Shield Funding

What Shield Funding does

Shield Funding, operated by Ascendancy Corp. West (a brand under holding company Ascendancy Corp.), is a US-based small business lending broker founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York. The company connects small business owners with financing from a network of relationship-based third-party lenders, earning transaction fees from participating lenders rather than originating loans on its own balance sheet. Its stated requirements (4+ months in business, $10,000+ monthly revenue, 500+ FICO) sit well below traditional bank thresholds (typically 2 years and 700+ FICO), positioning Shield Funding for borrowers who cannot access conventional bank credit.

Shield Funding's product portfolio spans nine core offerings: same day business loans, merchant cash advances, short-term business loans, working capital loans, payroll loans, SBA-backed loans, business lines of credit, debt consolidation loans, and bad credit business loans, with loan sizes from $5,000 to $1,000,000 and APRs ranging 5%-49%. The underlying platform uses AI-driven rate matching to surface offers from multiple third-party lenders once an application is submitted; customers apply via a one-page online form plus four months of bank statements, or via a 24/7 phone sales channel staffed by named agents. Distribution runs through direct SEO/content marketing, Trustpilot and BBB trust signals, and referral partnerships such as Credit Karma.

The business is privately held by Ascendancy Corp. with no disclosed institutional investment, operates with 1-10 employees, and does not publicly disclose revenue. The competitive thesis is speed (same-day funding), low documentation, and accessibility to credit-challenged borrowers, while the economics depend on broker fees from the underlying lender network rather than net interest margin. Notable gaps include no disclosed API, no patents or trademarks, an undisclosed management team, and zero disclosed funding activity, leaving scale and trajectory largely inferable only from third-party review volume and customer testimonials.

Name

Shield Funding

Legal name

Ascendancy Corp. West

Website

https://shieldfunding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shield Funding is a US-based small business lending broker that matches SMB borrowers with third-party lenders via an AI-driven platform offering same-day funding on loans from $5,000 to $1,000,000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) & Revenue-Based Financing (FSAKAGAD)

Keywords

• Small business loans
• Merchant cash advance
• Business line of credit
• Alternative lending platform
• Same day business funding

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Broker/Matching Fees: Shield Funding acts as a broker connecting small business borrowers with third-party lenders. The company earns fees from its network of relationship-based lenders. Fees from third-party sources may be charged in some cases, though the company states it does not charge fees directly to customers for providing funding.
2. Broker Services: Shield Funding operates as a broker providing access to business loans from relationship-based third-party lenders. Revenue is derived from fees paid by participating lenders in the network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shield Funding operates as a direct lender and broker that connects small business owners with third-party lenders for fast, short-term business financing. It funds loans through its own balance sheet and through a network of relationship-based third-party lenders, using AI-powered rate matching to present qualifying borrowers with multiple rate and term options ranging from $5,000 to $1,000,000. Core offerings include same day business loans, merchant cash advances, working capital loans, short-term business loans, SBA loans, business lines of credit, payroll loans, debt consolidation loans, and bad credit business loans.

Product overview

Shield Funding operates as a direct lender broker and marketplace connecting small business owners with financing options from third-party lenders. The platform offers a portfolio of business loan products including same day business loans, merchant cash advances, short-term business loans, working capital loans, payroll loans, SBA loans, business lines of credit, debt consolidation loans, and bad credit business loans. The core value proposition is fast funding (same day in many cases) with lower requirements than traditional banks, requiring only 4 months in business and $10,000 monthly revenue versus 2 years and higher revenue requirements at banks. The platform uses AI to match borrowers with available rates from its network of third-party lenders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Same Day Business Loans Fast business loans with same-day funding options connecting eligible borrowers with direct lenders through a streamlined online application process. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $1,000,000.
• Merchant Cash Advance Short-term capital solution with flexible approvals based on future sales, where the lender takes a percentage of credit card transactions as repayment. Targeted at small businesses with fluctuating revenue.
• Short Term Business Loans Short-term business funding at competitive rates with terms ranging from 12-36 months and amounts up to $1,000,000, intended for businesses needing quick access to working capital.
• Working Capital Business Loans Fast working capital loan solutions for businesses needing immediate access to funds for operational expenses such as payroll, inventory, and other daily operating costs.
• Payroll Loans for Business Immediate funding to cover business payroll expenses, with flexible terms from 6 months to 3 years and amounts up to $1,000,000. Factor rate-based pricing (e.g., 1.15 factor on a $20,000 loan equals $23,000 repayment).
• SBA Business Loans Small Business Administration-backed loans, including SBA 7(a) loans and PPP programs, offered through Shield Funding's relationships with SBA-approved lenders for qualifying small businesses.
• Business Line of Credit Revolving credit line allowing business owners to draw funds up to their approved limit, with credit replenishing as payments are made. Requires approximately 650+ credit score and charges interest only on the amount used.
• Debt Consolidation Business Loans Business loans designed to consolidate one or more existing business loan positions into a single manageable payment, simplifying small business debt obligations.
• Bad Credit Business Loans Business financing options for borrowers with poor credit (500+ FICO), evaluated based on company financials and cash flow rather than credit score alone, addressing small businesses turned away by traditional banks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funding as fast as same day
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Funding Circle: Funding Circle operates an SMB lending marketplace matching small businesses with investors/lenders. Marketplace mechanics and SMB focus mirror Shield Funding's broker model.
• BlueVine: BlueVine provides SMB banking, lines of credit, and invoice factoring. Overlaps with Shield Funding on SMB working-capital lending and the focus on speed/accessibility for businesses that don't fit traditional bank underwriting.
• Lendio: Lendio operates one of the largest SMB loan marketplaces in the US, matching small business owners with a network of lenders across term loans, MCA, lines of credit, and SBA products. Highly comparable to Shield Funding in core offering (broker-to-lender marketplace), target customer (underbanked SMBs), and GTM (online application with minimal documentation).
• Credibly: Credibly is a direct SMB funder and broker offering working capital, term loans, and lines of credit to small businesses with looser credit requirements. Comparable to Shield Funding in lending categories offered (MCA, short-term business loans, lines of credit) and customer segment (sub-prime SMBs needing fast capital).
• Biz2Credit: Biz2Credit runs an SMB lending marketplace connecting small business owners with banks and alternative lenders, with a strong franchise in SBA loans. Compares to Shield Funding on the marketplace/broker model and SBA loan product overlap.
• Fundbox: Fundbox offers SMBs short-term working capital and revolving lines of credit through a tech-driven underwriting platform. Comparable to Shield Funding on small-dollar, fast-decision SMB credit with AI-assisted underwriting and a digital application process.
• National Funding: National Funding provides working capital loans, merchant cash advances, and equipment financing to small businesses, accepting lower-credit borrowers. Direct overlap with Shield Funding in MCA, short-term working capital, and bad-credit SMB lending.
• CAN Capital / Become: Become (formerly CAN Capital) is a long-standing SMB MCA and working capital provider. Directly comparable to Shield Funding's merchant cash advance product offering and 'fast funding for underbanked SMBs' positioning.

Emerging players

• SmartBiz: SmartBiz is an SBA loan marketplace connecting SMBs with SBA-preferred lenders. Comparable to Shield Funding's SBA loan offering and digital broker model.

Regional players

• Accion: Accion is a nonprofit small business lender focused on underserved SMBs. Overlaps with Shield Funding on serving credit-challenged small business owners, though operates as a non-profit mission-driven lender rather than a broker.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shieldfunding
• Facebookfacebook.com/shieldfundingcorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shield-funding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shield Funding