Modern lending starts with better intake.
We help credit unions say yes to the right commercial deals - faster, cleaner, and with less risk.
Approval Pathway is a commercial loan intake platform that brings order to the front end of lending. We turn incomplete, messy applications into structured, lender-ready deals, so your team spends less time triaging and more time funding.
Email isn't a loan origination system. But for too long, that's where commercial loan applications have lived - stranded in inboxes, frustrating both borrowers and lending teams.
We saw an opportunity to fix that. What started as a smarter way to collect and manage documentation has grown into a platform with built-in credit union participation tools that help unlock idle capital, faster.
We work with credit union lending teams that want to deploy capital more efficiently - without adding headcount, changing systems, or increasing risk.
Our platform also supports brokers and borrowers by simplifying submissions and boosting the odds of success.
Unlike other platforms, we don't ask you to overhaul your process.
We work alongside it - filtering out unfit deals early, cleaning up the rest, and routing only what's ready for review.
An AP Button on your commercial lending page becomes your new intake front door. Behind it, our structured workflow eliminates inbox chaos and clears the path for smarter, faster decisions.
Meet Our Team

Joshua Reynolds
CEO & Founder
I've spent my career building technology-driven solutions to improve how businesses access capital. Before co-founding Approval Pathway, I helped launch and scale commercial lending platforms that connected institutional lenders with small and mid-sized businesses, streamlining the credit process from application to funding.
At Approval Pathway, I'm focused on designing tools that reduce inefficiencies for lenders and empower borrowers with data-driven submissions. We are applying AI to automate data collection, enhance credit analysis, and reduce turnaround times, while ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory, privacy, and data governance standards. I work closely with credit unions to design tools that reflect their unique underwriting processes and compliance obligations. My goal is to build financial technology that's not just fast, but trustworthy, scalable, and built for the institutions behind it.

Matt Sims
COO & Founder
I lead operations, marketing, and customer success at Approval Pathway - translating real-world complexity into clear, scalable systems that help credit unions lend faster and smarter.
My background includes co-founding Standpoint Decision Support, a firm that helps justice sector institutions across North America use data to manage risk and improve outcomes. I also built AvvyPro, a platform used by regulators in multiple North American jurisdictions to monitor legal service delivery and client experience.
At Approval Pathway, I combine that experience with a builder's mindset - shipping features, guiding GTM strategy, and ensuring we deliver measurable value from day one.

Dennis Newel
CTO & Founder
I lead platform architecture and development at Approval Pathway, where I'm responsible for translating complex workflows into a simple, secure, and scalable user experience.
With over 25 years in SaaS product leadership - including as co-founder of Standpoint Decision Support and AvvyPro - I specialize in turning messy systems into intuitive tools. My focus spans full-stack engineering, product design, and cross-functional execution.
At Approval Pathway, I've built the platform from the ground up using modern frameworks and cloud infrastructure, making it fast to implement, easy to use, and ready to grow with our clients.

Laura Wolfe
General Counsel
As General Counsel at Approval Pathway, I oversee regulatory compliance to ensure we meet the expectations of institutional lenders, including credit unions. My role is focused on ensuring that trust, transparency, and regulatory soundness are built into the foundation of everything we do.
Prior to joining Approval Pathway, I founded South Hill Law, a boutique business law firm practicing in M&A, corporate, securities and commercial law. I also contribute regularly to LexisNexis' Director's Briefing, where I write on corporate governance and fiduciary oversight.

Jeff Barnett
US Sales

TBA
CFO

Kat Newel
Strategic Advisor