Questions we get a lot.
Straight answers about what Cyphr does, who it's for, and how the readiness score actually works. If something's still unclear, reach out — we're happy to walk through it.
What is Cyphr.
The short version of what we do, who we serve, and why now.
What does Cyphr actually do?
Cyphr is capital readiness infrastructure — we score small businesses on a 0–300 scale and generate a lender-ready packet from their bank data, so businesses the legacy system couldn't see become fundable.
Is Cyphr a lender?
No — and that's the point. We don't lend. We don't advise. We translate. Cyphr is the neutral layer between businesses, lenders, and the programs that connect them.
Who is Cyphr for?
Three audiences use Cyphr in different ways: small business owners who need to get funded, lenders who need a trustworthy readiness signal, and cities or states running economic mobility programs that need to measure what they're funding.
Why build this now?
FICO SBSS — the scoring model that gatekept SBA lending for 20+ years — is being retired with no replacement. The neutral scoring position is vacant, and roughly 80% of small businesses were invisible to the old model anyway.
Where does the name Cyphr come from?
A cipher is what lets you read something that was otherwise unreadable. Small businesses aren't unbankable — they're unlegible to the systems trying to fund them. We translate.
The score, explained.
How we turn bank data into a readiness score, without requiring formal financials or an accountant.
What is a Capital Readiness Score?
A 0–300 readiness score that tells a lender how prepared a business is to deploy and repay capital — built from how the business actually operates, not just owner credit.
How is this different from a FICO score?
Personal credit is just one input — and a small one. The bulk of the score reflects how the business itself runs: revenue patterns, operating health, workforce, compliance, and licensing.
What data does Cyphr need?
Primarily a connected bank feed, plus operational signals available through our government and ecosystem partnerships. No formal P&L or accountant required to get started.
How long does scoring take?
Minutes once a bank connection is in place — compared to the weeks most founders spend assembling loan packets by hand. The packet is generated alongside the score.
What's in a "readiness packet"?
The standardized financial picture and compliance data a lender typically rebuilds manually — formatted so any participating lender can open and underwrite it.
Is the score industry-adjusted?
Yes. A food service business and a consulting firm don't operate the same way, so we normalize against industry profiles with appropriate benchmarks.
If you're a business owner.
What Cyphr does for you, and how to start.
What will my score actually get me?
A Capital Readiness Score and a packet that any participating lender can open and underwrite — plus an action plan if your score shows gaps that would block funding. No more reformatting documents for every lender.
What if my score is low?
You get a specific action plan — the areas that pulled your score down and concrete steps to move them — not just a rejection. The point of readiness is that you can build toward it.
Do I need to pay to get scored?
If you're coming in through a city program, state initiative, or ESO partner, scoring is typically covered. Paid subscriptions are for business owners who want ongoing monitoring, document generation, and capital matching.
Will Cyphr share my data with lenders without asking?
No. Your data is yours. Lenders only see your score and packet if you choose to share it — or when you apply to a matched capital product through the platform.
Which industries work with Cyphr?
A growing list across the largest small-business sectors — including childcare, food service, construction, professional services, retail, transportation, beauty, cleaning, creative, health, agriculture, and gig/platform work.
If you're a lender.
How Cyphr fits into your underwriting and compliance workflow.
Does Cyphr replace my loan origination system?
No — we sit upstream of it. Pull a Cyphr score and packet via API, then run your normal LOS workflow. The 0–300 scale is designed to slot into policies calibrated for legacy SMB scoring without changes.
How does Cyphr help with Section 1071 compliance?
The required 1071 data fields are captured natively at intake, so every scored application produces an auditable, standardized decisioning trail — not a manually assembled one.
How do I get pricing?
Lender pricing depends on volume, integration scope, and partnership pathway. Email our partnerships team and we'll walk you through it.
Can we use Cyphr alongside our existing credit models?
Yes. Many lenders layer Cyphr onto existing underwriting as a readiness signal for thin-file applicants — especially the SMBs that legacy scoring couldn't meaningfully evaluate.
If you run a program.
How Cyphr supports economic mobility, readiness, and outcome reporting at scale.
What does Cyphr do for a city or state?
Gives you a single platform to intake businesses, assess readiness, coordinate ESO partners, match capital, and report outcomes — so the dollars you deploy are tied to measurable readiness improvements.
Is Cyphr live in my region?
We're deployed across a growing footprint of states and host cities, with more in the pipeline. Get in touch and we'll confirm coverage in your region.
How do state and city deployments work?
Each engagement is scoped to the program — typically covering intake, scoring, reporting dashboards, and integration with local ESOs and lender partners. Reach out for pricing and a deployment plan.
How we handle your data.
Compliance posture, fairness, and what we do — and don't do — with sensitive information.
Is Cyphr SOC 2 compliant?
Yes — SOC 2 Type II compliant, with an annual audit cycle and government contracts approved against that posture. Additional regulatory frameworks are on the roadmap.
How does Cyphr handle fair lending concerns?
Owner credit is intentionally a small input, and every score is industry-normalized so lower-margin or seasonal sectors aren't penalized. Every decision is explainable and auditable.
Does Cyphr sell data?
No. Business data is used to generate your score and power your packet — not packaged or resold.
What happens if I disagree with my score?
Every score comes with a breakdown of the inputs that shaped it, and there's a process to correct data issues or reconcile records if something looks off.
Who owns the data I share?
You do. You can disconnect your accounts or request deletion at any time. Cyphr only keeps what's needed to maintain the score and meet lender or regulatory record-keeping requirements.
Still have questions?
Reach out directly. We read everything, and the best questions usually end up here.