• Facility will acquire US small business loans originated by Fundbox with capacity to scale over time.
• Strengthens Mesirow’s presence in asset-backed specialty finance through forward flow structure.

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.

Mesirow does not provide legal or tax advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The views expressed above are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change, and may differ from views express by other Mesirow associates. 

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc., © 2026, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investment management services provided through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Institutional Investment Management, Inc. and Mesirow Financial Private Equity Advisors, Inc., all SEC-registered investment advisors, a CFTC registered commodity trading advisors and member of the NFA, or Mesirow Financial International UK, Ltd. (“MFIUK”), authorized and regulated by the FCA, depending on the jurisdiction.

Award recognition disclosures: mesirow.com/award-recognition-disclosures.