Palladium Equity Partners, a private investment firm with over $2.0 billion in assets under management, announced that one of its affiliates has made a significant investment in partnership with the co-founders and management of Fora Financial LLC (together with its affiliates, "Fora Financial" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled provider of financing to small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide.
      
Founded in 2008, Fora Financial offers loans and merchant cash advances of between $5,000 and $500,000 to small businesses throughout the country.  Since inception, the Company has provided total funding of nearly $400 million to more than 8,000 businesses.  It has experienced rapid growth and recently was ranked among the fastest-growing companies in America in the Inc. 5000 list. Fora Financial recently expanded its New York City offices to accommodate its growing roster of over 100 employees as it bolsters key capabilities in analytics and technology and aims to continue to execute on its strategy of delivering capital in a timely and cost effective way.
      
Fora Financial will continue to be led by its two founders, CEO Jared Feldman and President Dan Smith.
      
"We believe Fora Financial has developed a highly attractive credit offering and technology platform that have made it a valued provider of financing to thousands of small businesses seeking capital," said Justin Green, a Principal of Palladium.  "My partners and I look forward to supporting Jared, Dan and the Fora Financial management team to continue the strong growth trajectory of the Company, including through new partnerships, expanded product offerings and increased lending capabilities."
      
Feldman said, "We are excited to partner with Palladium, a firm with extensive financial services expertise and many years of experience supporting founder-owned businesses."
      
Smith added, "With this partnership in place, we are well-capitalized to continue offering the small business community the custom, innovative funding solutions that have enabled us to build this Company into a market leader."

Terms of the investment were not disclosed.  Fora Financial was advised by Raymond James & Associates.
      
Fora Financial offers flexible, working capital solutions to small businesses in need of financing to sustain or grow their enterprise. The Manhattan-based company places a high value on trust and transparency and provides businesses with quick, customized financial solutions utilizing its state-of-the-art technology platforms. Founded in June 2008, Fora Financial has more than 100 employees who have provided nearly $400 million to over 8,000 customers.