Founding Partner · SBA loan broker
ThinkSBA
San Diego, nationwide practice
ThinkSBA is the SBA loan broker Founding Partner of San Diego ETA. It is a nationwide SBA 504 and 7(a) brokerage founded by Ryan Smith, a former banker who started the firm after years of declining good businesses from inside the bank. A broker shops your deal across lenders instead of representing one balance sheet.
What they do
- SBA 7(a) financing for business and franchise acquisitions
- SBA 504 financing for owner-occupied commercial real estate
- Partner buyouts
- Matching a deal to the lenders most likely to actually fund it
Why they are in this room
One bank tells you yes or no. A broker tells you which of thirty banks says yes, and why the other twenty-nine said no, which is usually more useful information. Ryan also hosts the My SBA Loan Pro podcast, so a lot of what he knows is already public and checkable before you ever call him.
What a Founding Partner is, and is not
ThinkSBA holds the sba loan broker seat, which is category-exclusive: one firm per category, five in total. Founding Partners cover the cost of the monthly meetup, which is why it is free for buyers to attend.
What that does not buy is the stage. Nobody pitches from the front, partners included. The club does not take a referral fee, does not share attendee contact details, and does not recommend a partner over anyone else you might hire. Listing here is disclosure, not endorsement. Do your own diligence on any firm you engage, including these.
Questions about the roster or the open SBA lender seat? Write to hello@sdetaclub.com.