Empowering Small Businesses: Uprise's Innovative Approach to Financial GuidanceSmall businesses have been on the rise in the U.S. since the pandemic, and with this surge comes a growing need for financial guidance and support. While there are numerous tech tools available to assist these companies with tasks like payroll and retirement benefits, many small business owners struggle to navigate these solutions effectively. Uprise, a startup founded by a team of fintech veterans, is poised to change that narrative by providing personalized financial advisory services tailored specifically to the needs of small businesses.

Revolutionizing Small Business Financial Guidance

Embedding Expertise into Financial Services

Uprise's innovative approach involves embedding its financial advisory services directly into the existing financial tools and platforms that small businesses are already using. By integrating with HR tech solutions like Rippling and SMB tax startups like Carry, Uprise is able to provide personalized recommendations and guidance to its clients based on their unique business needs and financial data.The company's AI-powered algorithm analyzes a wealth of information about each individual business, including size, location, and financial data, to generate tailored recommendations. These recommendations are then vetted by a team of human financial advisors, ensuring that small business owners receive the most accurate and actionable guidance possible.

Bridging the Gap Between Personal and Business Finances

Uprise's origins can be traced back to the founders' experiences working in the fintech industry, where they recognized a common challenge faced by consumers and small business owners alike: the difficulty in making smart financial decisions. Jessica Chen Riolfi, Uprise's co-founder and CEO, explains that the traditional financial system often treats personal and business finances as separate entities, failing to acknowledge the reality that for many small business owners, the two are inextricably linked."My business finances are my finances," Chen Riolfi emphasizes, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach to financial guidance. Uprise's pivot to focus on small businesses came after the team realized that their most engaged users were individuals, such as entrepreneurs and freelancers, seeking advice for both their personal and business financial needs.

Expanding Partnerships and Securing Funding

Uprise's transition to a small business-focused strategy has been met with enthusiasm from the fintech community. The company has been operating in beta since 2023, working with five customers, and is now fully launching with additional partnerships in the works.The San Francisco-based startup has recently secured a $3.3 million seed round, led by Blank Ventures, with participation from other prominent investors in the fintech space, including Graham & Walker, Hustle Fund, and Dash Fund. The funding will enable Uprise to further develop its product and forge new partnerships, solidifying its position as a trusted financial advisor for small businesses.

Embedding Financial Guidance Across the Ecosystem

Uprise's vision for the future is to become deeply integrated into the financial ecosystem that small businesses rely on, ensuring that its expert guidance is readily available wherever these businesses need it most. As Chen Riolfi explains, "If you are a small business owner and you have a folder of financial apps, we want to be integrated into all of those apps. We know the context and know what you should be doing there."By seamlessly embedding its financial advisory services into the tools and platforms that small businesses already use, Uprise aims to empower these entrepreneurs to make informed, data-driven decisions that will drive their success and growth. As the small business landscape continues to evolve, Uprise's innovative approach to financial guidance promises to be a game-changer for the sector.