Skip to main content

AI Scan Criteria: Automatically Extract Funder Criteria from PDFs

Save hours of manual data entry by letting our AI automatically extract and populate funder criteria from their criteria sheets.

V
Written by Victor Fteha
Updated today

Overview

The AI Scan Criteria feature allows you to upload a funder's criteria sheet (PDF or image), and our AI will automatically extract key information and update the funder's profile in MCA Pilot. This eliminates the tedious process of manually reading through criteria sheets and entering data field by field.

What it does:

  • Extracts funder requirements from uploaded documents

  • Automatically populates criteria fields in MCA Pilot

  • Maps industries to our standardized list

  • Converts annual revenue figures to monthly values

  • Applies the "least restrictive interpretation" when values are ambiguous (qualifying more deals)


How to Use AI Scan Criteria

Step 1: Navigate to the Funder Page

  1. Click Funders in the top navigation bar

  2. Click on the funder whose criteria you want to update

  3. You'll be taken to the funder's detail page

Step 2: Click AI Scan Criteria

  1. Look for the AI Scan Criteria button near the top-right of the funder page (next to the Edit button)

  2. Click the button to open the upload dialog

Step 3: Upload the Criteria Sheet

  1. In the dialog that appears, upload the funder's criteria sheet

  2. Supported formats: PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG

  3. Click Confirm to start the AI scan

Step 4: Review the Results

The AI will process the document and automatically update the funder's criteria. The following fields may be updated:

  • Basic contact information (if not already filled in)

  • Minimum requirements (FICO, time in business, revenue, etc.)

  • Position limits

  • Funding amounts and terms

  • Bank statement requirements

  • Restricted and preferred industries

  • Restricted states and legal structures

  • Products offered and payment frequencies

  • Default status acceptance


What Data Gets Extracted

Contact & Business Information

Field

Description

Funder Name

Full legal name of the funding company

Nickname

Abbreviated or short name

Company Phone

Main company phone number

Website

Company website URL

Contact Name

Primary contact person

Contact Phone

Direct phone for contact

Contact Email

Contact person's email

Note: Contact information fields will only be updated if they are currently empty in MCA Pilot. This prevents accidental overwrites of information you've already entered.

Eligibility Requirements

Field

Description

Time in Business

Minimum months in business required

Minimum FICO

Minimum credit score

Minimum Position

Lowest position they'll fund (e.g., 1st)

Maximum Position

Highest position they'll fund (e.g., 6th)

Funding Terms

Field

Description

Minimum Funding Amount

Smallest deal they'll fund

Maximum Funding Amount

Largest deal they'll fund

Maximum Term (Months)

Longest term offered

Buy Rate

Minimum factor rate

Maximum Commission

Max broker commission percentage

Bank Statement Requirements

The AI extracts both average requirements (across all statements) and per-month requirements (if the funder specifies different monthly minimums):

Field

Description

Monthly Revenue

Minimum monthly deposits/revenue

Number of Deposits

Minimum deposit count

NSF Limit

Maximum NSFs allowed

Negative Days

Maximum days with negative balance

Average Daily Balance

Minimum ADB required

ADB/Deposits Ratio

Minimum ratio

Low Days (Under $500)

Maximum days under $500

Opening Balance

Minimum opening balance

Closing Balance

Minimum closing balance

Industry Requirements

Field

Description

Restricted Industries

Industries the funder will NOT fund

Preferred Industries

Industries the funder prefers

Construction Min Revenue

Special requirements for construction

Construction Min TIB

Time in business for construction

Trucking Min Revenue

Special requirements for trucking

Trucking Min TIB

Time in business for trucking

Trucking Trucks Required

Minimum truck fleet size

Auto Sales Min Revenue

Special requirements for auto dealers

Restrictions & Policies

Field

Description

Restricted States

States they won't fund in

Restricted Legal Structures

Business structures not accepted (e.g., Sole Proprietorship, Nonprofit)

Products Offered

Working Capital, Reverse Consolidation, Line of Credit

Default Statuses Accepted

Clean File, Satisfied Default, Open Default

Frequencies Offered

Daily, Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly

Paper Grade

A_PAPER through F_PAPER, or REVERSE


How the AI Processes Your Document

  1. Document Analysis: The AI reads your uploaded criteria sheet and identifies all relevant funding criteria

  2. Least Restrictive Interpretation: When values are ambiguous or presented as ranges, the AI chooses the interpretation that qualifies more applicants:

    • For minimums (FICO, revenue, TIB): Chooses the lower value

    • For maximums (funding amount, positions, terms): Chooses the higher value

    • Example: "FICO 600-650" β†’ Extracts as 600

  3. Revenue Conversion: All revenue values are converted to monthly. If the document shows annual revenue, the AI automatically divides by 12.

    • Example: "Annual revenue $600,000" β†’ Monthly revenue $50,000

  4. Industry Mapping: Restricted and preferred industries are intelligently mapped to MCA Pilot's standardized industry list using a secondary AI process. This ensures accurate matching even when the funder uses different terminology.

  5. Data Formatting: All extracted data is formatted and validated before updating the funder record.


Tips for Best Results

Use High-Quality Documents

  • Clear, readable PDFs work best β€” avoid blurry scans

  • If using images (PNG/JPG), ensure text is legible

  • Multi-page documents are supported

Ensure Key Information is Visible

The AI looks for specific criteria including:

  • Credit score requirements

  • Time in business minimums

  • Revenue/deposit requirements

  • Funding amounts and terms

  • Industry restrictions

  • State restrictions

  • Position limits

Check Results After Scanning

After the AI updates the funder:

  1. Navigate to the Criteria tab on the funder page

  2. Review the populated fields

  3. Make any necessary adjustments manually

Keep Original Data Safe

  • Fields that already have data (like contact information) won't be overwritten

  • Only empty fields get populated with extracted data

  • You can always manually edit any field after the scan


Troubleshooting

The scan didn't extract all information

Possible causes:

  • The criteria sheet may use unusual formatting or terminology

  • Some information may be in images or graphics that are harder to read

  • The document quality may be too low

Solution:

  • Manually enter any missing information

  • Try uploading a clearer version of the document

  • Check if critical information is in a separate document

Industries weren't mapped correctly

Possible causes:

  • The funder may use non-standard industry names

  • The industry mentioned may not exist in our standardized list

Solution:

  • Review the Restricted Industries and Preferred Industries sections

  • Use the "Add Industry" button to manually add any missing industries

  • Remove any incorrectly mapped industries

Revenue values seem incorrect

Possible causes:

  • The document may show annual revenue that wasn't converted

  • The AI may have misread the number

Solution:

  • Verify whether the original document shows monthly or annual values

  • Manually correct any revenue fields

  • Remember: All values in MCA Pilot should be monthly

Contact information wasn't updated

This is expected behavior. To prevent accidental overwrites, the AI only populates contact fields that are currently empty. If you need to update contact information:

  1. Click Edit on the funder page

  2. Update the fields manually

  3. Save your changes

The scan failed or errored

Possible causes:

  • File format not supported

  • File is corrupted or password-protected

  • Temporary server issue

Solution:

  • Verify the file is a valid PDF, PNG, or JPG

  • Try re-uploading the document

  • If the problem persists, contact support


Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats are supported?

PDF, PNG, JPG, and JPEG files are supported. PDF is recommended for best results.

Will this overwrite my existing funder data?

Contact information (name, nickname, phone, website, contact details) will only be updated if currently empty. All other criteria fields will be updated with extracted values.

How accurate is the AI extraction?

The AI is highly accurate for standard criteria sheets, but you should always review the results. Unusual document layouts or handwritten notes may not be extracted correctly.

Can I undo the changes?

There's no automatic undo feature. If you need to revert changes, you'll need to manually edit the funder record. We recommend noting any critical values before scanning if you're concerned about overwrites.

What if the criteria sheet has multiple funders?

Upload one criteria sheet per funder. The AI assumes the entire document relates to the funder you're currently viewing.

Why do some fields show very large or very small placeholder numbers?

Fields like "9999999" or "-9999999" are placeholders indicating no limit was specified. These ensure filtering works correctly:

  • Large positive numbers (9999999) = no maximum limit

  • Large negative numbers (-9999999) = no minimum requirement

How does industry mapping work?

The AI uses a two-step process:

  1. First, it extracts industry names exactly as they appear in the document

  2. Then, it maps each industry to our standardized list of 275+ industries

This ensures accurate matching even when funders use different terminology (e.g., "Restaurants" vs "Food Service" vs "Dining").


Need Help?

If you're experiencing issues with AI Scan Criteria or have questions not covered here:

  • Chat: Click the chat icon in the bottom-left corner of MCA Pilot

  • Text: +1 888-501-1477


Last updated: December 2025

Did this answer your question?