This is post is part of our live coverage of FinovateEurope 2015.

The StreetShares marketplace uses social affinities and online auction technology to provide small business borrowers with loans at lower rates, and provide investors with higher returns. StreetShares blends the social loyalty and trust of affinity groups with traditional bank underwriting. It provides small business owners with the opportunity to pitch their loan requests to retail and institutional investors at no cost or obligation.

StreetShares investors then compete to fund the loans through a StreetShares auction, where the lowest rates charged to borrowers win. Through a StreetShares auction, borrowers get funded at competitive rates and investors get returns they’re looking for. Everyone wins.