<aside> 💡 Why is this important: After logging into the AICA portal, lenders play a pivotal role in specifying their investment preferences. This step is essential to fully utilize AICA’s smart lender PEC (Profile, Experience, Criteria) matchmaking capabilities, ensuring that lenders are matched with the most suitable funding opportunities.

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Detailed Guide to Setting Preferences:

1. Accessing Preference Settings:
   • Upon successful login, navigate to the ‘Preferences’ section of the portal. This is where you can begin detailing your specific investment criteria.
2. Specifying Investment Preferences:
   • As a lender, you can set various parameters that define your ideal investment scenarios:
     • Demographic Focus: Specify geographical regions or specific demographics you are interested in.
     • Types of Deals: Define what kind of funding deals you handle, such as debt financing, equity investment, or bridge loans.
     • Funding Amounts: Indicate the range of investment you are willing to commit, from minimum to maximum funding amounts.
     • Borrower Profiles: Describe the types of businesses you consider, including industry, company size, and financial health.
3. Understanding the 'Importance' Filter:
   • Within your preference settings, you will find a filter named ‘Importance,’ which is set by default to 'Medium' for all entries.
   • Adjusting the importance of specific criteria plays a critical role in the matchmaking process. For example, if you mark the ‘Company Age’ as 'Critical,' the system will automatically filter out companies less than two years old, irrespective of their financial strengths, ensuring you only see the most relevant deals.
4. Viewing Matched Deals:
   • After setting your preferences, the AICA portal will begin to display deals that match your specified criteria.
   • You can review these opportunities directly within the portal and choose to engage further based on the detailed profiles provided.

Conclusion:

By carefully setting your investment preferences in the AICA portal, you ensure that you are presented with deals that align closely with your investment strategy. This tailored approach not only enhances your investment process but also significantly reduces the risk of engaging in unsuitable matches.