JUDI.AI Secures Investment from Conexus Venture Capital to Expand Small-Business Lending Platform
The platform sits on real‑time bank transaction data and a proprietary cash‑flow model that evaluates a borrower’s creditworthiness in minutes. Over the past decade, JUDI’s AI‑enabled system has processed more than $2 billion in loan applications for credit unions and community banks across Canada and the United States. By automating data ingestion, analysis, and decisioning, the firm claims it can deliver faster, simpler access to capital for small businesses.
Conexus Venture Capital, which manages $60 million in assets across two funds and traces its roots back to the Oregon Telephone Employees Credit Union in 1937, invested through its second fund. Managing director Jordan McFarlen said the firm believes credit unions and community banks are well positioned to lead the small‑business lending market. CEO Gord Baizley noted that the investment would support JUDI’s rapid expansion and product development.
Unitus Community Credit Union also committed capital to JUDI. CEO Steven Stapp highlighted Unitus’s dedication to innovative solutions that better serve members and communities. The partnership reflects Unitus’s belief that small businesses deserve faster, simpler access to capital so they can grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
The new capital will be used to scale JUDI’s market reach and enhance its product suite. The company plans to deepen its presence in both Canadian and U.S. markets, adding new features to its underwriting engine and expanding integration capabilities for partner institutions. JUDI’s leadership emphasizes that success in small‑business lending requires a holistic approach that blends people, process, technology, and intentional growth.
At a time when the small‑business lending market is evolving rapidly, JUDI’s investment positions it to help credit unions leverage their strengths and adapt to changing demand. The platform, backed by a decade of performance data and a growing network of institutional partners, is poised to support more community banks in winning new borrowers. The investment also signals continued interest from venture capital in fintech solutions that address underserved segments of the economy.
In summary, JUDI.AI’s partnership with Conexus Venture Capital and Unitus Community Credit Union marks a significant step in expanding AI‑driven lending tools for community‑based lenders. The firm will use the funds to accelerate product development and market expansion, aiming to increase access to capital for small businesses across North America. The move underscores the growing role of credit unions in the small‑business financing landscape and the importance of technology in meeting that need.