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Provide: The Path to Owning It

Provide: The Path to Owning It

By: Corey Brown Marketing Leader at Provide
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 If you’re an entrepreneur looking for answers to your most pressing questions, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you own a business or are contemplating ownership in the future, you’re somewhere on the path to building your legacy. On this podcast, The Path to Owning It, Provide’s helping pave the way for you to achieve your dreams of business ownership and guide you through all the nuances of the journey. Each month, host Corey Brown, a marketing leader at Provide with over a decade in supporting small businesses, will tap into Provide’s unparalleled network of industry experts and share the tools you need to take control of your future. Powered by Fifth Third Bank, Provide is on a mission to financially empower business owners with great people and innovative technology. As the leader in tech-enabled financial services for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, Provide offers an unmatched combination of industry expertise, personalized service, and customized financial products – enabling founders to achieve their ownership dreams, realize financial independence, and revitalize their industries. Founded in a one-bedroom San Francisco apartment in 2013, Provide was acquired by Fifth Third in 2021 and in 2023 was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more at getprovide.com, and join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.©2024 by Provide Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 66. Buying your way in: The rise of entrepreneurship through acquisition, with Matthias Smith

    66. Buying your way in: The rise of entrepreneurship through acquisition, with Matthias Smith
    Dec 17 2025
    For some entrepreneurs, the time and energy it takes to start a business from scratch is a welcome challenge. And for others, it makes more sense to buy their way into business ownership — and it’s more accessible than ever thanks to game-changing, government-backed SBA 7(a) loans. So in this episode, we're speaking with Matthias Smith, founder and owner of Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, a consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs secure SBA 7(a) financing to acquire a business. Since launching in May 2022, his firm has helped 115 business buyers close on more than $250 million of SBA 7(a) financing. And together, we'll discuss: What types of businesses do well in an entrepreneurship-through-acquisition (ETA) transaction How SBA 7(a) financing works What new business owners should consider when structuring an acquisition What due diligence mistakes small business buyers often make How small business buyers can prepare to apply for financing Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.
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    31 mins
  • 65. You built it. Now what? Planning when there’s no successor, with Alex Vantarakis

    65. You built it. Now what? Planning when there’s no successor, with Alex Vantarakis
    Nov 19 2025
    "It's my life." "It's my identity." "It's my baby." Many entrepreneurs think of their businesses in one or more of these ways. But when it’s time to build an exit strategy, that kind of thinking can create complicated feelings, making decisions more difficult. When selling your business is on the horizon, it's important to define your priorities, plan well in advance, and ensure that you get top dollar for your asset. Enter Alex Vantarakis, founder of The Vant Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions firm. Alex has spent more than 25 years helping business owners with more than 700 business transactions. In this episode, you’ll learn: When a business owner should start planning their exit How to get the best price for your business How to protect your legacy when selling Why fewer businesses are transitioning to family members Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.
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    35 mins
  • 64. Why an SBA loan might be right for you and your small business, with Brett Howden

    64. Why an SBA loan might be right for you and your small business, with Brett Howden
    Oct 22 2025
    If you’re a business owner, there’s one acronym you need to know: SBA. The Small Business Administration is your gateway to funding, growth, and opportunity. In this episode, we sit down with our very own Brett Howden, Director of Credit, SBA at Provide, a division of Fifth Third Bank. He's a pro at connecting entrepreneurs with the right financial products to level up their businesses. We’ll cover: How SBA loans stack up against conventional loans The SBA programs that could fuel growth Who qualifies — and what it takes to get approved How to decide if an SBA loan is the right move for your business Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
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