The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was awarded a $253,449 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (CFDA 47.075) program. The funding supports the development of two interconnected research infrastructures:
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The Small Business Lender Preference and Perception (SBLPP) Database, which consolidates survey data on nearly 9,300 U.S. community banks and credit unions regarding their lending preferences, market perceptions, and institutional strengths.
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FundMatch, an online platform that uses SBLPP data to match entrepreneurs with lenders aligned to their financing needs and preferences, reducing search frictions. FundMatch also enables field experiments to identify and address demand-side barriers like borrower discouragement.
This researcher-entrepreneur-lender nexus is expected to yield actionable insights to foster inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and drive equitable economic development across regions. The award period runs from August 15, 2024 to July 31, 2027.
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