Mesirow Alternative Credit partners with Fundbox to expand access to working capital for US small businesses

CHICAGO – January 27, 2026 – Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced that its asset-backed specialty finance team, Mesirow Alternative Credit, has closed a committed forward flow facility with Fundbox, the leading provider of embedded capital infrastructure for the small business economy.

Structured as an asset-backed forward flow/whole loan facility, the transaction is backed by a diversified pool of small business obligations, with funding provided by Mesirow-managed funds including Mesirow Specialty Finance Fund VII and affiliated vehicles. The facility is designed to scale over time in line with Fundbox’s origination growth and performance.

“This partnership underscores Mesirow’s commitment to innovative financing solutions for lenders that empower small businesses,” said Jay Braden, CEO and CIO of Mesirow Alternative Credit. “By combining Fundbox’s AI-powered capital platform with our expertise in structuring and managing specialty finance assets, we’re helping expand responsible access to capital for businesses that fuel economic growth.”

“Access to flexible capital is critical for small businesses to invest, hire, and grow,” said Renuka Nayani, CFO of Fundbox. “We are excited to match that demand for capital with Mesirow's forward flow facility using our AI-driven platform, ensuring that more businesses can thrive in today’s dynamic economy.”

In December 2024, Mesirow acquired the Alternative Credit team, formerly Bastion Management, in a strategic expansion of the firm’s alternative investments capabilities for institutional investors and high net worth clients. 

Since joining the firm, Mesirow Alternative Credit has successfully closed multiple specialty finance funds with strategic investors while growing its portfolio partners. The team remains focused on strategic growth initiatives in 2026 to further enhance Mesirow’s alternative investment capabilities.

For more information, visit mesirow.com.

About Fundbox
Fundbox is a pioneer in embedded capital products for small and medium-sized businesses, providing fast, simple access to credit directly through the tools businesses already use. Since 2013, Fundbox has helped over 170,000 small businesses unlock more than $6 billion in working capital. As the capital infrastructure behind the digital SMB economy, Fundbox enables platforms to embed financial tools seamlessly into their user experiences. Follow us on LinkedIn. 

About Mesirow 
Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Private Capital & Currency, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture.

Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron’s Top 100 RIA firms. To learn more, visit mesirow.com, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to Spark, our quarterly newsletter.

Source: mesirow.com