CNote
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
CNote firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CNote
- Legal name
- CNote Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://mycnote.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CNote is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CNote business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Platform Management Fees: CNote generates revenue by facilitating investments through its platform, connecting investors with community financial institutions. The platform offers fixed-income products including Flagship Fund Notes (unregistered securities under Regulation A and Regulation D) and Impact Cash deposits.
- Fixed-Income Investment Products: CNote offers Flagship Fund Notes and Wisdom Fund promissory notes to accredited and unaccredited investors, generating revenue through the spread or fees associated with deploying investor capital to community financial institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual investors can invest starting at $1.00 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fixed-income offerings with potential 4% return |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
CNote product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CNote operates a digital investment platform that connects institutional and individual investors to a network of 2,500+ mission-driven financial institutions, including CDFIs, MDIs, and credit unions. It offers insured cash management products (Impact Cash, Climate Cash) and fixed-income promissory notes (Flagship Fund, Wisdom Fund, ImpactFlex Investing) that deliver competitive returns while directing capital to underserved communities for affordable housing, small business growth, and climate initiatives.
Product overview
CNote is a women-led fintech impact investing platform founded in 2016 that operates as a cash and fixed-income platform connecting institutions and individuals to community finance. The platform offers multiple investment products: Impact Cash (FDIC/NCUA-insured cash deposits), Climate Cash (climate-focused deposits), ImpactFlex Investing (flexible impact allocations), Flagship Fund (Regulation A/D promissory notes), and Wisdom Fund (accredited investor private placement). These products direct capital to a network of 2,500+ mission-driven financial institutions including CDFIs, MDIs, and community banks/credit unions to fund underserved communities, affordable housing, small business growth, and climate initiatives. The platform serves individual investors, corporations, and foundations seeking competitive financial returns alongside measurable social and environmental impact.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flagship Fund A fixed-income investment product offering unregistered promissory notes to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation A and Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933. Targets economic equity and social impact initiatives and has the potential to deliver around a 4% return while funding affordable housing, disaster recovery, and small business growth in underserved communities.
- Impact Cash A cash management product providing 100% FDIC- and NCUA-insured deposits placed with mission-driven financial institutions (CDFIs, MDIs, credit unions). Delivers competitive blended returns while funding community development initiatives. Available to individual investors, corporations, and foundations through the secure.mycnote.com platform.
- Climate Cash A climate-focused cash solution that directs capital toward environmental sustainability projects and climate change adaptation through community financial institutions, while still providing insured cash management.
- ImpactFlex Investing A flexible impact investing solution that connects capital to mission-driven financial institutions including CDFIs, MDIs, and LID banks and credit unions, allowing investors to deploy capital across community development priorities with flexibility on terms and themes.
- Wisdom Fund A private placement fund offering promissory notes to accredited investors, mentioned in the Wisdom Fund Private Placement Memorandum, providing access to CNote's impact investment offerings for accredited investor segments.
Quantifiable outcome
- $300 million deployed since 2020, with over $645 million in total deployment
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CNote
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CNote technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
CNote partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- Dwolla, Inc.coreDwolla is CNote's financial services software partner, enabling fund transfers into investor accounts. CNote uses Dwolla's platform for bank transfers, withdrawals, and balance verification. Users agree to Dwolla's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy when creating accounts.
- Optus BankcoreOptus Bank is a CNote partner that receives investor deposits through CNote's Impact Cash product. Optus Bank deployed a $32 million development loan for the Gum Swamp Solar project in Scotland County, NC, demonstrating how CNote deposits support community development and renewable energy projects.
- Business Consortium Fund (BCF)coreBusiness Consortium Fund is a CDFI partner that has operated since 1987, financing small businesses in corporate and government supply chains. BCF offers microloans, term loans, lines of credit, and technical assistance to help businesses access capital and win contracts.
- Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE)coreACE is an Atlanta-based CDFI and SBA Microloan Intermediary that provides loans and business coaching to underserved entrepreneurs. ACE helped CIC Floors obtain loans to open and expand its showroom, and supported entrepreneur Felicia Parks with bridge loans during COVID-19.
- TruFundcoreTruFund is a CDFI that invests in small businesses across Alabama, Louisiana, and New York. TruFund provides financial and technical assistance including the EmpowHERment Program for women entrepreneurs. TruFund supported Tysh Billingsley's Finale popup business through business coaching and training.
- Genesis FundcoreGenesis Fund is a Maine-based CDFI that has worked since 1992 to develop and support affordable housing and community facilities by providing financing and technical assistance. Genesis Fund helped Mountainside Park residents purchase their manufactured home community through the ROC Program.
- Justine PetersencoreJustine Petersen is a CDFI partner featured in CNote's network, providing loans and financial services to underserved communities.
- The Disability Opportunity FundcoreThe Disability Opportunity Fund is a CDFI partner in CNote's network that provides financing to support individuals with disabilities and disability-focused organizations.
- Carolina Small Business Development FundcoreCarolina Small Business Development Fund is a CDFI partner in CNote's network supporting small business development in North and South Carolina.
- TruFund Financial ServicescoreTruFund Financial Services is a CDFI partner providing financial services and technical assistance to underserved communities in Alabama, Louisiana, and New York.
- Self Made Credit UnioncoreSelf Made Credit Union is a credit union partner in CNote's network serving underserved communities through impact-driven lending.
- Citizen PotawatomicoreCitizen Potawatomi is a community bank partner in CNote's network, providing banking services to Native American communities.
- Opportunities Credit UnioncoreOpportunities Credit Union is a credit union partner in CNote's network focused on providing services to underserved communities.
- Asian BankcoreAsian Bank is a community bank partner in CNote's network serving Asian American communities and underserved populations.
- Kaua'i Federal Credit UnioncoreKaua'i Federal Credit Union is a credit union partner in CNote's network serving the Kaua'i community in Hawaii.
- PCV's Radiant Data HubstrategicPCV's Radiant Data Hub is a co-author and strategic partner on CDFI data capacity thought leadership. CNote co-authored articles with Radiant Data Hub focusing on how funders can support CDFI data capacity and impact measurement.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CNote competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Calvert Impact Capital: Calvert Impact Capital is a nonprofit impact investing intermediary that pools capital from individuals and institutions and deploys it to community-focused organizations. It is highly comparable to CNote as both operate retail-accessible impact investment products (e.g., Calvert Notes) backed by community development loans.
- Aspiration: Aspiration is a sustainable fintech platform offering FDIC-insured cash management and impact-focused investment products to individuals and businesses. It competes with CNote in the impact-aligned cash management space, particularly for ESG-conscious retail and corporate customers.
- Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform that allows individuals to make microloans to underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide. Kiva shares CNote's mission-driven capital intermediation model and retail investor base, though it focuses on direct borrower matching rather than CDFI intermediation.
- Beneficial State Bank: Beneficial State Bank is a CDFI and B Corp bank with a mission of economic justice and community development. It is comparable to CNote as both channel deposits toward impact-oriented lending, though Beneficial State operates as a chartered bank rather than a technology platform.
- Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a CDFI providing financing and capacity-building for underserved communities across the U.S. It is comparable to CNote as both deploy capital into community development initiatives and partner with mission-aligned financial institutions.
- Self-Help Credit Union: Self-Help is one of the largest CDFIs in the U.S., operating credit unions and a venture fund focused on economic inclusion. As a partner FI in CNote's network, Self-Help represents the type of institution CNote channels deposits to, and the two organizations share impact-aligned lending missions.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a major CDFI and community development financial institution supporting local community development across the U.S. Comparable to CNote in deploying capital into affordable housing, small business, and community facilities through a network of local partners.
- OpenInvest: OpenInvest was an ESG-focused investment platform serving individual investors and advisors with impact-aligned portfolios (acquired by J.P. Morgan in 2021). It is comparable to CNote in bringing impact investing products to retail and institutional investors through a digital platform.
- Groundfloor: Groundfloor is a retail-accessible real estate investment platform that allows individual investors to fund fractional real estate loans. It is comparable to CNote as a fintech democratizing alternative investments with low minimums ($1+) and direct investor-to-deal matching, though Groundfloor focuses on real estate rather than community financial institutions.
Emerging players
- Swell: Swell (formerly Swell Investing) was an impact investing platform offering portfolios aligned with ESG themes to individual investors. Although Swell discontinued its direct investing product, it remains a historical peer to CNote in the retail ESG/impact investing category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CNote social profiles
Digital presenceCNote compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
CNote financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CNote leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CNote funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors25 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CNote M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CNote
What does CNote do?
CNote operates a digital investment platform that connects institutional and individual investors to a network of 2,500+ mission-driven financial institutions, including CDFIs, MDIs, and credit unions. It offers insured cash management products (Impact Cash, Climate Cash) and fixed-income promissory notes (Flagship Fund, Wisdom Fund, ImpactFlex Investing) that deliver competitive returns while directing capital to underserved communities for affordable housing, small business growth, and climate initiatives.
Is CNote a public or private company?
CNote is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CNote founded?
CNote was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CNote based?
CNote is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does CNote make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Platform Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are fixed-Income Investment Products.
Who are CNote's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Calvert Impact Capital, Aspiration, Kiva, Beneficial State Bank, Capital Impact Partners, Self-Help Credit Union, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), OpenInvest and Groundfloor. Swell is listed as an emerging player.
Does CNote have an API?
No public API is recorded for CNote.