Live Oak Ventures Invests in Cascading AI for Loan Origination Automation.

Live Oak Ventures has invested in Cascading AI, a loan application and origination platform that uses responsible AI. Live Oak Bank is partnering with Casca to automate its Live Oak Express loan process and plans to expand it across the franchise. The investment will allow Casca to scale its operations and expand its services.

Live Oak Ventures, the investment arm of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc., has announced a strategic investment in Cascading AI, Inc. (Casca), a loan application and origination platform leveraging responsible artificial intelligence. This investment aims to streamline and automate Live Oak Bank's lending processes, enhancing both efficiency and customer experience.

Live Oak Ventures, a fintech-focused investor, is collaborating with Casca as a design partner to automate the Live Oak® Express loan process. The partnership plans to expand Casca's technology across Live Oak's franchise, accelerating workflows and ultimately providing an exceptional banking experience to customers. The investment will enable Casca to scale its operations, expand its team, and accelerate its market penetration efforts.

"Businesses trust Live Oak Bank to provide a personalized, modern approach to lending, which is key to maintaining our leadership in the market," said James S. (Chip) Mahan III, Live Oak Chairman and CEO. "Casca simplifies and accelerates our lending processes while equipping us with the insights needed to build lasting relationships. The tangible value Casca has demonstrated gives us confidence to invest in their future."

Lukas Haffer, CEO and co-founder of Casca, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. "We’re driven to be a force for good, using technology to make capital more accessible to small businesses and fueling the American Dream," he said. "Partnering with the top SBA lenders and key industry players, we’ve built a platform that fully automates loans in record time—setting a new industry standard."

Casca's platform, which uses responsible AI, is already utilized by leading SBA lenders and FDIC-insured banks. The company was founded in 2023 by banking IT experts and AI researchers from Stanford University and is backed by Y Combinator, Canapi Ventures, and Peterson Ventures. For more information, visit www.cascading.ai.

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9514519/live-oak-ventures-participates-in-financing-of-cascading-ai-inc
[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/live-oak-ventures-participates-financing-cascading-ai-inc-2025-08-19
[3] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/LOB/live-oak-ventures-participates-in-financing-of-cascading-ai-2uqur3h5qnqs.html