SBA 504 Lending: $55M Annual Volume Secrets | Jimmy Venia

Jimmy Venia, VP at Pursuit, reveals how businesses earning $5M-$150M access SBA 504 capital—including a father-son duo who secured $2.2M with just a business plan. Learn the truth about SBA lending misconceptions and what actually gets deals approved.

🎙️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction to Jimmy Venia and Pursuit
00:58 - Father-Son Theater Success: $2.2M from a Business Plan
03:05 - Biggest Pain Points for SMBs Seeking Financing
04:30 - Current Lending Environment and Economic Uncertainty
07:05 - Sales Cycle: 45-90 Days from Start to Finish
08:15 - Best Borrower Profiles: $10M-$125M Revenue Companies
10:10 - 12-18 Month Vision: Automating Backend with AI
12:44 - Marketing Strategy Beyond Traditional Banking
14:26 - Geographic Expansion: Northeast to Florida
15:27 - Team Growth: Leading Pursuit's Most Profitable Unit
19:32 - What Works in Marketing: Social Media vs Email Blasts
21:41 - Relationship Building: Networking Ratios and Strategies
24:13 - External Marketing Partners: Authenticity Over Jargon
26:21 - Core Metrics: Customer Acquisition Cost and Engagement
27:25 - Unique Value Proposition: Advisory Services + Goldman Sachs Partnership
30:00 - AI's Immediate Impact: Backend Automation and Outreach
31:32 - Video Content Strategy: Showcasing Borrower Success Stories
33:01 - Final Message: Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

✅ Email blasts and newsletters fail—social media (TikTok, Instagram) and in-person events drive leads
✅ Pursuit partners exclusively with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in NY/NJ
✅ AI's biggest impact: automating financial statement analysis and reading Schedule E tax disclosures

ABOUT PURSUIT:
Pursuit has served businesses since 1955 as one of the oldest and most respected Community Development Corporations (CDC) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) in the country. They specialize in helping traditionally "non-bankable" businesses access capital through SBA 504, SBA 7(a), and 15 other non-SBA loan programs. Operating across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada, and expanding into Florida, Pursuit combines lending with free advisory services including HR support, online presence development, and strategic growth planning. As the exclusive capital partner for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses in New York and New Jersey, Pursuit has funded transformative projects from manufacturing facilities to medical practices to entertainment venues.

ABOUT JIMMY VENIA:
Jimmy Venia serves as Vice President at Pursuit and consistently ranks as one of the top producers in SBA 504 lending nationwide. Managing 8-12 transactions simultaneously, he oversees a team generating $55M annually while personally originating an additional $25M. Before joining Pursuit, Jimmy consulted for New York City's Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, helping business owners leverage certifications for government contracts. His background in economic development gives him unique insight into the ecosystem beyond traditional banking—from Business Improvement Districts to Small Business Development Centers. Jimmy's philosophy: lead with authenticity, not authority. He's as comfortable in sweatpants on a demolition job site as he is presenting to a $150M contractor. His father, an entrepreneur, instilled the values that drive Jimmy's borrower-first approach.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
• SBA 504 Loan Program (40% CDC loan + 50% bank loan + 10% equity)
• SBA 7(a) Loan Program
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Accelerator
• New York City M/WBE Certification Program
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
• Cirrus (financial statement automation platform)
• Canva (for social media content creation)

KEY METRICS FROM EPISODE:
• $2.2M: Off-Broadway theater financing (Babylon, Long Island)
• $20M: Nighthawk Cinema financing (Brooklyn)
• $55M: Annual team lending volume
• $25M: Jimmy's personal annual origination
• 8-12: Simultaneous transactions managed
• 45-90 days: Typical transaction timeline
• $1.5M-$3M: Average loan size
• $5M-$150M: Target borrower revenue range
• Under 50%: Cold email response rate• 7 states: Current geographic footprint

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💬 COMMENT BELOW:
What's your biggest challenge accessing business capital?
Have you explored SBA lending for your company?

📞 CONNECT WITH JIMMY VENIA:
Phone: 646-465-8187
Website: PursuitLending.com