Virtual Lunch & Learn: Are You Lender Ready? Unlocking Capital with SBA Revolving Lines

Join us for a Virtual Lunch & Learn presented by Matthew Schmidt as he shares practical strategies for preparing your business for financing and making the most of SBA lending programs. This session will cover what lenders look for when evaluating loan applications, as well as how SBA revolving lines of credit can help businesses manage cash flow, support operations, and position themselves for growth.

SBA "Are You Lender Ready?"

The SBA’s "Are You Lender Ready?" presentations are designed to help entrepreneurs think like a bank and successfully navigate the commercial loan process. These sessions unpack critical underwriting criteria—such as credit scores, cash flow, and financial statements—while teaching owners how to build a compelling loan package. By learning how to present a solid business pitch and connecting directly with local lenders, participants gain the practical tools needed to transition from seeking capital to securing it.

Unlocking Capital: Maximizing the Power of SBA Revolving Lines

"Unlocking Capital" focuses on utilizing flexible, short-term financing—like CAP Lines and the Working Capital Pilot Program—to optimize day-to-day business operations. Unlike standard term loans, these revolving lines allow owners to draw funds as needed to manage uneven cash flow, cover seasonal inventory, or fund payroll. By leveraging accounts receivable or purchase orders, businesses can secure higher advance rates and lower interest costs, providing the sustained liquidity required to scale and fulfill larger contracts.

Speaker: Matthew Schmidt

Matthew returned to the Portland area when he joined SBA, (having grown up in nearby Beaverton) bringing a powerful blend of strategic leadership and operational expertise to the region's innovation ecosystem. A dedicated professional, Matthew holds an MBA in Leading Organizations from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama (where he became a lifelong Crimson Tide fan).

His career spans pivotal program management and HR leadership roles for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Center for Leadership Development and the CHCO Council. A veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Matthew’s military and logistics background has sharpened his ability to navigate complex, high-stakes project environments—a perfect match for the agile, fast-paced startup mentality.

Outside of work, Matthew embraces the Pacific Northwest lifestyle through hiking, camping, ATV riding, and exploring the outdoors with his dog.

This program was organized by Oregon Bioscience Incubator. https://www.otradi.org/