Alliance Funding Group No Comments

Alliance Funding Group Appoints Jim Denning to Lead New Vendor Finance Services Division

Alliance Funding Group Appoints Jim Denning to Lead New Vendor Finance Services Division

TUSTIN, CA, May 4, 2026 — Alliance Funding Group (AFG), a privately held equipment finance company, today announced the appointment of Jim Denning as Senior Vice President and Head of Vendor Finance Services (VFS), a newly established division. Denning will lead the development and national expansion of the platform.

Denning brings more than 40 years of experience in equipment finance and banking, with prior leadership roles at Midland States Bank, Scottrade Bank, TCF Equipment Finance, and Banco Popular. His background includes building and scaling vendor finance platforms, developing national sales strategies, and supporting OEM, dealer, and distributor relationships across multiple industries.

“Jim brings deep experience in building vendor programs and leading high performing teams,” said Brij Patel, Founder and CEO of Alliance Funding Group. “The launch of Vendor Finance Services is a strategic priority for AFG, and his leadership will be instrumental as we expand our capabilities and presence in the vendor channel.”

“
The launch of Vendor Finance Services is a strategic priority for AFG, and Jim's leadership will be instrumental as we expand our capabilities and presence in the vendor channel.
Brij Patel, Founder, Alliance Funding Group

The Vendor Finance Services division is designed to provide a comprehensive financing solution for manufacturers, dealers, and distributors, with programs integrated directly at the point of sale. The platform will support a wide range of transaction sizes and credit profiles, including:

  • Competitive pricing for top tier credits
  • Structured financing solutions for complex transactions
  • Flexible underwriting across a broad credit spectrum
  • Unsecured Working Capital program for growing businesses

“Alliance Funding Group has built a strong foundation as a direct lender with the ability to structure transactions that fall outside traditional bank parameters,” said Denning. “The opportunity to build a vendor focused platform on that foundation is compelling. Our goal is to deliver a consistent, reliable financing solution that supports our partners’ sales processes and customers’ needs.”

The launch of Vendor Finance Services reflects AFG’s continued investment in expanding its platform and delivering flexible capital solutions across the equipment finance spectrum.

About Alliance Funding Group
Since 1998, Alliance Funding Group (AFG) has provided equipment financing solutions to businesses ranging from small to enterprise level organizations. AFG has funded more than $3B in equipment leases and loans to over 28,000 customers across the United States.

www.afg.com

Media Contact
Shona Barnthouse
VP of Marketing
marketing@afg.com
714-453-3601

Alliance Funding Group invests in Casca’s $29 million Series A led by Canapi Ventures.
Alliance Funding Group No Comments

Alliance Funding Group Invests in Casca’s $29M Series A

Alliance Funding Group (AFG) has invested in Casca’s $29M Series A, backing the company’s AI native loan origination platform for banks and SBA lenders.

Casca’s technology unifies intake, eligibility, compliance, decisioning, and document generation to reduce manual work and accelerate lending decisions for small business borrowers. The platform standardizes KYB and documentation across systems and provides real time visibility for bankers and applicants.

“
If you cannot beat them, invest in them. After meeting Lukas Haffer and the team at Casca, we were sold on their technology first approach to SMB lending.
Brij Patel, Founder, Alliance Funding Group

AFG’s investment supports scaling of Casca’s AI native platform across additional loan categories including asset backed lending, deeper core banking integrations, and expanded customer success and engineering resources that increase speed, consistency, and transparency for small business borrowers.

About Casca

Casca is an AI native loan origination platform for financial institutions that consolidates lending workflows and strengthens controls to deliver faster and clearer outcomes. Learn more at https://www.cascading.ai/

About Alliance Funding Group

Alliance Funding Group est. in 1998, is a privately held equipment finance & working capital platform headquartered in Tustin, California, serving businesses nationwide with ~$800MM in AUM.  Learn more at https://www.afg.com

Media Contact

Shona Barnthouse
Vice President of Marketing, Alliance Funding Group
sbarnthouse@afg.com

Shona Barnthouse No Comments

The Resurgence of the Manufacturing Industry: A $1 Trillion Shift Unveiled

The Resurgence of Manufacturing: A $1 Trillion Shift Unveiled

The manufacturing industry in the United States is currently undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements and substantial investments. A recent report by Goldman Sachs highlights this trend, with over $1 trillion invested in manufacturing and infrastructure, signaling substantial growth and innovation in the industry. This period of change presents valuable opportunities for manufacturing businesses, and we are here to provide insights and support to navigate this evolving landscape.

The Emerging Trend in Manufacturing Investments

Recent data underscores the scale of this industrial resurgence, with a substantial increase in projects, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicle and battery plants, and clean energy projects. Notably, semiconductor plants account for a significant portion of these investments, totaling $222 billion. These figures signify a shift toward a more advanced and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem in the U.S.

Understanding the Current Scenario

Goldman Sachs’ analysis also reveals a notable increase in project activities, with projections indicating more than $80 billion in investments for both 2022 and 2023. This is a substantial contrast to the average annual investment of $23 billion observed from 2011 to 2021. However, it’s important to note that these are early stages, and a majority of equipment orders are yet to be fulfilled.

Grasping Project Timelines and Challenges

These investments often entail significant delays between project announcements and equipment orders. For instance, while a non-residential construction project might take 18–24 months from groundbreaking to production initiation, a semiconductor plant can take 36–60 months. Manufacturers must understand and plan for these delays.

Adapting to Capital-Intensive Venture

We recognize that stepping into or expanding within the manufacturing sector demands substantial financial resources. Our approach at AFG revolves around developing customized financing solutions aimed at easing the initial financial load, all while prioritizing manageable terms and efficient cost management strategies.

As we witness a substantial transformation in the U.S. manufacturing industry, it becomes apparent that we are entering a new era of industrial development. This shift presents various challenges and opportunities, particularly in the realm of financial planning and equipment financing & investments. At AFG, our commitment lies in offering support to comprehend these shifts, adapt strategies accordingly, and prosper in this dynamic phase of American manufacturing.