YouLend offers a tech-first approach to SME financing by using nonconventional data points such as monthly card payment data, cash flow, repeat buyer behavior, and digital footprint to evaluate creditworthiness. Traditional banks struggle with underwriting SMEs due to the need to hold significant capital against loans, making them less profitable. To address this, tech companies like YouLend have stepped in to provide alternative financing options for SMEs that might not qualify otherwise. By leveraging data from platforms such as Plaid, YouLend's software platform can assess a business' immediate cash-flow position without the hassle of manual file uploads or photographs. This approach allows YouLend to extend credit to SMEs that traditional banks may have missed.