Why and How Trust2Connect™ Started
We believe that growth can't happen without trust.
Every partnership, payment, and platform depends on knowing that the business on the other end is real, reliable, and ready. Trust2Connect™ makes that possible. We use data and science to automate small business identity verification so companies can move faster, reduce risk, and build relationships grounded in confidence.
Business registrations are vague. Websites are inconsistent. Filings are incomplete. For companies trying to verify private businesses, the data landscape is fragmented and frustrating.
Trust2Connect™ solves that.
We unify business identity across 100,000+ sources using AI-powered verification and risk scoring — delivering a single, authoritative profile for 42 million U.S. small businesses in minutes, not weeks.
Founded by the creators of PayNet, the industry standard for small business credit data, we've built the first platform purpose-designed for private company identification. Whether you're onboarding customers, vetting suppliers, or managing compliance, T2C automates the process so you can move faster, reduce risk, and grow with confidence.
Stop piecing together incomplete data. Start with Trust2Connect.
Leadership Team
William Phelan
Co-Founder & CEO
Co-founder of PayNet (acquired by Equifax) and Trust2Connect. Building the first platform purpose-designed for private company identification.
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Andrew Kappel
Co-Founder & COO
Over a decade of experience in enterprise B2B data with a focus on sales, marketing, and removing friction from commercial transactions.
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Prakash Ranade
Co-Founder & Chief Product & Technology Officer
Passionate about building and scaling AI-driven fintech, data, and risk platforms that impact millions.
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Craig Odegaard
Head of Product
Over 20 years of experience building and scaling commercial data and risk platforms.
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James Brown
Head of Operations
Accomplished operations and technology executive with a distinguished record of leadership across credit, risk, and data management.
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Karolyn Sudler
Head of Quality Assurance
Over 25 years of experience driving quality into products and the processes that support them.
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News and Events
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April 22, 2026
APP Level Up Conference 2026 — Las VegasTrust2Connect showcased its merchant risk platform at the APP Level Up conference in Las Vegas, alongside Bill Phelan's session on underwriting, fraud, and AI in payments risk.
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October 22, 2025
Trust2Connect at ELFA 64th Annual ConventionTrust2Connect to showcase its platform to verify faster and decide smarter at the ELFA 64th Annual Convention.
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April 24, 2025
Digitizing KYB Cuts Compliance Costs and Increases Client SatisfactionBarlow Research explores how digitizing KYB reduces compliance costs and improves client satisfaction.
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March 4, 2025
Trust2Connect Launches Innovative KYB PlatformTrust2Connect (T2C) launches an innovative KYB platform, automating business verification and mitigating payment risk.
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