How they describe themselves: Centrro, with its KnowBeforeYouApply service, helps consumers find financial products (such as credit cards, mortgages and other personal finance services) that match their credit risk profile. This is a $4 billion annual online financial services advertising market with 154 million online, credit-active consumers. KnowBeforeYouApply targets this market with a free service for consumers to know which loan products they would qualify for before ever applying. Also, we track consumers’ credit grades over time, and make relevant and timely recommendations that benefit their unique situation. KnowBeforeYouApply saves consumers time and money, and significantly improves lender approval rates and lowers rejection costs.

What they think makes them better: KnowBeforeYouApply can tell a consumer what they would be approved for before they ever apply. This can substantially increase the lead match rate from less than 15% to 80%. Unlike competitors, we access consumer credit reports and scores in real-time (without affecting their FICO grades), and use a proprietary credit accessing and matching engine to perform sophisticated pairings using lender-supplied guidelines. Unlike lead generation firms, our consumers completely control who they are ultimately paired with. KnowBeforeYouApply also tracks a consumer’s credit grade for free over time while comparable services charge the consumer more than $100 per year.

Executives: Ike Eze (CEO), Tuyen N. Vo (VP Products), Matt Murray (VP of Bus. Dev.)

Board Members: Harry Gambill (former CEO and vice-Chairman of TransUnion)

Advisory Board Members: Doug Galen (Shutterfly, eBay, ELOAN, Fourth Fleet Financial), Michael Marcus (HSBC, Boston Consulting Group), Bob Purcell (GoldenGateway Financial, ELOAN, Noah’s Bagel, General Mills), Laurence Toney (Cake Financial, eBay, art.com, Nike), Chuck Wallace (eSurance, UstreamTV), Jay Weintraub (LeadsCon, Oversee.net, Advertising.com), Arash Saffarnia (QSpace, Move, YesMail, Transpera)

Customers: E-Loan.com, Vertrue

Partnerships: TransUnion

Contacts:
Biz Dev: Matt Murray, mmurray@centrro.com, 408-499-3076
Press: Ike Eze, ieze@centrro.com, 510-384-7900
Sales: Tuyen N. Vo, tvo@centrro.com, 510-269-4199