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Onset Financial Acquires Channel Forming One of the Largest Independent Equipment Finance Lenders
Draper, UT, and Minnetonka, MN (April 8, 2025) – Onset Financial, one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent equipment leasing companies, today announced it has acquired Channel and its subsidiaries, a premier provider of equipment finance and working capital solutions for small business.
This strategic acquisition brings together two of the industry’s most innovative and financially strong independent finance companies, creating an unmatched platform with the scale, expertise, and resources to meet the evolving needs of businesses across all segments. For more than 16 years, Onset has been a driving force in equipment finance, facilitating over $5 billion in funding, with more than $1 billion in the past year alone. With a proven track record across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, aviation, and technology, Onset has built a reputation for exceptional deal structuring, capital strength, and a relentless focus on customer and team member success. Recognized as a Monitor Magazine Top 100 and Independent Finance Company, Inc. Magazine Best Workplace, and Salt Lake Tribune Top Workplace, Onset’s growth trajectory and industry leadership continue to set it apart.
Since its founding in 2009, Channel has provided over $3 billion in financing to more than 30,000 businesses, earning widespread recognition for its data and technology-driven approach, deep industry relationships, and commitment to its partners. Its accolades include listing on Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies list for 12 consecutive years. The company has also been recognized as a Top Workplace by Inc. Magazine, Minnesota Star Tribune, and on Monitor Magazine’s Top Companies list for both Culture and Leadership, all of which reflect a reputation built on trust, service, and innovation. Channel has developed industry superior systems and processes that enable it to deliver a best-in-class financial product to its partners, enhancing efficiency and service.
By joining forces, Onset and Channel are setting a new standard for what a fiercely independent finance company can achieve. This partnership amplifies their collective ability to be nimble, creative, and hyper-focused on innovation, culture, and lasting partnerships. Importantly, the Channel brand and subsidiaries will continue, and the full leadership team and employees will remain in place, ensuring continuity without any disruption for its partners and customers. Onset gains expanded capabilities in small-ticket financing and exclusive partner-based funding models, while Channel benefits from increased capital access and accelerated growth. Together, they create a dynamic, best- in-class lending platform that combines flexibility, scale, and operational strength to deliver groundbreaking financial solutions with a partner-centric focus.
“This acquisition positions us to lead the independent equipment finance space with unmatched resources, expertise, and combined financial strength,” said Justin Nielsen, Founder & CEO of Onset Financial. “The exceptional leadership, industry experience, and culture that the Channel team brings to the table are a perfect match with Onset. Their deep partner network and technology-driven approach, combined with our large-scale leasing capabilities, create a powerhouse of innovation and service. We are excited for the near-term growth opportunities this creates, as we combine forces to build an even stronger future. Together, we’re not just expanding our reach, we’re setting a new standard for excellence, agility, and partnership in the industry.
“This is a defining moment for Channel,” said Brad Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Channel. “From my first conversation with Justin, it was clear that Onset operates with a bold, forward-thinking approach that sets them apart. Their vision, leadership, and ability to execute at scale are truly impressive. Our united strength in both financial foundation and proven expertise, positions us extremely well for projected expansion. What excites me most, however, is not just the financial strength they bring, but their entrepreneurial spirit, like-minded culture, and commitment to collaboration. With Onset, we’re ready to build and transform what is possible in our industry for our partners and customers.”
Established in financial strength, industry expertise, and progressive culture, the newly combined organization will offer a powerful alternative to traditional lending institutions, providing businesses with the agility, service, and tailored financing solutions they need to thrive.
Onset’s legal counsel was Ray Quinney & Nebeker. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel Company, served as financial advisor to Channel, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as its legal advisor.
About Onset Financial, Inc.
Founded in 2008, Onset Financial, Inc. is an industry leader in equipment leasing and financing. Onset’s seasoned Management Team has decades of equipment leasing experience and key industry relationships that enable Onset to offer additional flexibility in lease structuring. For more information, please call 801-878-0600 or visit www.onsetfinancial.com.
About Channel
Established in 2009, Channel is a leading full-service independent lender offering a single source solution for both equipment finance and working capital to small businesses. To date, Channel and its subsidiaries have funded over $3 billion to more than 30,000 businesses across the U.S. The organization is comprised of three business divisions that operate from its main office in Minnetonka, MN, along with additional locations in Kennesaw, GA, Mount Laurel, NJ, Des Moines, IA, and Marshall, MN. For more information about Channel, please visit www.channelpartnersllc.com.
Going All In: How Joe Sasson Saw the Opportunity of Being a Broker Early On
“For me, the biggest approach to the industry that I took was honoring integrity and transparency to our clients more than anything else.” That’s what Joe Sasson, Chief Sales Officer at Advance Funds Network (AFN), attributes his success to in the small business finance industry. Sasson saw the vision and the potential of this business at a younger age than most of his peers. That’s because he started as a summer intern for AFN right before his freshman year of college at George Washington University, when he was only 18.
“I said I could use some money, obviously, going into school being a freshman, so why not?” Sasson explained. “And then I really enjoyed it that summer. I kind of discovered that sales is kind of a knack for me, and correlates well with the way I like to operate, the way I like to do things. So it kind of just stuck with me.”
The company had a mutually good feeling about his abilities, and they agreed to extend the arrangement, which consisted mostly of making sales calls, even while he was in school. By the time summer rolled around again, they handed him the reins for the entire internship program. The student was now the teacher for 20-25 eager high school juniors and seniors hoping to learn the ropes, an experience he recalls fondly. That was in 2019, and its impact is still felt today since some of those interns are still with AFN. But it was a crossroads for Sasson because his college curriculum required him to be in Washington, D.C., but AFN’s office was in New York. Ultimately, he said his eyes had been opened to the opportunity.
“I saw that our company really had the right values and the right approach to the way we do things,” Sasson said. “Thank G-d I was I was able to kind of recognize that early and that I was working with really good people.”
Sasson transferred to Baruch in New York, a school much closer to AFN. It was a move that paid off since he’s risen up to become part of the C-suite. His day-to-day is managing new business, overseeing dozens of agents, and helping them out wherever he can. That means at any given moment he could be giving advice, helping an agent finish a deal, or on the phone with a lender. Knowing a lender’s box is only part of it, as he says that relationships play an important role in AFN’s success.
Last year, when AFN’s Chief Revenue Officer, Irving Betesh, had earned a spot as one of six finalists to compete in the live inaugural Broker Battle at deBanked CONNECT Miami, it was Sasson who roleplayed with him to practice beforehand, which they did in front of the whole company as both a teaching experience and entertainment. As fate would have it, the roles reversed because it was Sasson himself who ended up on stage in person for Broker Battle 2 this past February, where he secured the runner-up position in a strong matchup after he made it to the championship.
Roleplaying and practice are important at AFN. Sasson said that the company is really good at training new talent, regularly conducts fun motivational contests, and even hosts an annual retreat to get the team out of the office and away from the grind, though sometimes they find themselves having to handle a deal or two on the beach, an unavoidable part of the business even though they definitely try to wind down.
As someone who’s been in the business since before the Covid era, he’s seen a remarkable amount of change. In his opinion, less expensive options, more creative options, and quicker options are now more widely available than when he started. That means he and others have to constantly stay on top of what’s changing and be able to deliver to their clients. That also means knowing what all their lenders are doing, staying on top of AI, monitoring the tariff situation, and more.
Through it all, doing good business with good people seems to be a recurring theme, whether that be the internal team or partners they work with.
“I’ve been doing this for a while now, quite well,” Sasson said. “And I would say, since I started seven years ago, we do a lot of business with a lot of the same people still. So for us, the relationships really do matter more than anything else.”
View PostFundfi Merchant Funding Expands Senior Credit Facility to Accelerate Growth in Revenue-Based Financing
NEW YORK, NY — April 7, 2025 — Fundfi Merchant Funding, a leading provider of revenue-based financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced the successful expansion of its senior credit facility. This strategic financial move will enable Fundfi to increase its funding capacity and support more businesses across various industries.
The expanded credit facility strengthens Fundfi’s position in the alternative lending space and allows the company to meet the growing demand for flexible, revenue-based financing options among entrepreneurs and business owners seeking capital without diluting equity.
“This expanded credit facility marks a significant milestone in Fundfi’s journey and reflects the confidence our financial partners have in our business model and growth trajectory,” said Efraim Kandinov, CEO of FundFi Merchant Funding. “By increasing our lending capacity, we can help more businesses access the capital they need to innovate, expand, and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. Our revenue-based financing approach continues to resonate with entrepreneurs who value flexibility and alignment with their business performance.”
The increased credit facility will enable Fundfi to extend its reach to underserved markets while enhancing its product offerings to meet diverse business needs.
“The expansion of our senior credit facility provides Fundfi with enhanced financial flexibility and improved terms that will directly benefit our clients,” said Natasha Dillon, CFO of FundFi Merchant Funding. “This achievement reflects our strong financial performance, robust underwriting standards, and the growing recognition of revenue- based financing as a viable alternative to traditional funding options. We’re excited to deploy this additional capital to support innovative businesses that drive economic growth and job creation.”
Fundfi’s revenue-based financing model allows businesses to repay their funding as a percentage of future revenues, creating an aligned incentive structure that adapts to business performance. This approach has proven particularly valuable for seasonal businesses and companies with irregular cash flow patterns.
About FundFi Merchant Funding
Fundfi Merchant Funding is a leading provider of revenue-based financing solutions, helping small and medium-sized businesses access growth capital without sacrificing equity or control. With a streamlined application process and flexible repayment terms, Fundfi has established itself as a trusted financial partner for entrepreneurs across various industries and across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.fundfimerchantfunding.com.
View PostWill the CFPB’s Small Business Data Collection Rules Change?
On April 3, the CFPB filed papers agreeing with the Revenue Based Finance Coalition’s (RBFC) request to stay the litigation between them over coverage of the Small Business Lending Rule. As it last stood, a federal court was leaning toward the CFPB’s side that the 888 pages of data collection rules should apply to MCAs despite them not being loans.
As to why the CFPB would agree to a stay, the agency explained that it may now be tweaking the rules at issue.
“New leadership has been assessing the Final Rule and the issues that this case presents to determine the CFPB’s position. CFPB’s new leadership has directed staff to initiate a new Section 1071 rulemaking. The CFPB anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as expeditiously as reasonably possible. Because the anticipated rulemaking process may moot or otherwise resolve this litigation, holding this matter in abeyance would conserve the Court’s resources.”
– CFPB in its response to the Motion to Stay
“The CFPB respectfully proposes submitting periodic status reports every 90 days during the pendency of the rulemaking and will promptly inform the Court when the rulemaking process is complete,” the Agency stated. “Within 30 days of the issuance of a final rule, the CFPB proposes that the parties confer and notify the Court of whether and how they wish to proceed.”
The small business data collection rules are scheduled to go into effect in July.
View PostDebt Relief Scammer Charged Criminally With Wire Fraud
Edward William Rennick III, a known debt relief scammer previously barred from the debt relief industry by the FTC, continued on with his scheme for years after the ban. He is now charged criminally with wire fraud conspiracy.
According to the US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Rennick and others engaged in a scheme to defraud consumers by instructing them to stop paying their creditors and to make fixed monthly payments to the entities they controlled instead, all under the guise of consolidating their debts. These consumers were told that all of the diverted funds would go into an escrow account and be used to pay off their debts. Instead, much of those funds were misappropriated by members of the conspiracy for personal use.
You can view the US Attorney’s charges here.
View PostNMEF Acquires Pawnee, Marking a Significant Milestone of Growth and Industry Leadership
April 1, 2025, NORWALK, CT – North Mill Equipment Finance LLC (“NMEF”), a leading independent commercial equipment lender and lessor headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, is pleased to announce that it has closed on its acquisition of Pawnee Leasing Corporation and certain other assets (“Pawnee”) from an affiliate of Chesswood Group Limited (“Chesswood”) pursuant to final approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware as a result of a court-supervised Sale and Investment Solicitation Process initiated in Canada in December 2024. NMEF acquired substantially all of Pawnee’s assets, while certain excluded assets and liabilities were transferred to a newly formed entity, which will remain subject to Canadian and U.S. restructuring proceedings.
With the addition of the Pawnee portfolio of leases and loans, NMEF’s total gross receivables under management now exceed $2 billion, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. The Pawnee and Tandem brand names will be retired, and no new originations will occur under Pawnee’s former referral partner programs. The servicing of Pawnee’s managed investment partnerships has been transferred to NMEF. More than half of Pawnee’s former employees are joining NMEF and will be located mostly in Ft. Collins, Colorado. These highly skilled professionals—primarily in Collections, Legal Recoveries, Data Analytics, Customer Service, and Accounting—demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication throughout a challenging transition.
“We are thrilled to finally complete the acquisition of Pawnee after years of discussions with Chesswood,” said David C. Lee, Chairman and CEO of NMEF. “Pawnee has been in business for over 40 years and was the gold standard for referral partner-based small-ticket equipment financing—so much so that we modeled many aspects of NMEF’s business strategy around Pawnee following our recapitalization in 2018. Through no fault of Pawnee’s first-rate management team, the company endured financial distress when Chesswood filed for creditor protection in Canada and Delaware in late 2024, ultimately resulting in the court- sanctioned sale to NMEF.”
“The acquisition of Pawnee is immediately accretive to NMEF,” said Mark Bonanno, President and Chief Revenue Officer of NMEF. “We successfully refinanced approximately 50% of Pawnee’s assets at significantly improved cost of funds and leverage levels, driving an attractive return on equity for our stakeholders.”
“We went from court approval to closing in just over three weeks which was only made possible by the incredible collaboration between our companies,” said Tom Lyle, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “I couldn’t be more impressed by how our two teams, aligned around a common goal, came together and delivered. I have the highest respect for the former Pawnee team and am excited to welcome them into the NMEF family – stronger together.”
Truist Securities, Inc. acted as exclusive U.S. financial advisor to NMEF, while Oaklins Canada served as NMEF’s Canadian financial advisor. Legal counsel for NMEF was provided by Moore & Van Allen (U.S.) and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Canada). FTI Consulting Canada Inc. served as the court-appointed Monitor of Chesswood, including Pawnee. Legal counsel for the Monitor was provided by Osler Hoskin and Harcourt LLP (Canada), Alston & Bird LLP (U.S.), and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Delaware).
About NMEF
NMEF originates and services small to mid-ticket equipment leases and loans, ranging from $15,000 and to $5,000,000, for many diversified industry segments including the construction, transportation, vocational, medical, manufacturing, technology, franchise, renovation, janitorial and material handling industries. NMEF is majority-owned by an affiliate of InterVest Capital Partners. The company’s headquarters are in Norwalk, CT, with regional offices in Irvine, CA, Ft. Collins, CO, Voorhees NJ, Murray, UT, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. For more information, visit www.nmef.com. Taycor Financial operates as an independent division of NMEF, with a focus on developing direct and vendor origination programs. For more information, visit www.taycor.com. One of NMEF’s controlled affiliates, BriteCap Financial LLC, is a leading non-bank lender providing small businesses with fast, convenient financing alternatives such as working capital loans from its main office in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit www.britecap.com.
View PostCloudsquare Unveils the Innovative Credibly Integration
Los Angeles, CA – March 17, 2025 – Cloudsquare, the leading end-to-end lending platform powered by Salesforce, is once again pushing the boundaries of efficiency in the Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) industry. The company has just announced its latest API integration with Credibly, a trusted name in business financing, promising to transform how brokers and lenders manage deal submissions, approvals, and funding workflows.
With automation at the core, this integration eliminates the tedious, manual processes that slow down funding, giving brokers and lenders a direct pipeline to Credibly’s lending platform—all within Cloudsquare.
A Smarter, Faster, and More Reliable Lending Workflow
Cloudsquare’s Credibly Lender API Integration delivers a suite of powerful features designed to help brokers move deals through the pipeline faster than ever:
✅ Seamless API Submissions – Send applications directly from Salesforce to Credibly—no emails, no extra steps.
✅ Bulk File Uploads – Upload multiple documents at once, improving operational efficiency.
✅ Real-Time Status Tracking – Stay updated on submission progress and approvals instantly.
✅ Automated Decline Insights – Get detailed rejection reasons, allowing brokers to refine applications and increase approval rates.
✅ Smart File Management – Reduce storage burdens by sending secure file URLs instead of large attachments.
“Speed and efficiency are everything in MCA, and our integration with Credibly ensures brokers and lenders never lose momentum,” said Jeffrey Morgenstein, CEO at Cloudsquare.
Redefining MCA Lending with Cloudsquare
Cloudsquare continues to lead the way in MCA technology, delivering seamless integrations and smart solutions that help brokers scale their businesses with confidence. With the addition of Credibly’s API, the company reinforces its commitment to faster funding, smarter lending, and better broker-lender collaboration.
Want to see the Cloudsquare + Credibly integration in action? Visit Cloudsquare today to learn more.
About Cloudsquare
Cloudsquare is the leading end-to-end lending platform, uniquely powered by Salesforce to deliver unparalleled flexibility and innovation for lenders and brokers. With a commitment to optimizing lending processes through cutting-edge technology, Cloudsquare provides robust, scalable solutions that empower clients to achieve greater efficiency and growth. Celebrated by industry leaders, Cloudsquare has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America’s fastest-growing companies and is consistently rated a top service provider on platforms like Salesforce AppExchange, G2, Clutch, and Manifest.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cloudsquare Marketing
Email: marketing@cloudsquare.io
View PostJames Webster to Speak at Broker Fair 2025
James Webster, Founder and Executive Chairman of ROK Financial, will be a guest speaker at Broker Fair in New York City on May 19th.
James brings a passionate and innovative mindset to the businesses he and his company help grow on a daily basis. Since the age of 18, James has managed multiple sales floors, which allowed him to develop a strong business understanding and a passion for small business.
With nearly two decades of experience in financing and commercial lending, James and his team have helped thousands of business owners secure nearly $2 Billion in business financing, created thousands of new relationships with partners and strengthened their lender relationships, making them a true leader within the landscape. James and the team pride themselves on helping businesses identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as educate them on the ways they can build on their successes by creating perpetual opportunities with business financing.
In addition to his role at ROK, James sits as the co-chairman of the Small Business Financing Association Broker Council, a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that small businesses can access financing solutions that are clear, secure, and fair. In this role, James establishes responsible and transparent practices for alternative lending brokers while also educating policymakers and regulators about the technology-driven platforms that have emerged in the small business lending market.
James was born and raised on Long Island where he currently lives with his wife, Melissa, and their two children, Lilyanna and Jameson. He is an active member of the Long Island community and feels a special connection to local businesses. Philanthropy plays a big role in James’ personal and business life. ROK’s main philanthropic initiative includes donating 50 meals for every deal that funds with ROK Financial, with the hope of helping end hunger in America.
When not at the office, You will either find James on a golf course or enjoying his other interests such as skiing, fishing, boating, traveling, live sporting & music events but, most of all, spending time with his family!
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