StreetShares

About StreetShares

StreetShares, Inc. operated as a financial technology company with a distinct focus on providing funding solutions to veteran-owned small businesses across the United States. Founded in 2013 by Mark L. Rockefeller and Mickey Konson, the company aimed to bridge the gap in a market often underserved by traditional financial institutions. The founders' backgrounds were instrumental in shaping the company's mission; Mark Rockefeller, a military veteran and attorney, combined his experience with Mickey Konson's extensive background in finance and credit to create a platform that resonated with the military community. The company's business model was multifaceted, initially functioning as a peer-to-peer lending platform where members of the public could invest in loans for veteran businesses, thereby creating a community of 'vets funding vets'. This model evolved to include a broader range of financial products and services.

The core offerings of StreetShares included term loans, lines of credit, and contract financing, specifically tailored to the needs of small business owners. Its products were designed to provide quick and accessible capital, with a streamlined online application process that contrasted with the often lengthy procedures of traditional banks. A key selling point was its patriotic mission, which attracted both borrowers and investors who wanted to support the veteran community. StreetShares also developed business-to-business (B2B) software solutions, offering a 'lending-as-a-service' platform to community banks and credit unions. This allowed these institutions to offer sophisticated digital lending capabilities to their own customers without the need for extensive in-house development. In a significant milestone, StreetShares was acquired by MeridianLink, a provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions, in a transaction that was announced as complete in February 2022. This acquisition signaled a strategic shift, integrating StreetShares' small business lending technology into MeridianLink's broader portfolio of digital lending solutions.