Celebrating Our 2025 State of Illinois QNBV (Qualified New Business Venture) Designation—A Testament to Our Commitment, An Invitation to Our Partners

The dream of homeownership is being deferred, not by a lack of desire, but by a system that has failed to evolve with the people it’s meant to serve. Traditional mortgage lending tools were built for a different era—a time of standardized careers, straightforward finances, and information gatekeepers. Today, they leave behind two of the most dynamic and growing segments of our economy: aspiring first-time homebuyers and self-employed entrepreneurs and business owners.

These individuals aren’t high-risk; they are misunderstood. They are sidelined by algorithms that can’t capture their full financial story, pressured by lenders pushing products they aren’t ready for, and left to navigate one of life’s biggest decisions with outdated, slow, and often intimidating educational resources. In the age of AI and instant information, the idea of sitting in a night class to learn about debt-to-income ratios feels archaic. Yet, where is the modern, personalized, and actionable guidance? It’s fragmented—in hearsay on Reddit threads, in well-meaning but often outdated advice from family, in a confusing maze of online articles that lack personal context.

This is the gap Revve was born to fill. Our promise is straightforward, yet transformative: We will help millions of people become truly mortgage-ready, 6 to 24 months before they ever approach a lender. We are not a lender. We are a readiness engine. We bridge the anxious chasm between “I want a home” and “I am qualified, confident, and ready to buy a home.” By doing so, we don’t just empower individuals; we streamline and energize the entire ecosystem. Realtors and brokers gain a pipeline of informed, prepared, and qualified prospects. Lenders receive applications that are clean, complete, and likely to close. And most importantly, future homeowners gain the clarity, control, and confidence to make one of their biggest life decisions on a solid foundation.

Today, we celebrate a powerful validation of this mission from an unexpected but profoundly significant quarter: the State of Illinois.

The Stamp of Approval: What the “Qualified New Business Venture” (QNBV) Designation Truly Means

We are proud to announce that Revve has been certified as a Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) by the State of Illinois. This certification is part of the state’s Angel Investment Tax Credit program, a powerful economic development tool designed to fuel high-potential, innovative companies.

The mechanics are notable: this designation makes any investment in Revve eligible for a 35% Illinois state tax credit, up to a maximum of $2 million in qualifying investment. It is one of the most aggressive incentive programs of its kind in the nation.

However—and this is crucial—this announcement is not a fundraising call. We are not currently raising an angel round. We are announcing this achievement for a reason that goes far beyond capital: the QNBV is our formal, governmental stamp of approval, and it changes what our story means to every potential partner, client, and stakeholder.

Here’s why this matters:

1. It Means We Passed a Rigorous, Objective Due Diligence Process. The State of Illinois does not hand out this designation lightly. To become a QNBV, a startup undergoes a stringent review. State analysts scrutinize our business model, our financial projections, our technology, our market analysis, and most importantly, our team. They evaluate our potential for job creation, innovation, and economic impact. By awarding us this status, the state is effectively saying: “Revve is not just a good idea; it is a viable, promising, and well-structured venture with a credible path to growth and a mission that aligns with our economic future.” It is an external audit of our promise, and we passed.
2. It Transforms Us from a “Startup” to a “Vetted, High-Potential Venture.” In a landscape crowded with claims, the QNBV designation is a tangible differentiator. For any organization considering partnering with us—be it a major real estate franchise, a financial institution, a community nonprofit, or a corporate benefits provider—this certification acts as a powerful risk mitigator. It signals that a respected third party has done the homework and sees long-term promise. It tells our future users that we are built to last and here to serve them for the long haul.
3. It Highlights Our Alignment with a Mission of Broad Economic Empowerment. The state’s goal with this program is to foster innovation that creates jobs and strengthens communities. By validating Revve, Illinois is endorsing our core thesis: that unlocking responsible, prepared homeownership for the underserved is a direct driver of economic stability and growth. Every self-employed consultant we help become mortgage-ready, every first-time buyer we guide to a confident closing, contributes to stronger neighborhoods and a more resilient economy. This certification aligns us with that macro mission.

What This Enables: Building the Future with Partners, Not Just Users

With this validated foundation, our call to action shifts. Our primary message today is not to investors, but to the partners who share our vision of a more inclusive, efficient, and educated housing market.

To Realtors and Brokerages: Partnering with Revve is no longer just about accessing leads. It’s about aligning your brand with a state-vetted educational platform. You can refer clients to us with absolute confidence, knowing we will prepare them thoroughly, making your advisory role more strategic and your transactions smoother. We become your dedicated pre-approval preparation engine.

To Financial Institutions and Credit Unions: We offer a validated, front-end solution to your customer acquisition and community reinvestment goals. By integrating with or referring to Revve, you can build deeper relationships with future borrowers years in advance, guiding them to financial behaviors that ensure they become your most qualified—and loyal—mortgage customers.

To Employers and Benefits Platforms: Offering Revve as a benefit is a powerful statement. It says you are invested in the long-term financial health and stability of your employees, especially your gig-economy and self-employed contractors. It’s a benefit that provides tangible, life-changing value and is backed by a state-certified program.

To Community Organizations and Advocacy Groups: Our tool is a force multiplier for your mission. We provide a scalable, tech-driven solution to deliver financial and homeownership education that is personalized, not generic. Let’s work together to direct your community members to a resource that has been recognized for its rigor and potential impact.

Our Commitment, Amplified

The QNBV certification does not change who we are at our core. We remain the team passionately committed to demystifying mortgage readiness for the millions left in the dust by outdated tools. But it does amplify our voice and solidify our credibility.

It allows us to say, with even greater authority, that our promise is real. Our technology is robust. Our mission is vital. And our commitment to building a more equitable pathway to homeownership is now recognized and validated by the State of Illinois.

This is not the end of a process; it is the beginning of a new, more powerful chapter. We are now building from a platform of demonstrated promise. We invite you—partners, future users, community leaders—to explore what this validated venture can achieve alongside you.

The dream of homeownership shouldn’t be a maze of anxiety and exclusion. With REVVE, and now with the endorsement of our commitment through the QNBV designation, we are laying a new foundation. One that is built on clarity, empowerment, and proven potential.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

REVVE is a mortgage readiness platform dedicated to preparing first-time homebuyers and self-employed individuals for homeownership through personalized, AI-driven education and financial planning. Certified as a Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) by the State of Illinois.