Cardiff founder William Stern wins Stevie award for lifetime achievement

Cardiff Founder and CEO William Stern won the Gold Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Financial Technology, recognizing his 22-year role in building the small-business lender into a technology-driven platform. The award comes as Cardiff says it has funded more than $12 billion to businesses nationwide and continues to expand its digital lending business.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights one of the more established names in small-business lending as fintech competition and capital access remain central issues for entrepreneurs. - Cardiff says its technology-enabled model has helped speed underwriting and funding for businesses that need cash quickly. - The recognition also gives William Stern and Cardiff added credibility in a market where trust and execution matter as much as speed.

What happened: - William Stern, Founder and CEO of Cardiff, received the Gold Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Financial Technology in the third annual Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. - The honor recognizes Stern's 22-year career building Cardiff and reshaping small-business lending through technology. - Cardiff announced the award on July 23, 2026, in Del Mar, California.

The details: - Cardiff says it has funded more than $12 billion to small businesses across the United States. - Stern founded Cardiff in 2004 with a goal of creating a faster and more transparent path to capital for small businesses. - Under Stern's leadership, Cardiff introduced AI-powered underwriting, approvals in minutes, same-day funding and a borrower-focused service model. - Cardiff says the company expanded through the Great Financial Crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple interest-rate cycles. - Judges cited Stern's leadership, Cardiff's growth and the company's mix of technology and relationship-based service. - One judge called Stern's work exceptional and said his vision and sustained contributions made him highly deserving of lifetime achievement recognition. - Another judge described Stern's leadership as a masterclass in founder resilience and industry leadership. - Stern said the award reflected the work of his team and the trust of thousands of business owners over more than 22 years. - Cardiff also said it reached Great Place To Work Certification with 98% employee approval and expanded its digital lending platform during the year. - Cardiff said its media visibility included coverage in Reuters, Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Yahoo Finance and other outlets. - More than 700 nominations from organizations in 37 nations and territories were considered for the awards. - More than 180 executives and technology professionals served as judges. - Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller said the winners are helping shape the future of technology across industries. - The awards ceremony is set for Oct. 28, 2026, at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse in Paris. - Details about the awards and the complete list of winners are available at Tech.StevieAwards.com.

Between the lines: - The award underscores how Cardiff is positioning itself as both a lender and a technology company. - Stern's recognition is as much about staying power as it is about growth, given the company has operated through multiple market shocks since 2004. - The judging comments suggest the market continues to reward lenders that combine automation with human service.

What's next: - Cardiff will look to keep scaling its digital lending platform after crossing the $12 billion funding mark. - Stevie Award winners will be honored at the October ceremony in Paris. - Cardiff is likely to keep using the award to reinforce its brand with borrowers, partners and investors.