Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-small-business-daily/id1841930957
Small Business Daily Podcast
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Agentic AI startup Kaaj secures $3.8M to expand credit intelligence platform
Source: SiliconANGLE
By Duncan Riley — November 19, 2025
Kaaj raised $3.8 million to scale its agentic AI platform that automates end-to-end credit analysis for small-business and equipment-finance lending. The company says it can compress days of manual underwriting into under three minutes, making sub-$1 million loans more profitable for lenders and improving access to capital. With more than $5 billion in applications processed and customers like Amur Equipment Finance and Fundr, Kaaj aims to accelerate decisions and reduce costs across lenders’ existing systems.
Credit risk automation platform Kaaj raises $3.8M seed from Kindred Ventures
Source: TechCrunch
By Dominic-Madori Davis — November 19, 2025
TechCrunch details how Kaaj’s AI agents classify and verify loan documents, check for tampering, and plug into LOS and CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot. The company claims teams handling 500 monthly applications could process up to 20,000 with the same staff, potentially opening the door for more small businesses to secure bank financing. Fresh funding will expand product modules and customer reach as Kaaj competes with firms like Middesk and Ocrolus.
Motive brings Vision 26 back to Nashville’s Music City, uniting operations leaders to harness the power of AI
Source: Financial Post (Business Wire)
By Business Wire — November 19, 2025
Motive will host its Vision 26 summit in Nashville on May 26–28, 2026, showcasing AI and automation that make physical operations safer, more productive, and more profitable. Leaders across safety, operations, and finance will get hands-on with new products, attend an AI-powered Safety Leader Bootcamp, and learn strategies to boost ROI through automation. Early registration discounts are available, signaling Motive’s push to engage both enterprise and SMB operators.
Photography studios make up over half of top-rated US women-owned businesses
Source: PetaPixel
By Pesala Bandara — November 19, 2025
OnDeck’s analysis of 12,000+ Yelp listings found that photography studios dominate the highest-rated women-owned small businesses, with six of the top ten achieving perfect five-star ratings. A Tale Ahead Photography leads with hundreds of five-star reviews, underscoring the power of consistent client experience and rapid communication. The study highlights both the economic impact of women-owned businesses and the ongoing challenge of underestimation, reinforcing the value of reputation and reviews in growth.
Florida Main Street, Google Calendar, music streaming, more: Wednesday ResearchBuzz
Source: ResearchBuzz
By ResearchBuzz — November 19, 2025
This roundup flags useful digital updates for small businesses, including a new Florida Main Street app that surfaces local shops and events ahead of Small Business Saturday and a Google Calendar tweak that lets users schedule focused task blocks. It also points to emerging tech trends and risks—from open-source music streaming clients to legal and security headlines—reminding owners to balance experimentation with vigilance. The takeaway: lean into tools that boost discovery and productivity while staying alert to policy and platform shifts.
