Better Finance / SmartBiz is a company.
Key people at Better Finance / SmartBiz.
Better Finance / SmartBiz was founded by Ryan Gilbert (CEO and Co-Founder).
SmartBiz (also known as SmartBiz Loans or SmartBiz Bank) is a San Francisco-based fintech company providing an AI-powered platform for small business financing, specializing in SBA 7(a) loans, PPP loans, bank term loans, and lines of credit ranging from $25,000 to $350,000. It connects over 230,000 entrepreneurs—60% from minority, women, or veteran-owned businesses—with more than $9 billion in funding through a network of banks and lending partners, streamlining approvals and boosting efficiency.[1][3][4] The platform serves small business owners across industries like manufacturing, travel, and services, solving capital access barriers with fast, intelligent matching to reduce rejection rates and enable growth, as evidenced by client stories of revenue doubling and business expansions.[1][4]
Founded in 2009, SmartBiz has raised $37 million from investors including Venrock, First Round Capital, and Uncork Capital, achieving recognition as the top small business lending platform by LendIt Fintech in 2022 for loan performance and innovation.[1][2]
SmartBiz was founded in 2009 in San Francisco as an online SBA loan marketplace to simplify small business lending amid the post-financial crisis recovery.[1][2] Key leaders include CEO Evan Singer and co-founder Sean O'Malley, who focused on product management to build an intelligent technology platform combining loan matching with bank-enabling tools.[2] Early traction came from automating SBA 7(a) applications, making them faster and easier, which evolved into a full fintech-bank hybrid; a pivotal moment was the 2025 acquisition of Centrust Bank, forming SmartBiz Bank and shifting headquarters out of California to expand as a regulated bank while maintaining its lending focus.[2]
This evolution humanizes SmartBiz's mission: empowering underserved entrepreneurs, with real-world impact like helping Sonoma County Carpentry double revenue or Off-Road Vixens consolidate debt for expansion.[4]
SmartBiz rides the fintech wave of embedded finance and AI-driven lending, capitalizing on post-pandemic small business recovery and SBA program expansions amid high interest rates and tight credit.[1][2] Timing is ideal: 2025's regulatory shifts, like OCC focus on digital assets and bank formation, plus its bank acquisition, position it amid fintech-bank consolidations that blend tech speed with banking trust.[2] Market forces favoring it include rising demand for diverse business funding (60% of its loans) and efficiency gains for lenders, influencing the ecosystem by democratizing $25K-$350K loans—fueling resilience in sectors like carpentry and retail while setting standards for AI loan platforms.[1][4]
SmartBiz is poised for scaled growth as SmartBiz Bank, leveraging its $9B+ track record to capture more SBA market share amid digital banking trends and potential rate cuts. Expect expansions in lines of credit, AI enhancements for predictive lending, and deeper partner integrations, shaped by regulatory tailwinds and small business booms in AI-adjacent services. Its influence may evolve from marketplace to full-service bank, further empowering 230K+ entrepreneurs and redefining accessible capital in a fragmented lending landscape—proving that smart tech truly equips businesses "with the right capital at the right time."[1][2][4]
Key people at Better Finance / SmartBiz.
Better Finance / SmartBiz was founded by Ryan Gilbert (CEO and Co-Founder).
