting-edge technology and seasoned small company loan specialists, Sunflower Bank, N.A. has increased efficiency and personalized assistance throughout the loan application and approval process.
Managing Director of Business Banking and SBA at Sunflower Bank, N.A., Matt Fitch stated, “SmartBiz aligns with our relationship banking approach, as well as our ambitious growth plans through its combination of technology and live support,” He further added “We are very excited to be able to meet the needs of more small business customers together and look forward to a long and productive partnership.”
(Source – Business Wire)
“Our mission at SmartBiz is to equip every entrepreneur with reliable access to the capital they need. We are thrilled to partner with Sunflower Bank, N.A. to ensure their clients can grow and strengthen their businesses with the right capital at the right time,” commented SmartBiz CEO Evan Singer.
(Source – Business Wire)
About SmartBiz
Headquartered in San Francisco and Austin, SmartBiz is a leading AI-powered small business financing platform, providing entrepreneurs access to the appropriate capital at the right time. It has connected borrowers with more than $9 billion in SBA 7(a), PPP, and bank term loans to date, all while enhancing efficiency for its network of banks and reliable lending partners. More than 230,000 entrepreneurs have used its platform to get the financing they need to develop, with 60% of the loans given to minority, women, or veteran-owned businesses. It is backed by Investor including Growth Capital, Venrock, Baseline Ventures, First Round Capital and Uncork Capital. In addition, it has been crowned American Banker's Best Fintech to work for on multiple occasions.
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MANAGEMENT
AutoStore | January 11, 2023
On January 10, 2023, AutoStore, one of the leading warehouse automation companies in the world, announced the debut of Pio in North America. Pio is a plug-and-play version of AutoStore's popular cube storage technology, designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Based on a pay-per-pick service model, Pio enables SMBs, such as retailers of sporting goods, apparel, crafts, and cosmetics, to adopt robotic automation for a relatively cheap investment, thereby helping more businesses obtain access to the world's most advanced automation technology.
Mats Hovland Vikse, CEO of AutoStore, said, "We established Pio to make our technology available to smaller businesses," He also added, "Only 15 percent of the world's warehouses are automated, and fulfillment operations at smaller retailers are still largely manual. Pio levels the playing field so that enterprises of all sizes can take advantage of the space and cost efficiencies of automated storage and distribution systems."
(Source – Globe Newswire)
Retailers pay a fee for each item picked. Software, robots, and ports used in the automation are owned and maintained by Pio. Users simply need to acquire product bins and the robots' running frames. A Pio facility is modular and expandable and works on standard plug-and-play software that integrates with the most prevalent online retail and shipping platforms. In effect, Pio enables small and medium-sized businesses to compete with much larger businesses with minimal capital expenditures, increased staff, and floor space requirements.
About AutoStore
Founded in 1996, AutoStore is a robot technology company that developed and continues to innovate Cube Storage Automation - the most compact product/inventory storage solution. The company intends to combine software, hardware, and human capabilities to build the future of warehouse management. AutoStore is a multinational corporation with over a thousand systems installed in 46 countries and a variety of sectors. All sales are developed, installed, and supported by a network of authorized system integrators. The company is headquartered in Nedre Vats, Norway, with offices in offices in the United States, Oslo (Norway), the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Singapore
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FINANCE
Merchants & Marine Bank | January 17, 2023
Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Inc., a century-old banking institution established in Mississippi, has introduced Voyager Lending, a division focused on providing small business owners with lending solutions.
Voyager Lending is led and staffed by industry professionals. The staff cares about the community and tries to give borrowers knowledgeable and personalized service. It makes lending easy and gives people access to money they wouldn't have otherwise!
President and CEO of Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Clayton Legear, said, “Our company’s commitment to small business owners reaches beyond standard banking services and has been a priority for us for more than 100 years.” He added, “You achieve a legacy of that nature by creating partnerships with leaders who are committed to growing the local economy by investing in the communities we serve. Voyager Lending’s mission to secure financing for entrepreneurs and small business owners is exactly that. This lending division is a direct reflection of our philosophy, and we’re very proud to offer financial expertise to partners who are working towards the same vision.”
(Source – Business Wire)
Voyager Lending is excited to provide a diverse range of small business owners with competitive products that the United States government backs via the Small Business Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture.
The company offers loans to pay for buying a business or a piece of real estate, buying out a partner, buying equipment, getting a business started, and paying bills. It is committed to growing communities and enhancing the local economy by aiding small business owners that need funding.
About Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Inc.
Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Inc., is a Mississippi-chartered community bank serving the Gulf South region. Initially formed in 1899, the bank was revived in 1932 during the Great Depression, the most significant economic disaster in the history of the United States. In over eight decades, the bank has grown from $25,000 to over $700 million in assets and from 2 offices to 16 offices servicing Mississippi & Alabama Gulf Coast and Mississippi Pine Belt.
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