A Radically Smarter Way to Get Business Financing: Introducing MatchFactor from Nav

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nav, the only place to get both business and personal credit scores free, announced the launch of its MatchFactor technology. This is the first and only technology that uses a proprietary algorithm, along with machine learning, to instantly filter and display financing options a business owner is most-qualified to receive. The clear MatchFactor score allows small businesses to save precious time and only apply for loans and credit cards they are likely to get. The impact is immediate: businesses that follow Nav's MatchFactor guidance are four times more likely to be approved.

The statistics on business lending are abysmal. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it takes up to 26 hours for business owners to search and apply for loans, and 72 percent of small businesses^[1] get turned down for traditional loans. Additionally, nearly a quarter of business owners^[2] have given up on applying. Every Nav customer automatically gets a MatchFactor score for dozens of financing options and business credit cards from the top financial institutions without having to fill out any long forms or sit on a call with a sales rep.

"Everyone says they love the American Dream, but when it comes to financing your own business, the dream and reality don't add up," says Levi King, CEO and cofounder of Nav, and a serial entrepreneur. "At Nav, we're on a mission to materially reduce the small business death rate in America. Helping business owners quickly access their best funding options can have a significant impact here. Most business owners barely have enough time to eat lunch, much less 26 hours to research financing—I've been there myself, having accessed financing more than thirty times. Nav's MatchFactor does the legwork behind the scenes, so business owners can save time and apply with confidence."   

Nav's MatchFactor is faster and more accurate than other financing tools

Other financing marketplaces rely on self-reported information, make busy owners fill out a form or just do not provide clear details. Because Nav is providing customers both business and personal credit scores (free), it is already sitting on a majority of the information lenders use to judge a business for a loan or credit card. Plus, Nav uses machine learning to continuously perfect the MatchFactor algorithm with each new application submitted. More than 130,000 entrepreneurs now use Nav to take charge of their credit and get unbiased financing advice.

"Securing business financing can be a confusing, and at times, maddening experience," said Leah LaSalla of Astralar. "The information we acquired from Nav in about 30 seconds was instrumental in helping us get our most recent funding. Business financing is a major hurdle and Nav bridged the knowledge gap that allowed us to keep moving and saving lives."

How Nav's MatchFactor works:

• MatchFactor does not need to "pull" a business owner's personal and business credit, and so it will not hurt credit scores. 
• The algorithm generates a "likelihood of approval" rating for each business credit card and financing offer available in Nav's marketplace. The rating is based on the business owner's credit and financial data as compared to the lender's underwriting requirements.
• Nav customers will see a MatchFactor score next to each financing product in our marketplace, from 0 percent to 100 percent. Top "matches" are displayed first. The higher the score, the more likely the financing option is to get approved.
• Nav uses machine learning to continually perfect its algorithm after each new application submission and subsequent approval or denial from the lender.
• Customers can further filter options based on preferences like amount or loan type. They can also speak to one of our credit and lending experts with no obligation or hassle.

More than 67 percent of Nav customers surveyed about MatchFactor said they have used their rating to apply for a loan or credit card, more easily determine their best options, or gain a better understanding of why they did not qualify. Visit Nav.com to learn and see more.

For more information on the challenging world of business financing, join Nav and small business expert Brian Moran for our co-hosted Twitter chat, #NavSMBChat on July 14 at 1pm ET/10am PT "Dealing with Rejection as a Small Business Owner." You can also view our blog post here. 

About Nav

Nav is a free way for business owners to take charge of their entire credit and financial life. It's the only site and app giving access to personal and business credit reports, self-serve tools to help build business credit and a financing marketplace with MatchFactor technology. This all helps business owners get more funding, lower their costs and save time so they can run and grow their business the way they want. Nav has offices in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City, and its investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Kickstart Seed Fund. For more information visit nav.com, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

^[1] 2013 Federal Reserve Bank of New York small business owner study:https://www.newyorkfed.org/smallbusiness/Fall2013/index.html
^[2] 2015 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) conducted by the the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Richmond, St.Louis: https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/smallbusiness/2015/Report-SBCS-2015.pdf

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379534LOGO

SOURCE Nav, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.nav.com