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Why Lexington Capital Holdings is Expanding Into the Real Estate Business
Lexington Capital Holdings is expanding beyond small business lending and into real estate, the company recently revealed. Lexington, a Long Island-based financial marketplace and brokerage led by CEO Frankie DiAntonio, is launching Lexington Estates to buy, sell, rehab, and hold properties long term.
According to DiAntonio, deals involving real estate have already been a part of their regular broker product mix for a long time, but when deciding whether or not they wanted to lend against real estate on their own or become the actual buyers and builders, they felt the latter would be more impactful. A syndication fund for these real estate deals, for example, will be open to employees of the firm to participate in. Lexington’s existing operation already has about 50 sales reps. Two from that group will move over to the real estate side to join a number of new hires they’re bringing on board to carry this plan out.
“Business is a team sport and I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without the amazing Lexington team behind me,” DiAntonio said of the company’s success to-date.
Lexington Estates is already closing on its first property on Long Island. While they will make their focus local right out of the gate, they plan to work on deals both residential and commercial throughout the United States within 12 months. DiAntonio cut his teeth on real estate deals by participating in them personally outside of his business and now he’s making it a corporate endeavor. Whether it’s residential, retail, office space, industrial space, or anything else, they plan to evaluate it on the merits of the potential profits.
“I’m looking for deals,” DiAntonio said. “I’m looking for what’s the best bang for our buck.”
DiAntonio views this ambitious plan as one of absolute necessity given the challenges that the younger generation faces with the cost of living going up.
“I strive so hard to put my people in a position where they can make more money than the average American because you can’t even live the average American life and be average anymore,” DiAntonio said. “You actually have to be great just to live an average American life.”
Lexington Estates plans to officially launch on October 12th.
View PostFICOs Are 580 and Below, Repayment Rates Are Above 97%
Block recently published an interview with Juan Hernandez, the company’s Head of Credit and Underwriting for its consumer lending divisions. Among the most interesting details Hernandez revealed is that 70% of Cash App Borrow customers have FICO scores of 580 or below, but their repayment rates are above 97%.
“That is only possible because our models are continuously learning from customer activity across Cash App and Afterpay,” Hernandez said of it.
Block sees income, deposits, spending patterns, savings behavior, and repayment behavior across the spectrum of its ecosystem and is able to use that data to make better predictions than legacy third party credit indicators.
“The future of credit will be based on actual repayment ability, not outdated proxies,” Hernandez said. “With near real-time data and modern modeling, we can finally build a system that is more inclusive and safer than traditional credit scores that look backward, update slowly, and often misclassify people who are capable of managing credit.”
Block has made a name for itself in the lending space. Cash App Borrow originated $9B in loans in 2024 while its sister company Square Loans, which provides capital to small businesses, is the largest online small business lender that deBanked tracks. Square Loans originated $5.7B in 2024.
In March of this year Block received FDIC approval for its industrial bank, Square Financial Services Inc, to offer the Cash App Borrow loan product directly.
View PostdeBanked & Reliance Financial Sponsor Major Community Event in Jersey City
deBanked and Reliance Financial have teamed up to support and sponsor one of Jersey City’s signature community events, The Zombie Opera. Produced by local non-profit Undead Arts, The Zombie Opera, an outdoor Halloween-themed opera, is attended by 5,000 people each year in Downtown Jersey City. With the Opera known as a “phenomenal day of community and commerce” both deBanked and Reliance Financial are proud to support it and the local business community. This year’s Zombie Opera will take place on October 25 between 6:30 – 8pm at Hamilton Park in Jersey City, NJ.
About deBanked
deBanked, founded in 2010, operates trade media and events for the small business finance and fintech industries. This is deBanked’s 2nd year sponsoring the event.
About Reliance Financial
Reliance Financial is a U.S.-based provider of revenue-based financing solutions offering up to $5,000,000 per transaction. The company is committed to delivering fast, transparent, and flexible funding to growing businesses nationwide. Led by industry veteran Aryeh Miller, Reliance has helped thousands of companies unlock working capital without giving up equity or control.
If you’re interested in joining as a sponsor, email info@debanked.com. View Post
As a Funder: Essential Provisions Your MCA Contract Must Include
Merchant cash advance (MCA) agreements face increasing scrutiny, and even minor drafting flaws can trigger costly litigation. As a funder, making sure your contracts are airtight not only protects your investment but also demonstrates professionalism and transparency to merchants and the courts. In determining whether a transaction is a loan or a true merchant cash advance, courts in New York commonly apply a three-part test: whether the agreement includes a reconciliation provision, whether repayment has an indefinite term, and whether the funder lacks recourse if the merchant files for bankruptcy. Defense attorneys often argue these deals are loans to support usury claims, so addressing these factors explicitly in your contracts is essential.
Below are the three essential provisions every MCA contract must include, plus an additional recommendation that consistently prevents downstream disputes. Every MCA contract must have the three provisions, and the fourth is a highly recommended addition.
1. A Strong and Courteous Reconciliation Provision
Your reconciliation clause should not be discretionary. If a merchant requests reconciliation, your agreement must require the funder to perform it without exceptions. This protects your contract against arguments that the MCA agreement was a disguised loan. As funders understand, you are purchasing receivables, not enforcing fixed payments regardless of revenue.
2. Acknowledgment of No Definite Time Period
Your contract should specify that there is no fixed term for repayment. We recommend avoiding even an estimated repayment period. Due to the merchant’s reconciliation rights, payments may be delayed or, in some cases, may never fully materialize depending on receivables. By including this language, you show that you accept the inherent risk of purchasing receivables and are not guaranteed repayment on a schedule.
3. Explicit Clarification That Bankruptcy Is Not an Event of Default
Bankruptcy may not trigger an automatic default requiring repayment of the entire purchased amount. Making this crystal clear helps differentiate your MCA agreement from a traditional loan, which is critical for enforceability. State plainly that the transaction is a purchase of future receivables, not a loan, and that a bankruptcy filing alone does not constitute default. Clarify that while bankruptcy alone does not trigger default, other Events of Default – such as fraud or misrepresentation – remain fully enforceable.
4. Clear, Specific Attorney’s Fees Provision
Avoid vague phrases like “reasonable attorney’s fees.” While acceptable, they open the door for courts to use the lodestar method, multiplying hours worked by an hourly rate and potentially reducing your recovery. In New York and several other jurisdictions, percentage-based attorney’s fees provisions like the following have been upheld. Always confirm compliance with your governing law before adopting specific percentages:
“Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and Buyer retains an attorney or law firm to enforce this Agreement, Merchant and Guarantor agree that a fee equal to 30% of the Remaining Balance (purchased amount less amount remitted by Merchant) (“Attorney’s Fees”) shall be immediately assessed, and Merchant and Guarantor agree that this calculation for Attorney’s Fees is reasonable.”
Final Thoughts
Tightening your MCA contracts with these provisions will prevent expensive disputes and ensure your agreements stand up to judicial scrutiny. Clear, unambiguous terms protect you. Periodic reviews of your contracts by knowledgeable counsel are also a smart investment. Regularly consulting counsel familiar with evolving MCA case law ensures your agreements remain enforceable and defensible in court. Small details today can prevent major headaches tomorrow.
View PostIs Jack Dorsey Satoshi Nakamoto? I Say Yes
I’m the originator of the theory that Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, which I first considered in February 2024. After extensive research, the theory has now been firmed up with incredible circumstantial evidence. I was the first person to discover that Dorsey was registered on the cypherpunk mailing list under two different email addresses, the first to recover Dorsey’s personal webpage dedicated to cryptography in 1997 (and his home page here), and basically connect all the dots that I compiled in my tweet below:
THE NEWEST WHY JACK DORSEY IS SATOSHI NAKAMOTO
C++ for Bitcoin source code
Now confirmed Jack coded in C++ as far back as mid-90sC in the White Paper
Now confirmed Jack coded in C as far back as mid-90s.Satoshi pseudonym
"Satoshi" was the first tweet Jack's best friend…— Seán Murray (@financeguy74) August 2, 2025
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Fundfi Merchant Funding Expands Credit Facility for Second Time This Year, Supporting Record Numbers of Small Businesses
Revenue-based financing leader continues aggressive growth trajectory as demand for alternative lending solutions surges
New York, NY – Fundfi Merchant Funding, a leading provider of revenue-based financing solutions, announced today the expansion of its credit facility for the second time in 2025, positioning the company to serve an unprecedented number of small and medium-sized businesses across North America. This latest facility increase reflects the company’s continued growth and commitment to supporting small business owners who are increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional lending channels.
The expansion comes at a time when Fundfi Merchant Funding is helping more businesses than ever before, with loan originations reaching new heights as small business owners turn to flexible financing solutions that align with their cash flow patterns rather than requiring fixed monthly payments.
“This second facility expansion in one year demonstrates our unwavering commitment to being there for entrepreneurs when they need capital most,” said Efraim Kandinov, CEO and co-founder. “We’re seeing incredible momentum in our market, and this expansion allows us to maintain our rapid response times while supporting the diverse financing needs of North American small businesses.”
The revenue-based financing model has gained significant traction among business owners who value the flexibility of repayments tied to their revenue performance. Unlike traditional loans, this approach allows businesses to pay more during strong months and less during slower periods, providing crucial breathing room for companies navigating seasonal fluctuations or market uncertainties.
Natasha Dillon, CFO and co-founder, emphasized the strategic timing of the expansion: “We are bullish on the growth of the small business footprint in North America and anticipating tighter lending from more traditional financing avenues. Fundfi is committed to being the reliable capital partner these businesses need to thrive. This facility expansion allows us to maintain our commitment to fast approvals and quick funding, ensuring small businesses can access capital when opportunities are presented.”
The credit facility expansion enables Fundfi Merchant Funding to:
- Accelerate funding timelines for approved businesses
- Support larger financing amounts for established companies
- Expand into new industry verticals and geographic markets
- Maintain competitive rates despite rising market interest rates
As traditional lenders face increasing regulatory pressures and risk management concerns, alternative lending providers like Fundfi Merchant Funding are filling a critical gap in the market. Small businesses, which represent the backbone of the North American economy, often struggle with the lengthy approval processes, extensive documentation requirements, and rigid repayment structures of conventional business loans.
With this second facility expansion in 2025, Fundfi Merchant Funding reinforces its position as a leading alternative to traditional small business lending, continuing to provide entrepreneurs with the flexible capital solutions they need to grow and thrive.
About Fundfi Merchant Funding:
Founded by Efraim Kandinov and Natasha Dillon, Fundfi Merchant Funding is a revenue-based financing company dedicated to providing flexible capital solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across United States and Canada. The company’s innovative approach aligns repayment schedules with business cash flow, offering small businesses an alternative to traditional bank loans. For more information, visit fundfimerchantfunding.com.
Media Contact:
Sasha Kandinov
Fundfi Merchant Funding
sasha@fundfimerchantfunding.com
Catching Up With Kalamata
Kalamata Capital Group is continuing to fund in Texas through one of its affiliated entities, the company confirms. Kalamata, which recently upsized its 2024 securitization by 25% with notes expandable up to $500 million, offers a variety of funding products to small businesses around the United States. A new law that recently went into effect in Texas has prompted Kalamata and companies like theirs to get the word out to their partners about any applicable adjustments.
More front and center for the company, however, is the introduction and evolution of Kalamata Cash, its in-house proprietary software.
“We went live with everything, including our syndicator profiles and access to the outside world as well, and that’s been a really exciting development for the company,” said Brandon Laks, co-president at Kalamata, “because instead of licensing software, which the software we were on was great before, it gives us the ability to roadmap exactly what we want to do.”
Kalamata, for example, is 100% broker-driven, and they can custom-tailor the process to best suit their relationships.
“Our brokers can come in and see live calculators,” Laks said, “so when they submit a deal and we send an offer, they can get a live view of what steps are outstanding, they can play around with the sliders and choose their offers.”
And there’s a lot more on the horizon that they’re integrating with and adding on.
Guggenheim Securities served as sole structuring advisor and the sole initial purchaser of the notes in the Kalamata securitization deal. At the time of the announcement, Laks said, “The access to additional capital will allow Kalamata to continue supporting Small Businesses and invest more capital in proprietary technology to stay at the forefront of the small business financing industry.”
View PostDragin Technologies Unveils the Industry’s First AI Merchant Integrity Dashboard, Setting a New Standard for Underwriting Accountability
New York, NY — September 17 2025 — Dragin Technologies, the automation engine powering some of the fastest-growing revenue-based financing companies, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking AI Merchant Integrity Dashboard, the first tool of its kind designed to ensure clean, accurate, and trustworthy underwriting decisions.
This new AI-powered feature combines every critical data source in the underwriting process — application forms, bank statements, credit reports, background checks, Dragin’s proprietary AI Web Report, and even the merchant’s interview — into a single, intelligent report. It then cross-references every data point to uncover discrepancies, validate claims, and flag potential risks before an offer is made.
How It Works
The AI Merchant Integrity Dashboard automatically reviews and cross-verifies all data points across multiple documents. It checks everything from business addresses to revenue patterns, ensuring consistency and truthfulness at every step.
For example:
- If a merchant claims their revenues are steadily increasing, the AI will verify this against actual bank statement data.
- If the merchant says they have “great credit,” Dragin will confirm that claim and flag missed payments or delinquencies.
- Business addresses are cross-checked between the application, background checks, and banking data to catch mismatches or fraudulent entries.
Every red flag identified by the AI must be manually reviewed and approved by an underwriter before a deal can move forward, creating a new layer of accountability and transparency in the underwriting process.
Why This Matters
For revenue-based financing companies, speed and accuracy are essential — but so is trust.
With the AI Merchant Integrity Dashboard, underwriters can no longer miss critical details or claim ignorance after a deal closes.
Key benefits include:
- Early fraud detection through cross-document analysis
- Cleaner, fully reconciled deal data for every file
- Reduced merchant default rates by catching inconsistencies up front
- Stronger underwriting accountability, protecting funders from costly mistakes
“This changes everything,” said Mark Ross, CEO of Dragin Technologies.
“For the first time, funders can hold their teams accountable for every detail in a deal. Our AI does the heavy lifting, surfacing risks that used to take hours — or never got caught at all. No more guessing. No more missed red flags.”
Part of Dragin’s Full Automation Suite
The AI Merchant Integrity Report is the latest innovation in Dragin’s end-to-end deal automation platform, which includes:
- Automated email parsing and document classification
- AI-powered application and bank statement reader
- Pre-qualification and pre-decline logic
- DraginForce CRM with built-in automation suite
- Real-time ISO portal for faster deal negotiations
- End-to-end deal tracking and syndication portal
About Dragin Technologies
Dragin Technologies builds the tools that power the future of revenue-based financing. With advanced AI, machine learning, and automation technology, Dragin enables funders to scale faster, reduce risk, and make smarter decisions. Its flagship CRM, DraginForce, and cutting-edge automation modules are trusted by some of the largest and fastest-growing funders in the industry.
Learn more at www.dragin.io
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